WELCOME
TO THE RESIDENTS OF
ILIUM RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE
FOUR PILLARS OF THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE • Life of the Mind • Life of the Body • Life of Service • Sense of Belonging
CARDINAL & GOLD EVENTS
Cardinal & Gold events take place every Thursday and Friday night and are free to all residential students. There are activities and outings for every interest — from feature film screenings in McCarthy Quad to evening hikes in Griffith Park to concerts at LA Live. Be on the lookout for the weekly schedule of events in the Fall!
WELCOME!
We are incredibly excited to welcome you into your new residential college home in the beautiful USC Village. We hope you are looking forward to meeting and living among 356 of your peers in this vibrant, prideful and scholarly living-learning community. With diverse programming opportunities, faculty and staff support, and a community of second-year USC students as your neighbors, we’re confident that you’ll feel at home in no time! HISTORY AND CULTURE
Ilium Residential College is the home for Sophomore Honors students. Ilium is a vibrant, tight-knit community of scholars who share a commitment to rigorous intellectual and academic achievement. Ilium will build upon the experience the Honors student had during their freshmen year in McCarthy. Students will engage in programs and conversations that promote innovative thinking and challenge them to explore all branches of knowledge. Students living in Ilium will have direct contact with Faculty in Residence as well as other faculty, staff, and experts across disciplines. Unique experiences in this Residential College will include connecting students to research opportunities as well as focusing on community building and the holistic development of high achieving students in their second year at USC. Ilium Residential College will create a peer network of student scholars who are successful in balancing involvement in academic and social activities and will have the opportunity to mentor students living in the McCarthy Honors College.
TO THE RESIDENTS OF
ILIUM RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE
MEET THE FACULTY & STAFF OF ILIUM Faculty in Residence serve as your mentors, advisers, and advocates. They facilitate and lead the academic focus, in partnership with the Residential Education staff, for your living-learning community. Residential Education staff work to support your holistic development and success at USC. They directly supervise your resident assistants, develop community through programming, resolve conflict through mediation, and serve as resources for residents.
LAURA BAKER FACULTY IN RESIDENCE
MORGAN VINSON RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE COORDINATOR
Baker is a professor of psychology at USC, where she teaches and researches behavioral genetics and individual differences. Baker’s research involves the study of genetic and environmental influences in human behavior, with a focus on aggressive and antisocial behavior. She teaches courses in behavioral genetics, statistics, human sexuality, and has a new course on the science of meditation. She lives in Room 5504 along with her cat, Sophie. Her three kids are here from time to time as well, including two sons, Colin (USC 2014) and Cameron (Willamette 2017), and a daughter, Morgan (Tufts 2012), who recently finished her PhD in math at the University of Utah.
Vinson is from the East Bay Area in Northern California and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received her bachelor’s in sociology with a minor in Italian studies. After graduating, Vinson worked for two years as an assistant resident director at UCSB in first-year communities, further developing her passion for advising, conduct, and social justice and diversity work. She earned her master’s in education from UCLA. Her research interests are based around a deep understanding of hegemonic masculinity and how it affects higher education and the development of women of color, and she considers herself a feminist. In her free time, she enjoys making music, cooking, Core Power Yoga, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
COLEMAN REARDON GRADUATE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE COORDINATOR Reardon is pursuing his master’s degree in postsecondary administration and student affairs at USC. He was born and raised in Cohoes, New York, and received his bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science from the University of Miami. While at Miami, Reardon was involved in residential life, student government, and homecoming. He loves trying new foods, flamingos and keeping up with Hurricanes sports. Reardon is new to the LA area, so he is excited to do some exploring and learn more about all that the city has to offer. He is also looking forward to helping members of our Trojan Family make L.A. and USC their home.
MORE ABOUT LIFE IN ILIUM COLLEGE ACCESS DAY
THE SOPHOMORE SUCCESS SERIES
VACAY @ THE VILLAGE
College Access Day is an annual event hosted by the Office for Residential Education and the Rossier School of Education where we bring 300 high school students from the Los Angeles area to campus for a day to learn more about the college admission process, skills needed to be successful in a university setting, and life outside of the classroom. High school students listen to faculty, staff and student panels, participate in a college skills workshop, and have lunch with USC student mentors.
The Sophomore Success Series is a weeklong event that offers workshops, presentations, and interactive programming for our predominantly sophomore population. Events and workshops include topics such as financial literacy, internship seeking, time management, and even a chance to take a professional headshot.
Vacay @ the Village takes place during the spring and focuses on wellness with a spa-like ambience. Village residents participate and learn more about ways they can maintain wellness and well-being via yoga, eating tips, and relaxation activities. There are opportunities to sample healthy food options, make your own facials, and get your nails done!
TUESDAY’S TEA
Tuesday’s Tea is a weekly event for all residents of the USC Village. Our Faculty in Residence host guest speakers that fit the theme of their Residential College. This allows all residents a chance to engage in a variety of topic areas. Tuesday’s Teas in the past have included speakers from the film industry, popular podcasters, a civil rights attorney, and a former international diplomat among others. Tuesday’s Teas always offer tea (of course), coffee, and light snacks.
B-REEL: VILLAGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE
During the spring semester, one full week is devoted to a documentary festival. Documentaries screened represent the themes of our Residential Colleges. The final night of B-REEL ends with an outdoor screening on our Great Lawn with food trucks and other fun activities.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Sophomore Honors students living in Ilium Residential College will get the chance to mentor first-year Honors students in McCarthy Honors College. Students will be paired up by interest or major and will be able to give advice over round-table dinners, informal coffee chats, and at other Village programming.
GET INVOLVED! RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION (RHA)
Founded in 1988, Residential Housing Association (RHA) serves all students who live in USC Housing by providing them with ways to enhance and contribute to their residential experience at the University of Southern California. One of the largest organizations on campus, RHA strives to build community, empower residents, and create opportunities for academic success and leadership development. RHA acts as a resource by coordinating and promoting all phases of student development and self-government, while representing the residential community on both regional and national levels. Check out the RHA welcome back event during Welcome Week! COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Do you want to gain valuable leadership experience while making lasting friendships, planning events, and serving as a resource to your fellow residents? Consider joining Community Council! Community Councils are responsible for a wide variety of fun, social, and engaging programs throughout the academic year for their individual communities. Student leaders are elected or appointed into their Community Council by their peers. Community Council members represent their residents at Residential Housing Association (RHA) meetings and gain valuable leadership experience!
CAMPUS RESOURCES OFFICE FOR RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION
STU 200 213-740-2080
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
SKS 410 213-740-5693
HOUSING
OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS LIFE
620 McCarthy Way 213-740-8488
URC 106 213-740-6110
USC STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN STUDENT SERVICES
Engemann Student Health Center 1031 W. 34th St. 213-740-9355
STU 410 213-740-4999
CENTER FOR BLACK CULTURAL AND STUDENT AFFAIRS
STU 415 213-740-8257 EL CENTRO CHICANO
STU 402 213-740-1480 LGBT RESOURCE CENTER
STU 202B 213-740-7619
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