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, etc.

2. What is their purpose?

They are designed to address a student’s safety and well-being as well as to ensure that, despite what students may be experiencing, their continued access to University programs and activities is preserved or restored.

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 class 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 class 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 class 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 RSVP, Counseling and Mental Health, WorkWell)
• 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).