Course FAQs

Q&A Resources, Policies, and Advice

How we come together? Our class is a place where we respect all voices. I view our time together as relational and not transactional. It is important to me to build community by getting to know you and for you getting to know each other. Our diverse community is an opportunity to learn and expand. My priority is to make sure we all feel whole, heard, encouraged & supported. Wellness both physically and emotionally is my priority for our community. If you are experiencing difficulties, email is the preferred communication, but if it is an emergency please text me, as well: 323-839-0090. Above all else, good communication is our foundation. 

What if I need a disability accommodation? If you have a documented disability (learning or otherwise) and require an accommodation in this course, please consult with me immediately at the beginning of the semester so together we can design a plan for successful in the class. Communication is key. I am happy to find the best style of learning for your individual needs and to accommodate our different bodies and minds. Even if you do not have a formal accommodation, please let me know if you are suffering in any way. We can work together to ensure educational success. 

What are My Thoughts Regarding Equity & Inclusive? Please note that equity in all forms is a pillar of the class community that we will build. All viewpoints are not only accepted but encouraged with the exception of harmful actions or hateful rhetoric. Every person in the course deserves dignity and respect regardless of ethnicity, religious affiliation, neurodiversity, race, gender identification, ability, or any other perceived "difference." In the words of writer and scholar bell hooks: "Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world."

What should I do if I am feeling lost or overwhelmed in this class? First, let me know. If you are comfortable speaking in class, please do. Cultivating a space for every voice in this course is a priority. You may not be the only person with concerns, and we benefit from working questions out together. However, if a private conversation is needed, please alert me and I will make time to speak with you. 

Second, schedule an office-hour visit. If my stated office hours are incompatible with your schedule, please let me know and I will do my best to make accommodations. You are welcome to email me anytime. I generally respond within 24 hours. Feel free to email me again if you do not hear from me in 48 hours. Sometimes emails are lost. Many questions and issues can be easily resolved this way.

Third, spend extra time on Brightspace. I offer a bevy of resources. “Writing Tools,” and “Readings,” are particularly rich with additional information and can be found in our weekly "Content."

What other campus resources might help me succeed in this class? Visit The Writing Center  Email: mailto:writing@usc.edu) for free help at any stage of the writing process. Please see resources for students with food insecurities HERE! Please see resources for mental health HERE! Lastly, please see resources for physical illness, including contracting Covid-19, HERE!

A wonderful resource inside and outside of class is Trojans Care 4 Trojans (TC4T) 

Again, communicate, communicate, communicate. All questions are honored and welcome. Together we will have a wonderful semester!

Stephanie