University of Southern California
EN-13: Community Service

1) The USC Alternative Breaks Program takes students, student leaders, and faculty/staff to communities in need across the country and the world to perform vital service with partner organizations. There are several domestic and international trips each year. USC Staff and Faculty volunteer to serve as Alternative Break Advisors and are an integral part of the Alternative Breaks Program by providing support throughout the planning process and the trip itself. They serve as a resource and mentor for student coordinators and participants before, during, and after the trip.

The service activities that occur during the trips depend on the trip’s social issue, location, and partnering organizations. For Spring Break trips, service is 4-5 days out of the seven-day trip, with some evenings and days reserved for cultural and educational excursions into the local community. Winter Break trips have a few more days of service and of excursions as they occur over a longer period of time (approximately two weeks).

The USC Volunteer Center covers the advisor’s program fee which includes flight/travel on the trip, housing, most meals, and programmed cultural and service activities for all Faculty/Staff Advisors. Advisors must be full-time or part-time USC faculty or staff members. Employees serving as Alternative Break Advisors are offered paid time off upon approval of their supervisor for their participation in the program.

2) Since 1994, USC faculty and staff have been helping the communities around the university to thrive through the Good Neighbors Campaign. In all, they have donated more than $16-million to the fundraising effort, which takes place each October at both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. Contributions are distributed to USC Neighborhood Outreach (UNO) grants and United Way. Nearly 550 grants totaling $17.5-million have been given to community organizations to enhance educational opportunities, promote good health and fitness, support economic development and USC hiring, and improve safety. Staff and faculty also volunteer their time to assist with the Good Neighbors Campaign.

3) Friends and Neighbors Day is a community service program that is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni during the academic year. The program was developed after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots as a way to connect volunteers from the USC community with local service organizations in meaningful ways. Participants are introduced to volunteer opportunities at various nonprofits throughout the Los Angeles area. The goal of the program is to inspire students, staff, and alumni to continue their passion for community service during their time here at USC and beyond.

Data Owners:
USC Volunteer Center
USC Joint Education Project
USC Good Neighbors

Note: All information is from FY18-19. Student volunteer hours are only representative of USC's undergraduate student population. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled for credit comes from the IPEDS 12 month enrollment (page 5) : https://oir.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IPEDS_12-month_Enrollment_Survey_2019-20.pdf