Carolinian Creed

The idea for the Carolinian Creed emerged in the spring of 1989 when a group of faculty, staff, and students were appointed to study the growing number of hate crimes and incidents of incivility on American college campuses. The Vice President of Student Affairs asked the group to examine this issue for our community and determine what might prevent similar incidents from happening at USC.

The group examined how relationships are influenced by our campus culture. They concluded that our community values and standards could be stated more clearly, displayed more visibly, and promoted more intentionally. To influence the daily lives of members of our community, the group believed that we needed to make explicit much of what is implicit in out constitutional documents, policies, and rituals. Their deliberations resulted in the Carolinian Creed.

After receiving the endorsement and approval of USC’s National Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees, The Student Trustee Liaison Committee, the Student Senate, and the Faculty Senate, the Creed was officially introduced at a Convocation on the Horseshoe in October 1990. Since then, the text of the Creed has been added to many major University publications and framed copies hang in most buildings and offices. The John Templeton Foundation has cited the Carolinian Creed as one of 35 exemplary college programs that effectively communicate the values of honesty, trust, respect, responsibility, and integrity.