Spring 2021 – Wellness Days and Grading Options

Message to the USC Community

From: Charles F. Zukoski, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Thank you for your hard work and resilience as together we push through the remaining weeks of the semester. Even with the presidential election now decided, we know that stress levels remain high and we continue to look for ways to support you.

As you may know, the U.S. last week averaged over 100,000 coronavirus infections each day for the first time. Clearly the danger is not over and we must continue to do our part as responsible community members to limit cases on and around our campuses.

For this reason, in our October 14 memo we announced there will be no Spring Recess to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus through travel. This does not mean we will rush through the semester. We have scheduled five Wellness Days throughout the Spring. A Wellness Day is a day on which there will be no classes and no classwork expected of students. Students are encouraged to use this time to rest, exercise, and connect with friends and family. We worked with academic schools and administrative units across campus to distribute these days as evenly as possible throughout the semester, so as not to overburden any one instructional day and to further help limit travel.

Spring 2021 Wellness Days

  • Friday, March 12
  • Tuesday, March 23
  • Wednesday, April 7
  • Thursday, April 22
  • Friday, April 30

Previously, April 30 was scheduled to be the last day of classes for Spring 2021. April 30 will now be the final Wellness Day before Study Days begin.

Students will also be able to choose a Pass/No Pass grading option in Spring through April 30. The deadline to withdraw from a course in Spring is likewise extended through April 30.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Student Pass/No Pass FAQs for more details. Please note that the maximum number of units USC allows undergraduates to take Pass/No Pass remains 24. It is important that students work with their academic advisors to plan their grading decisions appropriately.

We are as anxious as you are to return to in-person learning. We continue to work with L.A. County Public Health authorities in the hopes of receiving approval to bring back more students, faculty, and staff for Spring; however, state and county restrictions still prevent us from resuming more on-campus activities.

Thank you for all of your efforts this semester and let’s finish the Fall semester strong. Stay safe and healthy.

cc: Office of the President
Academic Deans
President’s Senior Leadership Team
Provost’s Leadership Team
Academic Senate
Staff Assembly
GSG President
USG President