LOS ANGELES (CNS) - USC's second summer session will be held online as uncertainty continues over the future of state and county stay-at-home orders, the university's provost said today, while also announcing that no tuition refunds will be provided for the spring or summer sessions.
“While this is not the semester any of us envisioned, we are continuing to provide a high-quality education, ensure academic progress towards degree, and offer a robust learning environment,” USC Provost Charles Zukoski wrote in a message to the campus community. “Whether our instructors present their classes in person or online, they bring the same expertise, depth of knowledge and commitment to their teaching, and students continue to earn credits toward a USC degree.
“Additionally, we have added, and are building, new programs inside and outside the virtual classroom to make the online experience even stronger,” he said.
Zukoski noted that the university “did provide pro-rated housing and dining fee refunds to all students who have vacated their university housing. We continue to house and care for more than 1,500 students who were unable to leave the university as well.”
A pair of proposed class-action lawsuits were filed in federal court in Los Angeles and Oakland this week seeking to force the California State University and University of California system refund prorated portions of students' campus fees. A CSU spokesman said that despite the shift to online courses, the university continues to offer services funded by the fees, such as counseling, advising and telehealth medical care.
Meanwhile, Zukoski also announced that like the first upcoming summer session, USC's second session will also be held remotely, “given the uncertainty of when stay-at-home orders will be lifted.”
“The grading policy for the summer sessions will revert to those used prior to the spring 2020 semester; that is, students can elect the grade options normally available for the course and follow the regular deadlines to make their elections,” Zukoski wrote in his message.
He said planning is continuing for an eventual return to classes, with an announcement anticipated in the next two months about plans for the fall semester.
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