USC New Student Orientation
Welcome to the new student and parent guide for USC Auxiliary Services. Connect with us and find all of the information that your student will need for move-in and living success at USC. Fight On!
Top tips for students and parents preparing for move-in
Preparing to Live on Campus Virtual Presentation with Q&A Did you miss our live webinar? No problem, the presentation was recorded and is now available for viewing. The presentation featured information regarding housing, meal plans, on-campus dining options, on-campus transit and parking, textbooks, course materials, USCard, and campus currency.
Everything you need to create your move-in plan will be posted here for your convenience. Please check in mid-July, for more details.
In the meantime, be sure to download our move-in checklist for useful items to guide your packing (or shopping) activities.
Please visit the Housing website to learn about assignment updates, maps, and more!
Visit the USC Housing website Download the Move-In Checklist
Students may enjoy meals in any of our three Residential Dining Halls. Convenient campus locations and diverse menus make it easy for students to plan meal times around their busy schedules. Each dining hall has a unique menu based on healthy and sustainable food principles from Menus of Change, as well as offering a sustainable to-go container program through our partnership with USEFULL.
USC Bookstores carry everything you need for life on campus, from course materials & computers to exclusive Trojan gear & daily essentials.
You can order bedding, bath gear and décor online to personalize your room and it will ship to campus for pick-up during Move-In Week.
Back To School Gear Style Your Campus Home Order Your Textbooks Shop the Latest Tech Join Our Mailing List
Food allergies, sensitivities or religious restrictions? Ensure that your student with special diet or nutrition concerns starts off on the right foot with a meeting with our registered dietitian.
USC Hotel offers convenient accommodations for USC students, students’ families, guests attending campus events, and Trojan fans! Receive the best rate by booking directly on our website.
Night classes, study groups or late night library visits are a normal part of the college experience. Read more about our USC Lyft Ride Program and other services for safe transportation.
Want to earn some extra spending money between classes and work on campus? USC Auxiliary Services is filling hundreds of positions in our Bookstore, Campus Dining, Housing, Transportation, Catering, and Administrative Departments. Visit ConnectSC and search for USC Auxiliary Jobs. Be sure to check back often. Fall 2023 jobs will be posted throughout the summer.
Everything else you should know about living the best USC life
Residential Meal Swipes are used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in all three Residential Dining Halls.
Campus Center Meal Swipes are for “special combo meals” at select retail venues at Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
Dining Dollars make up the entire Trojan Plan or may be purchased in separate blocks. Use Dining Dollars to purchase any meals and snacks served in Residential Dining and USC Hospitality retail eateries that do not serve alcohol. Dining Dollars and Meal Swipes expire at the end of each semester and do not rollover.
Discretionary funds are loaded on the student’s card. Once loaded, they can be used in university-managed dining facilities, retail stores, and campus locations. Any unused Discretionary funds are refunded when the student is no longer enrolled at USC. Click below to see where you can use Discretionary.
September 3, 2024 is the deadline to upgrade a student’s residential dining meal plan selection for Fall 2024. By default, all first year students living in University Housing will be assigned the Cardinal Meal Plan. However, residents may elect to upgrade their meal plan.
You may also add a block of $250 or $500 Dining Dollars to any meal plan for more flexibility. Dining Dollars will allow your students to purchase any food and beverage at all USC Hospitality on-campus retail eateries (that don’t serve alcohol), including Starbucks, Panda Express, etc. These come in handy for quick bites between classes or when returning to Residential Dining isn’t possible.
Is your student in an apartment, but doesn’t know how to cook? You can upgrade them from the Apartment Plan to the Cardinal or Trojan Plan, or purchase a block of Dining Dollars.
USC Bookstore is your best choice for textbook rentals and course materials. We have the largest in-store and online rental program in the country, normal highlighting and note-taking in the textbooks are acceptable, and you’ll enjoy free return shipping if you rent online as a registered user.
We also offer a wide variety of Apple, Microsoft, Dell and other technology products at special discounted student pricing.
One of the most important investments you can make is renter’s insurance for your student’s possessions. Students often bring thousands of dollars of electronics, textbooks, and personal items. USC is not responsible for lost or damaged property. Visit GradGuard for more information.
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Important dates and events for 2023.
You have questions – we have answers!
Learn about the most frequently asked questions asked by parents during New Student Orientation. We have all the answers!