WANDA M. AUSTIN PH.D.
Interim President

March 14, 2019
Dear USC community,
I write to update you on actions we have taken in response to the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing
investigation of the college admissions scheme that targeted several universities across the country,
including USC. I want to assure you that I share your disappointment and concern about this matter.
These recent revelations run counter to our values, which prioritize admissions based on merit and
opportunity for all qualified candidates. Our record of diversity among students selected for admission is a
particular point of pride for me.
We will do all that is necessary to continue to strengthen our culture and to restore trust within our
community. This morning, I briefed members of the USC Board of Trustees on the steps we are taking,
and they voiced their full support for any and all appropriate actions.
On Tuesday, we announced that we terminated two employees associated with the allegations. We also
placed on leave Dentistry faculty member Homa H. Zadeh, who was named in the federal indictment as a
parent. This leave is a required procedural step in the process for terminating tenured faculty. More
employment actions may be possible as new facts come to light.
Since that time, we have also:
• opened our own investigation into the matter while remaining in full cooperation with the U.S.
Justice Department;
• began the process of identifying donations that may have been received in connection with the
alleged scheme. We will determine how best to redirect those funds for scholarships benefiting
underserved student applicants;
• announced our decision to deny admission to applicants in the current admissions cycle who are
connected to the alleged scheme;
• initiated a case-by-case review of current students and graduates who may be connected to the
alleged scheme. We will make informed decisions about those cases as the reviews are completed.
USC’s Office of Professionalism and Ethics, Student Affairs, and Admissions and Enrollment are
conferring on this process to ensure the university follows the appropriate course.
Moving forward, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of our admissions process and
to ensure we conduct ourselves with integrity and ethics consistent with our values.
Sincerely,

Wanda M. Austin
Interim President

 
  

University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90089-0012 • Tel: 213 740 2111 • Fax: 213 821 1342