1. What are supportive measures?
Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive, individualized support services available to students who believe they may have currently (or in the past) experienced discrimination, harassment, or retaliation related to one or more protected characteristics, such as race, gender, disability, religion, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, etc
2. What is their purpose?
Supportive measures are designed to address the physical safety and emotional well-being of USC community members, as we as to restore or preserve equal access to the University’s programs, services, and activities (including employment and education) without unreasonably burdening the other party, or to deter discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Supportive measures may be made available to community member at any point after a report is made to EEO-TIX and throughout any ensuing resolution process.
3. Are there limits on supportive measures?
Supportive measures must be appropriate, reasonably available, and free of charge. There is not an exhaustive list of supportive measures—the EEO-TIX Intake, Outreach, and Support Team encourages students to ask for what might be helpful to them, and they will seek to determine whether the requested support service can be provided. If it cannot, the team will look for alternative support services.
Under federal law, supportive measures cannot unreasonably burden another person.
4. Must students file a formal complaint to obtain supportive measures?
No. Students may contact EEO-TIX at eeotix@usc.edu or (213) 740-5086 with a protected characteristic concern, and they will be connected to the EEO-TIX Intake, Outreach, and Support team to discuss possible supportive measures. Students also do not need to share all the details regarding their protected characteristic concern to receive supportive measures.
A report to EEO-TIX is not the same as a Formal Complaint and does not necessarily lead to an investigation. Students may decide to only access supportive measures and not proceed with a Formal Complaint. EEO-TIX will seek to honor a student’s preferred course of action whenever possible.
5. What are specific examples of a protected characteristic concern?
Some specific examples include:
A student believes that they have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of race, such as being racially profiled.
A student has experienced some form of sexual misconduct.
An international student believes they are being treated differently from other students with respect to internships or other opportunities based on national origin.
A student is being regularly misgendered in class.
A full list of protected characteristics can be found in the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination Statement.
6. What are examples of supportive measures?
- Access to counseling (i.e., referral to CARE-SC, Counseling and Mental Health, WorkWell Center)
- Mutual Avoidance of Contact (AOC) directive (a non-punitive, non-disciplinary administrative measure designed to minimize conflict)
- Academic accommodations (e.g., extension of deadlines, rescheduling of exams, excused absences, leave of absence)
- Housing or parking accommodations
- Workplace modifications (if student employees)
- Schedule modifications
- Other reasonably available supportive measures
7. When else may EEO-TIX offer supportive measures?
If a formal complaint is filed, all parties are assigned an EEO-TIX Intake and Care Manager to periodically check on them throughout the formal resolution process (i.e., investigation) and to offer reasonably available supportive measures.
Supportive measures also are available to faculty and staff (and to witnesses in EEO-TIX resolutions, upon request).
8. Who comprises the Intake, Outreach, and Support Team and what is the team’s role?
The role of the intake team at EEO-TIX is to serve as the “front door.” They are the team members who respond to initial reports to conduct outreach and offer support resources, resolution options, and an invitation to meet. EEO-TIX has two Deputy Coordinators for Intake, Outreach, and Support; a dedicated Deputy EEO-TIX Coordinator for Healthcare; and four Intake, Outreach, and Care Managers. The primary role of the EEO-TIX Intake, Outreach, and Care Managers is to prioritize the care and wellbeing of USC community members, including faculty and staff, by facilitating supportive measures.