Unifying Values

Culture Change Starts Here

At USC, our six unifying values support our university’s mission and guide our behaviors – the way we engage with ourselves and our community – to create our Trojan culture. When we embrace these values together as faculty, staff, and students; we build a culture that instills trust, reinforces ethical decision-making, and provides a strong foundation to live out our mission to develop human beings and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit.

The USC Culture Journey is about:

Anchoring our behaviors in foundational guidelines that support our mission

Enhancing institutional trust

Supporting open communication and respect

Reinforcing ethical decision-making

Fostering an environment in which we solicit, embrace, and share multiple viewpoints, and thoughtfully examine viewpoints without prejudice


As Trojans, we will:
Act with integrity in the pursuit of excellence. Embrace our vibrant community, and promote well-being. Engage in open communication, and be accountable for living our values.

Our Unifying Values

Integrity

Excellence

Community

Well-being

Open Communication

Accountability


Integrity

We do the right thing

Definition: Our words, decisions and actions align with and are guided by our values, honesty and ethical principles.

Connection to Mission: Our mission provides direction for every member of the USC community as we shape a bold future focused on academic excellence, research, caring for our patients, and exploration of artistic and athletic excellence. The purpose of USC, articulated by our mission, empowers every member of this community to match our values to our actions. For USC to be a leading voice in what universities can and should be, we must be known not just for what we do, but how we do it.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We stand up for what is ethical, even if it is not easy​
  • We stand up for what is right, regardless of status or power​
  • We recognize and honor ethical behavior​
  • We seek advice when we experience uncertainty​
  • We do what we say we will do​
  • We speak and act honestly in our communication

We do NOT:

  • We do not compromise our mission and values​
  • We do not cover up wrong-doing​
  • We do not tolerate inappropriate conduct


Excellence

We bring our best selves

Definition: We strive to better ourselves as a learning community through professional development, teaching, ongoing open dialogue, innovation, and research – promoting student success, outstanding medical care, and discovery.

Connection to Mission: We constantly strive for excellence in serving our students, our patients and our communities. By confronting the status quo and learning from our successes and our challenges, we are active leaders in what is taught, thought and practiced locally and globally.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We embrace innovation in the pursuit of our vision and mission ​
  • We share and adopt best practices​
  • We seek continuous feedback and learn from our mistakes​
  • We collaborate to accomplish our goals ​
  • We support rigorous and relevant learning, research and service​
  • We promote inclusive ways to contribute​
  • We seek partnerships with units, schools and the community

We do NOT:

  • We do not promote unproductive competition ​
  • We do not hoard knowledge, resources or relationships​
  • We do not focus on the easy choice ​
  • We do not operate in secrecy​
  • We do not exclude individuals impacted by a decision


Community

We all belong

Definition: We are a vibrant academic learning community. We thrive because we seek excellence; know that differences are strengths and that mutual respect and equal opportunity are central to successful learning, research, and innovation; and because discrimination is not tolerated.

Connection to Mission: Our mission – to serve in the public good, to develop human beings who become successful in their lives, and to lead with research and discoveries that advance society – requires that we solicit, embrace, and share multiple viewpoints; and thoughtfully examine viewpoints without prejudice. We are national leaders in higher education, research and medical care, with global reach and impact. Our legacy of visionaries, innovators, creators, and leaders in all fields has and will continue to grow by seeking the most talented people, giving them the opportunity to succeed, and embracing mutual respect, collaboration, and excellence in all endeavors.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We recognize that supporting our community is a shared responsibility ​
  • We value different experiences, cultures, identities, and perspectives​
  • We foster a sense of belonging​
  • We seek robust and respectful engagement with one another to benefit from diverse perspectives​
  • We courageously engage in uncomfortable conversations
  • We solicit, embrace, and share multiple viewpoints, and thoughtfully examine viewpoints without prejudice
  • We affirm mutual respect and equal opportunity as central to successful learning, research and innovation

We do NOT:

  • We do not allow stereotypes, biases and assumptions to create barriers to inclusion​
  • We do not remain silent when we witness discrimination, harassment, or retaliation​
  • We do not engage in conduct that intentionally harms another


Well-being

We honor the whole person

Definition: We create a caring culture that fosters our ability to thrive in mind, body, and spirit in the successful pursuit of USC’s mission.

Connection to Mission: The central mission of USC is the development of human beings and society through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. The wellbeing of our faculty, staff, students and our communities is essential to achieving our mission. To that end, we are committed to taking the necessary steps to care for each other and create an environment where everyone can thrive.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We show care by treating each other with respect, empathy and understanding, without judgement​
  • We take action when concerned about a fellow Trojan by listening, and offering support​
  • We seek advice and reach out for help when needed​
  • We prioritize individual and community well-being when creating policies and practices in the workplace​
  • We support fellow Trojans in the pursuit of their goals and help them live by their values with meaning and purpose

We do NOT:

  • We do not presume to know the lived experiences of others and what they need to support their own well-being​
  • We do not set unrealistic expectations that undermine well-being


Open Communication

We engage in open and respectful dialogue

Definition: We actively listen, communicate and provide opportunities for respectful dialogue and interaction across all viewpoints.

Connection to Mission: Sharing openly and honestly is essential to achieving the mission at USC. Open communication enables trust and engagement with our diverse community, including our faculty, staff, students, patients, and those who partner with us to help us fulfill our mission. When trust is present, every member of our community is able to learn, lead, innovate and create.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We are honest and authentic in sharing information, whether good or bad​
  • We respect confidentiality ​
  • We actively listen and solicit dialogue​
  • We strive for consistent and timely communications ​
  • We communicate with respect and cultural sensitivity​
  • We clearly state our vision and mission​
  • We leverage our strengths and share our knowledge to help bring up others

We do NOT:

  • We do not bully or retaliate when concerns are expressed​
  • We do not hoard, withhold or distort information​
  • We do not accept blaming, judging, ignorance, bias​
  • We do not contradict the vision​
  • We do not violate confidentiality or privacy laws


Accountability

We take responsibility

Definition: At all levels of the university, we set clear expectations and take responsibility for our actions, decisions, outcomes and consequences.

Connection to Mission: We live the value of accountability every day by adhering to the principles designated in our mission. The environment we create and the actions we take promote safety and trust. Our commitment to our core academic principles, to our code of ethics, and to each other enables us to enrich the human mind and spirit and lead by example both locally and globally.

Behaviors

We do:

  • We are accountable to ourselves, those around us and to the community​
  • We follow through on promised actions​
  • We learn from and correct mistakes​
  • We address concerns without fear of retaliation​
  • We accept consequences for our actions and decisions​
  • Our leaders model accountability by taking responsibility for their outcomes and how they achieve them

We do NOT:

  • We do not apply different standards based on power or status​
  • We do not blame others for our own mistakes​
  • We do not retaliate ​
  • We do not cover-up our mistakes​
  • We do not avoid addressing problems