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Residential Review Process & Policies

USC Housing and Hospitality Services Contract & Living Agreement

Residential Education Review

Residential Education Review addresses violations of USC Housing policies outlined in the Housing & Hospitality Services Contract & Living Agreement.

Residential Education Review is conducted by Residential Education staff members and is a process which utilizes procedures in lieu of the procedures contained in the USC Student Handbook.  The Residential Education Review process is informal, fair, expeditious and educational in nature. The procedures of criminal and civil courts do not govern the Residential Education Review process and formal rules of evidence are not applicable. Deviations from the prescribed Residential Education process will not invalidate a proceeding or decision unless significant prejudice to a student or to the university may occur.

The Residential Education Review process uses the preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) standard when determining if a student is responsible for violating USC Housing policy.  Questions concerning Residential Education Review should be addressed to the Office for Residential Education. Please note that each situation is handled individually and that some of the procedures outlined below may not be necessary in every case.

Residential Education Review Process

  1. The Office for Residential Education receives information regarding an alleged violation of USC Housing policy.
  2. The Residential Education Review process begins with an email sent by a Residential Education staff member to the student’s USC email. This email contains information about the alleged USC Housing policy violation with a request for the student to schedule a meeting with a Residential Education staff member within 3 business days from the date of the letter.  Alternatively, this email may include information about a policy reminder or warning that was given to the student based on the information contained within the report. The student who receives this type of letter retains the option to meet with the Residential Education Staff member.
  3. The student schedules a meeting with the Residential Education staff member to discuss the alleged Housing policy violation.*
  4. After meeting with the student, the Residential Education staff member makes a decision based on the conversation with the student and based on the information that was included in the incident report.
  5. The Residential Education staff member makes a decision, and the outcome is emailed to the student. This email may include instructions on how to complete any assignment(s.)
  6. The decision may be appealed within 3 business days from the date on the outcome letter.

* The Residential Education staff member will collaborate with the Office for Student Accessibility Services office to best support the student’s needs should the student require any disability related accommodations or auxiliary aids and services.

Residential Education Student Rights

The student has the following rights in the Residential Education Review process:

  1. To receive notice of the alleged violation of USC Housing policy.
  2. To attend a meeting with a Residential Education staff member.
  3. To review the Incident Report concerning the alleged violation of USC Housing policy
  4. To appeal the outcome of the Residential Education Review process
  5. At all steps of the initial review and in preparing an appeal, the student may have an adviser of their choice present. Advisers must review and sign a copy of the guidelines for their role in the Residential Education Review process. A copy of the guidelines will be provided to the student by Residential Education staff. In all reviews, whether or not an adviser is present, the primary conversation shall be with the student.

Community Accountability

Policies found in the USC Housing & Hospitality Services Contract & Living Agreement reflect the values of the Office for Residential Education. These policies were established to uphold the mission to foster the holistic development of residential community members.  As a member of the USC Housing community, it is the student’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with these policies and to abide by them. Violation of policies jeopardizes the student’s housing contract, violates the University Student Conduct Code 11.50A, and may result in university action.

These policies apply to all USC Housing students and their guests when they are in any of the USC Housing and/or Residential Dining facilities and are also enforceable while participating in USC Housing and Residential Education sponsored activities on or off campus.

Please consult USC Housing or the Office for Residential Education should you have any questions regarding the policies outlined in the Housing & Hospitality Services Contract & Living Agreement.

Complicity

Part of being a responsible resident in USC Housing includes an awareness of their surroundings. Students that observe a policy violation are expected to either remove themselves from the situation or take proactive steps to prevent the policy violation from occurring. Failure to reasonably do so may result in documentation for the policy violations.

Outcomes & Assignments

Outcomes and assignments may be given if a student is found responsible for violating USC Housing policy. Details of the outcome or assignments are found in the Outcome letter sent to the student’s USC email.

Some assignments require action to be taken by the student. Instructions and deadline for completion of an assignment is included in the Outcome letter.  Assignments given through Residential Education Review are educational in nature and the intent is to reinforce the expectations the university places on residents of USC Housing. Examples of Residential Education Review outcomes or assignments include: Housing Warnings, Housing Disciplinary Probation, Loss of Privilege, Deferred Housing Removal, Housing Removal, Educational writing assignments, referrals to a health educator, online alcohol educational modules etc.  Failure to complete assignments (if any were issued) could result in a hold placed on the student’s records preventing them from performing registration transactions. Further violations of USC Housing policies may lead to additional disciplinary action and may ultimately result in a cancellation of the student’s Housing contract.  For more information regarding holds, please contact the Residential Education staff member that was assigned to the incident or contact the Office for Residential Education.

Please understand that it may take up to 3 business days for the hold to be removed as the Residential Education staff member must first verify that the assignment(s) has been either completed or that demonstrated progress towards completion of the assignment(s) has been made.

Appeals

Appeals are initiated by submitting a letter of appeal to the Assistant Director of Residential Community Standards. This appeal letter must be submitted within 3 business days from the date on the Outcome Letter. Specific instructions on how to submit an appeal can be found on the Outcome letter.

A decision may be appealed for the following two reasons:

  1. New information has become available which is sufficient to alter the original decision.
  2. The assignment(s) or outcome is excessive or inappropriate

The appeal must include supporting arguments for why the student thinks the new information is sufficient to alter the original decision or why the student believes the original outcome was excessive or inappropriate. Supporting documentation and any other relevant information may be submitted along with the appeal.

Reviewing the Incident Report

If the student wishes to review the report regarding the alleged violation of USC Housing policy, the student should contact the Residential Education Staff member assigned to the report.

Confidentiality

The Office for Residential Education is committed to respecting the right to privacy of each student involved in the Residential Education Review process. A Confidentiality waiver must be completed and signed by the student before the matter can be discussed with others.

Residential Education Confidentiality Waiver

Guidelines for Student’s Advisor

FERPA Information

The University of Southern California maintains the privacy of student education records and allows students the right to inspect their education records consistent with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

It is the University’s intention and practice that the policy and procedures observe students’ privileges and obligations as independent, responsible, adult members of the University community to the fullest degree possible, allowable within the requirements of FERPA.