Classroom Administration


Brightspace is USC’s Learning Management System used by instructors to post and distribute course content such as syllabuses and handouts, to communicate with students via announcements and email messages, to assess student learning through quizzes and online assignments, and much more.

In 2021, USC formed the LMS Assessment Committee to address our academic and technological needs. Co-chaired by faculty members Sandeep Gupta (Viterbi) and John Pascarella (Rossier), the committee brought together 49 participants, including faculty, students, Deans, technologists, instructional designers, and USC administrators. Key representatives for the Office of Institutional Accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office were also included.

After extensive review, the Committee selected Brightspace as USC’s new LMS, based on the platform’s user-friendly design, robust accessibility standards and customer support offerings.

Helpful Links

STUDENT RESEARCH

Faculty who are teaching courses that involve human participants, should review the guidelines for course-related student research projects.

SCHEDULING A CLASS

Classroom reservations are overseen by the USC Classroom Scheduling Office in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.

TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED CLASSROOMS

USC Information Technology Services (ITS) can help faculty locate and reserve a general-use space with the capacity and technology needed for a course (Information Technology Services Learning Environments). Facilities include 198 generalassignment classrooms, 20 auditoria, and 3 ITS-managed computing centers, including 5 instructional computer classrooms within those computing centers. The Room Finder tool can help identify the appropriate room.

ORDERING COURSE TEXTBOOKS

To order textbooks for a class, contact the USC Bookstore using its online order form.

ORDERING COURSE READERS

The USC Bookstore will work with faculty to order and publish course readers.

ELECTRONIC COURSE RESERVES

USC Libraries oversees electronic and physical reserve requests through ARES (Automated Reserves System). USC’s 24-hour Leavey Library holds most physical course reserve materials where students can readily access them. However, material may be placed on reserve in any of several libraries on campus. Requests must abide by copyright guidelines and rules.

PROPOSING NEW COURSES

The USC Curriculum Coordination Office in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar coordinates the review of curriculum proposals. It is the liaison between departments, the University Committee on Curriculum (UCOC), University Publications, Degree Progress and Registration.

GRADES

The Office of Academic Records and Registrar oversees the USC Department of Grades, which is responsible for the collection, maintenance and distribution of all grades submitted by the academic units. Information on the site includes a guidebook on grading and the correction of grades.

ACADEMIC ADVISORS

The Schedule of Classes maintains a current list of academic advisors.

Last updated September 2024