USC’s institutional culture is guided by six Unifying Values, which emerged in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff through an institution-wide poll in 2019; and the values were evaluated through a survey in 2024. In 2025, we are making adjustments to some of the values language to be responsive to evolving federal legal guidance; to establish a clearer tie between our values and our academic, research, and healthcare mission; and to implement feedback received through the Culture Survey.

This resource was designed to provide members of the USC Community with clear language to explain the changes and their rationale, along with refreshed digital assets to use when communicating about USC’s Culture Journey and Unifying Values going forward.