USC just went online for the rest of the semester... I expect many more to do the same.

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March 16, 2020

Dear Trojan Community,

We know you are following the fast-changing reports about the COVID-19 pandemic. Just yesterday, California implemented a number of new measures and the CDC recommended halting all gatherings larger than 50 for the next eight weeks. We are writing today to share some important new actions we are taking in response. Social distancing and increased hygiene continue to be the best ways to reduce exposure and spread. To enforce social distancing, cities throughout California and beyond have closed schools, public events and places where people gather. Hospitals are increasing their capacity to help those in need.

We are fortunate that with your help we already moved to teach our courses remotely and online, limit campus activities, implement working from home, cancel or postpone events, intensify cleaning and hygiene, take extensive precautions to protect health care workers, and ensure that our clinics and hospitals are ready to care for those most in need.

Even so, much remains to be done and we will continue to update you frequently. Our goal is to find a path through this unexpected crisis that protects our outstanding academic, research and clinical programs, supports our 80,000 students, faculty and staff, and places us in a strong position to move forward when this crisis has passed.

NEW ACTIONS: We are taking several significant new actions based on the evolving situation and informed by questions and concerns you’ve been sharing. To fully implement each of these will take some time, but we will make information available as quickly as we can.

1. We made the decision last night to finish the academic semester online or remotely. We will be using this week, which is Spring Recess, to work out the many details with the deans and faculty, and to develop a website for questions and information. The opportunity to test our online capacities last week was very helpful.

2. Graduation: Students will be able to complete the semester and graduate. International students with specific concerns about travel, visas, and online capability should contact the Office of International Services at (213) 740-2666 or ois@usc.edu; other students concerned about online capability should contact (213) 740-6291 or covid19@usc.edu.

3. Commencement: We have not made a decision about how and when to celebrate Commencement 2020. The new CDC guidance and the spread of the pandemic will certainly affect our planning. We will get back to you on this after we have taken care of the pressing issues associated with completing the current semester.

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