USC, which previously announced it would begin the spring semester with one week of remote classes due to locally rising COVID-19 cases, extended the remote learning period for a second week Friday.
Remote classes will begin Jan. 10, and were originally set to revert to in-person instruction on Jan. 18, the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. But USC Provost Charles F. Zukoski and Chief Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman wrote in a campus wide message Friday that in-person instruction will not begin until Jan. 24.
“This allows students -- particularly those who may need additional time to coordinate travel -- to take advantage of the upcoming three-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend,” they wrote. “While university housing remains open to those who need it, students are encouraged to consider delaying their return to campus, to the extent feasible, during the two-week period of remote instruction.
“Graduate and professional students will hear directly from individual schools about program-specific impacts. Our plan -- similar to that of other universities in Southern California -- is based on both the available resources and unique challenges here in Los Angeles. We recognize that other institutions' restart strategies may differ based on the conditions on their campuses and in their respective communities.”
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All faculty, students and staff who are eligible will be required to receive COVID booster shots. When in-person instruction resumes, everyone on campus will be required to wear upgraded medical-grade face coverings instead of cloth masks.
Information about the university's COVID-19 measures can be found at coronarvirus.usc.edu and questions can be directed to covid19@usc.edu or by phone at 213-740-6291.
