Month: October 2018

From Interim President Wanda M. Austin: “The university has reached agreement in principle on a $215 million class action settlement that will compensate students who received women’s health services from Dr. George Tyndall at USC’s student health center. Our Board of Trustees supports this settlement, which was reached in collaboration with plaintiffs’ counsel, and which will provide relief to those who have been impacted by this difficult experience. By doing so, we hope that we can help our community move collectively toward reconciliation. I regret that any student ever felt uncomfortable, unsafe, or mistreated in any way as a result of the actions of a university employee.”…

From Rick J. Caruso, USC Board of Trustees Chair: My fellow Trustees and I also pledged to ensure a cultural shift within the University that places the safety of students and patients as our top priority. Beginning with the appointment of Dr. Wanda Austin as our interim president, we have made sweeping changes including forming the Office of Professionalism & Ethics, strengthening the health center’s leadership, and creating the President’s Culture Commission.

I also want to share that we are completing the independent investigation into the USC student health center, and you will receive an update after it is concluded. The Board’s Special Committee on Governance Reform is also proceeding with its work and is engaging our University community in their efforts. Finally, the search for our next president is underway as planned. I will continue to share our progress as it continues….

In recent weeks, I attended listening sessions for the presidential search on both campuses, and met privately with a range of groups, including the Academic Senate. In smaller settings I met with deans and faculty, boards of councilors, undergraduate and graduate student leadership, leadership of the staff senate, and gatherings of university departments and units. I have also had some very insightful conversations with student, staff, and alumni groups and community leaders. Many of you have provided feedback via digital media. These interactions have provided critical insights into the range of perspectives on a number of important issues.

Listening is crucial if we hope to effect meaningful change, as is deeply considering others’ perspectives. Overall we are aligned regarding the importance of living our values. Our commitment to excellence, trust, and transparency is foundational to our success. We will encourage everyone on our campuses to strengthen our culture by being collaborative, being better listeners, and being part of the solution….

USC’s next president should have unimpeachable moral character and integrity, embrace meaningful community involvement and exhibit a deep commitment to transparent and accountable leadership.

That is the overarching message that USC faculty members, students, employees and other stakeholders emphatically shared with university leaders as the search for the institution’s 12th president continues.

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