Resources for Current Students
Student Services

The Chan Division Student Services Team, along with the academic program directors, is dedicated to guiding and assisting students by responding to inquiries related to student services, policies, and procedures.

We also provide students with adequate resources, tools, and referrals to appropriate departments regarding academic matters, retention, and degree completion.

Led by Dr. Ryan Pineda, the Student Services team supports students with the following:

Registration for Classes

The Student Services Team provides course registration information every semester to all Chan Division students. We send out the list of courses to register per degree program and cohort. The registration information also includes instructions on how to review group and class sections before registering, as well as resolving any holds or restrictions (if applicable) by having students review their OASIS account in my.usc.edu.

Additionally, we offer resources and links to the academic calendar, registration deadlines, grading option policies, tuition and mandatory fees, as well as the University Tuition Refund Program.

Course and Classroom Scheduling

Our Student Services Team handles scheduling classes and updating the Schedule of Classes on classes.usc.edu. We also provide departmental clearance (D-clearance) for students if a course requires D-clearance. The team assists with reserving classrooms on the HSC and UPC campuses, including the CHP building.

Financial Aid

The Student Services Team provides general links, resources, and contact information for the USC Financial Aid Office regarding federal financial aid for graduate and professional students, including Direct Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans.

The Student Services Advisor and Supervisor, Dr. Ryan Pineda, can also advise individual students on various financial aid and loan repayment plans and programs, as well as answer general questions about financial aid, and other education-related funds and external (outside of USC) scholarships.

Petitions (Registration-Related and General Petitions)

The Student Services Team provides information and resources for course Registration-related petitions (i.e., registration errors, adding a course late, late change of grading option, and late withdrawal) and General petitions (i.e., repeating a course for grade point credit, and extending time for removal of an incomplete). The Student Services Advisor/Supervisor or another Student Services staff member helps initiate the petition process with the student, the faculty instructor, and the administrator from the Chan Division. The petition is then submitted and processed through the USC Petition Services Office and committee for review, and a final decision is made by them.

Graduation Requirements and Degree Progress

The Student Services Team updates all Chan Division students’ Student Academic Record System report (STARS) by activating and applying applicable coursework toward their degree program, including their expected graduation date. The STARS reflects a student’s academic progress toward completion of their degree for their declared major. This report contains all USC coursework and accepted transfer work that applies to their degree requirements, including the students’ current cumulative and applied GPAs.

Academic Progress Support and Retention

In collaboration with the academic program directors/faculty advisors, the Student Services Supervisor and Advisor provide support and resources to students currently on academic warning or academic probation, and students who plan on taking a leave of absence from the university. The team guides students who return from leave or medical leave for an easier and comfortable transition to the university. We continuously track these students’ academic progress toward retention and degree completion.

PhD in Occupational Science Student Services

In addition to guiding and providing resources on course registration and the STARS report, the Student Services Advisor/Supervisor also assists/guides PhD in OS students with completing and processing the Appointment and Change of Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Committee forms. In collaboration with the PhD Program Director and the PhD student’s respective PhD faculty advisor, the Student Services Advisor/Supervisor also processes Qualifying exam results, Date of PhD Candidacy, and other petition and applicable forms regarding Leave of Absences, Parental Leave, and the final dissertation defense through the USC Graduate School.

The Student Services Advisor/Supervisor also assists with Academic Progress Reviews, PhD Fellowship activation and RA funding in association with the Graduate School, the Chan Business Office, and the PhD Program Director.

Chan Hardship Funds

Currently-enrolled USC Chan Division students experiencing financial hardship due to an unanticipated change in their personal circumstances may reach out to Dr. Ryan Pineda for support in navigating various options/ resources for additional funds, including the Chan Hardship Fund. A financial hardship refers to a life-changing circumstance that is out of a student’s control, and that significantly impacts their ability to finance education-related expenses. Such a situation could affect their performance in the academic program and ultimately their enrollment status.

Front Office Assistance and Referrals

The Student Services/Front Office area assists students with answering general in-person and phone inquiries, lending laptops for exams, providing craft supplies, and helping with checking out lab keys, as well as opening and locking classrooms during business hours.

The Front Office staff responds to issues relating to facilities and maintenance in the classroom or in the CHP building. The staff will notify the appropriate departments to resolve the issue. The Front Office also provides support to Chan students, staff, and faculty in the event of an illness or emergency situation.

Moreover, the Student Services/Front Office staff members also provide students with adequate resources and appropriate referrals to Chan Academic Program Directors and administrators, as well as relevant USC departments, regarding academic, personal, social, and career matters.

Student Services Faculty and Staff

• Dr. Ryan Pineda, Student Services Supervisor; Student Services Advisor III
• Ann Cassar, Student Services Assistant for Student Services and Student Support
• Peter Wittrock, Student Services Assistant; Administrative Assistant II
• Alexandra Ponce, Front Office Assistant
• Dr. Julie McLaughlin Gray, Associate Chair for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is in Accreditation–Inactive status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.