Learn: Multicultural Resources

At USC, we are committed to your academic, professional and artistic development, and we have compiled many resources to help you throughout your journey. Although the information on this page is not exhaustive, it is designed to highlight the various ways students can be a part of diverse and inclusive communities as well as showcase some of what makes USC such a special place.  

Honoring Native Lands 

USC acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Tongva People. For thousands of years, the Tongva people lived on this land we occupy today and were considered the most powerful indigenous peoples to inhabit the Los Angeles basin. Along with the Tongva, we also recognize the Chumash, Tataviam, Serrano, Cahuilla, Juaneno and Luiseno People, for the land that USC also occupies around Southern California. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration and settlement that bring us here today.

USC Student Equity and Inclusion Programs (SEIP) is a cluster of student development centers and initiatives within USC Student Affairs that offer student support services and programs that focus on intersectionality, sense of belonging and well-being. SEIP facilitates dialogue and community building in addition to leading campus-wide equity and inclusion initiatives that impact the student experience. 

Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS)

Established in 1982, APASS provides programs, services and resources for students who identify as Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA). We facilitate APIDA student participation, dialogue, community building and empowerment, as well as serve as a source of cross-cultural educational programming for the entire campus. Our unique learning opportunities include mentorship, leadership development, advocacy and community involvement.

Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA)

Established in 1977, CBCSA provides intentional, holistic, scholarly and co-curricular programming designed to strengthen the understanding of Black Diasporic heritage. We strive to create a community that focuses on Black excellence through the following six pillars of success: Cultural Investment, Community Building and Engagement, Collaborative Partnerships, Social and Professional Development, Student Empowerment, and Student Wellness.

First Generation Plus Success Center (FG+SC)

FG+SC serves as a resource hub for current first-generation, undocumented, transfer, and former foster youth students as they navigate campus. Our mission is to cultivate a sense of belonging and a culture of holistic well-being through intentional mentorship, supportive services and leadership opportunities.

Latinx/Chicanx Center for Advocacy and Student Affairs (La CASA)

Established in 1972, La CASA provides empowerment through cultural identity, leadership and social consciousness development, as well as community building for undergraduate and graduate students at USC. La CASA strives to educate the campus about Latinx issues and the ethnic diversity represented within the community (i.e., Central and South America, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico), by offering programs and services that focus on intersectionality.

LGBTQ+ Student Center

The LGBTQ+ Student Center is a cultural advocacy center that provides support, education, advocacy and community for all undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Southern California with an emphasis on students across the spectra of gender and sexuality. The LGBTQ+SC is committed to creating programming that serves the multiple intersections of identities within the diverse LGBTQ+ community, in collaboration with Student Equity and Inclusion Programs (SEIP) and other university partners, and fostering intentional identity development and leadership development for USC students.

Native American Student Assembly (NASA)

NASA is a cultural and educational organization for self-identifying American Indian students, as well as any other student or community member interested in American Indian issues and culture. NASA is dedicated to building a community among its members and to enriching the diversity of the USC campus.

Student Basic Needs

The Student Basic Needs department fosters a culture of holistic well-being for students by helping to eliminate life barriers—such as food and housing insecurity and other economic injustices—that may jeopardize academic and personal success. We connect students to campus and community resources, help streamline communication with campus partners and develop our own initiatives to further support students.

Veterans Resource Center (VRC)

The VRC is committed to supporting the individual and academic success of veterans, service members and their families—whether that be in the form of assisting with enrollment, creating intentional veteran-focused programming, connecting students to on-campus services or supporting career development.

There are so many ways to find your community at USC. 

Here’s just a small sample of the 1,000+ clubs and organizations available at USC: 

• African Americans in Health
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• Black Business Student Association
• Bollywood Fusion Dance Team
• National Pan-Hellenic Council
• Hermanas Unidas

 

Black and Latinx Students
Want to hear from some of our alumni within both the Black Alumni Association and the Latino Alumni Association about their experience as part of the Trojan Family? Check out these interviews.

First-Generation Students 
Did you know USC has a physical space dedicated to First-Generation Trojans — students whose parents did not attend or complete college? Learn more about the First-Generation+ Success Center and hear about the college experience from USC first-gen students in this video!