Overview of Services for Students

USC's Information Technology Services (ITS) provides a variety of services to support students in their learning, research, and other activities.

For help with network connectivity and software, contact the consultants at the ITS Customer Support Center by emailing consult@usc.edu or calling 213-740-5555. Walk-in support is available in Leavey Library’s Information Commons, on the lower level. Visit the Customer Support Center page for additional information.

For information about IT help services provided by USC schools and departments, visit the Local IT Support page.

Computing Accounts

Copyright Compliance

USC expects members of its community to familiarize themselves with copyright laws as they pertain to the educational environment. You can find a copy of the annual copyright compliance letter that is sent to all students on the Copyright Compliance Letter to Students page.

USC Account Activation

Before activating your USC computing account, you must be registered for classes or have paid your tuition deposit and certified that you will be attending USC. You also must agree to observe the university’s computing policies, which are available from the IT Computing Policies page. When you are ready to activate your USC computing account, go to the Account Activation page.

If you do not have access to a personal computer, visit one of USC's public computing centers and present your USCard at the service desk. You will be directed to one of the center's computers; go to www.usc.edu/firstlogin and follow the instructions.

Username and Password

ITS will assign you a unique username based on your name. It is important that you create a secure password for your USC account. For more information about creating a secure, or strong, password, please see the Security Overview page.

To protect your computing account and the university computer system, ITS recommends that you visit the Password Change page to change your password every six months.

Network Connections, Email, and Related Resources

Network Connections

For more information about the different ways of connecting to the USC network, visit www.usc.edu/connect.

For information about registering your personal computer or mobile device for use on the USC network, go to the Computer Registration Overview page or the Mobile Overview page.

Email

USC student email accounts have a default email quota of 75 megabytes. As a USC student, you are eligible for a special Gmail account that provides over 7 gigabytes of online storage and allows you to use your @usc.edu email address. These accounts, which are called Google Apps at USC accounts, also provide access to Google's online word processing and spreadsheet programs, sharable calendars, and more. After you have completed the first login process, visit the Google Apps at USC Overview page for information about eligibility and activation instructions. For other email options, see the Email Overview page.

USC Email Retention Policy

All email that is older than one year will be deleted automatically and permanently from USC's email servers. For instructions on how to archive your email on your personal computer, visit Saving Email to Local Folders. The Google Apps at USC accounts are not subject to USC's email retention policy.

Free Antivirus and Other Software

To download free antivirus software, visit the Software Download page. Other software is available as well. (A valid USC login is required.)

For instructions on how to keep your computer secure, go to the Security Overview page.

You will also find a range of software available for use in USC’s public computing centers. See the Software Overview page for more information.

Web-based Resources

Personal Web Pages

USC students receive storage space on a USC server and the option to create and publish a personal page on the web. For more information, go to Publishing Personal Web Pages (Students) or call 213-740-5555.

Blackboard

The Blackboard website is the online portal used by many USC professors to provide you with digital copies of syllabi, handouts, and other resources. Blackboard allows you to upload assignments, take quizzes, and track your progress in your classes.

MyUSC

MyUSC is the university's portal, designed to give you personalized access to wide-ranging campus resources in a single location. Logging in gives you access to university and departmental announcements, along with national news, Web registration, Blackboard, and other online services. For more information, visit http://my.usc.edu.

Computing Documentation, Network Alerts, and ITS Announcements
In addition to documentation on connecting to the USC network and using supported software programs, the ITS website provides information about network performance issues and announcements about scheduled maintenance. See the Alerts and Announcements section of the ITS home page.

Getting Help

USC Computing Centers

For information about USC computing centers and instructional labs, go to the USC Computing Centers page.

24/7 Help

Research and computing assistance is available 24 hours a day during the academic year (except Saturday midnight-Sunday 9 a.m.) in the Leavey Library Information Commons that is located on the lower level.