Month: September 2018

Currently, our anticipated changes encompass the broad areas of ethics and core values; culture change; reporting and investigations; and human resources. As part of these changes, we will introduce needed infrastructure and technologies, recruit new leadership in critical areas, and revisit important policies and procedures with far-reaching input. Among our most pressing priorities, there was a clear and immediate need to improve in the area of complaint reporting, so we have already established the Office of Professionalism and Ethics (OPE). This new unit is transforming USC’s system for complaint monitoring and investigation, creating a centralized flow of information that improves our ability to address sensitive matters swiftly and systematically….

With the addition of ten new counseling positions, new counseling and mental health services director Dr. Robert Mendola is expanding capacity to better meet mental health needs of USC students. Brenda Ingram, who came to USC in July to oversee relationship and sexual violence prevention and services, is already workings towards creating a cultural sea change. USC Student Health has also created a series of patient education materials (including several videos) to help them navigate to resources, understand standard of care for sensitive exams (publication is available in Chinese translation), and advocate on behalf of their own health….

Attorney and USC alumnus Michael Blanton oversees the university’s new Office of Professionalism and Ethics, a new office dedicated to handling complaints and sensitive investigations across the university. The new office will streamline and update the university’s processes for registering and dealing with complaints at all levels on both campuses. By introducing a centralized tracking system, USC administrators can spot trends and respond swiftly when necessary. Blanton, USC’s vice president of professionalism and ethics, expects the office to be formally announced and operational in the next two to three weeks….

The chair of the executive committee of the USC Board of Trustees, Rick Caruso, announced in an August 28 message, the process leading to the selection of the 12th president of the University of Southern California. The search process includes all-campus “listening sessions” (Sept. 13, 17, and 25) on both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses….