Recognized Student Organizations and Honor Societies
The Price School of Public Policy student body is drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. They are leaders and problem solvers who are actively engaged in their respective fields.
Click here to search for opportunities to get involved in USC organizations.
Price Office of Student Affairs
Brittany Buendia-Moralez, RSO support advisor
[email protected]
213-821-4473
There are many benefits with becoming an RSO affiliated with the Price School, including financial, planning, and recruitment support from the Office of Student Affairs.
Interested in becoming a Price-recognized RSO? You can read more about the benefits and organizational commitments in the Price Recognized Student Organization handbook.
Current Price RSO leader? Click to join our online RSO Leader Resource Center.
Advanced Degree Consulting Club (ADCC)
ADCC USC is for advanced degree students (PhDs, MDs, JDs, and non-MBA Master students) pursuing a career in consulting. We are an accessible and inclusive network of like-minded students increasing awareness of career opportunities in diverse fields.
Constituents: Graduate and undergraduate students interested in consulting
Contact: [email protected]
Associated Students of Planning and Development (ASPD)
The purpose of this organization is to explore and promote academic and professional development issues related to the field of urban planning and to promote social relationships between people interested in the field.
Constituents: Graduate and undergraduate students in planning
Contact: [email protected]
Black Price Society
Black Price Society aims to be a resource for students who are pursuing a career in a Policy, Planning, and Development related field. We as an organization will strive to create a safe space to discuss and organize around issues that are affecting the black community.
Constituents: Price students interested in African American and Black issues
Contact: [email protected]
Graduate Policy and Administration Community (GPAC)
Building a community of leaders at the Sol Price School of Public Policy to enhance governance, cultivate place, foster collaboration, and promote diversity.
Constituents: Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Science in Public Policy Data Science (MSPPDS), and Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (MNLM) students
Contact: [email protected]
Healthcare Case Competition Club
The purpose of our organization is to explore and promote academic and career related case competition skills, knowledge and performance. In addition, we aim to provide experiential learning regarding the many issues and challenges of the healthcare industry through participation in national and regional case competitions. Students will be able to strengthen their problem solving and analytical skills by participating in our organization. Our motivation to develop and lead this group is that participation in case competitions has been lacking in the past few years within the Master of Health Administration program at Price. Our aim is to encourage student participation in case competition and interest in healthcare consulting. We want to provide Master of Health Administration/Executive Master of Health Administration students the resources and support needed to compete in case competitions held nationwide and showcase student talent in the program.
Constituents: Students interested in case competitions, healthcare consulting, healthcare management, strategy, operations, and professional development
Contact: [email protected]
IPPAM Graduate Students Association
IPPAM Graduate Student Association serves the international & domestic students who are interested in engaging with students with various backgrounds. The mission of this organization is to engage students from different cultures & promote global vision.
Constituents: Graduate students in International Public Policy and Management (IPPAM)
Contact: [email protected]
Mentorship for an Accessible Price
The mission of MAP is to make graduate school at the Sol Price School of Public Policy more accessible to marginalized communities by providing support, mentorship, and guidance in the application process. To achieve this goal, mentors will provide support such as feedback on the Statement of Purpose and resume, advice on the application process, and answers to general questions about Price. All who are interested are eligible to apply, but the program highly encourages individuals from marginalized and historically disenfranchised communities to participate. MAP also aims to expand accessibility by building a student-initiated resource network for scholarships within and outside the Price school. This resource is intended to help students from marginalized and historically disenfranchised communities fund their graduate studies.
Constituents: MAP welcomes all graduate students throughout all schools at Price who wish to contribute and collaborate on fulfilling our mission, either as a mentor for an applicant, a board member, or volunteer for our scholarship education initiatives or policy memos.
Contact: [email protected]
Price Latino Student Association
The mission of the Price Latino Student Association (Price Latino) is to engage undergraduate and graduate students on issues and policies that impact the USC Price Latino community.
Constituents: Students interested in professional and educational growth to become effective leaders who will empower and enhance the broader Latino community
Contact: [email protected]
Price PhD Association
Formerly known as the Price Ph.D. Student Association, Price Ph.D. Association (PPA) represents the needs of Ph.D. students and candidates at the Price School of Public Policy. PPA develops and implements events and resources that aid the Ph.D. students and candidates in their academic endeavors.
Constituents: USC Price Ph.D. students
Contact: [email protected]
Price Student Government
Open to all undergraduate students majoring in Price, PSG is an inclusive organization focused on improving Price through student-led initiatives. It is an incredible opportunity for students to establish or refine themselves in leadership roles and to collaborate with administration and alumni to drive positive change.
Constituents: USC Price undergraduate students
Contact: [email protected]
Public Policy Undergraduates at Price (PPUG)
We aim to build a community of planning undergraduate students, promote academic and professional development, foster critical dialogue on interdisciplinary urban issues, and provide relevant programming for undergraduate students at Price. We host general meetings (to discuss upcoming events), coffee chats (to meet distinguished faculty & staff), and socials (to network with fellow Price students).
Contact: [email protected]
Rainbow Price Community (formerly known as Queer Policy Caucus)
The purpose of this organization is to provide a forum for LGBTQ+ students and allies at the Sol Price School of Public Policy to gather for social and professional development events, and to increase the engagement of the Price School in policy issues of importance to LGBTQ+ individuals.
Constituents: USC Price students supporting LGBTQ+ people and policy issues.
Contact: [email protected]
Students of Color and Allies Policy Forum (SCAPF)
The purpose of this organization is to facilitate constructive discussions and learning related to policies that affect communities of color. SCAPF hopes to create a space where University of Southern California students, community partners, and community members can come together to discuss issues of race and social justice in planning and policy. The main goal of SCAPF is to empower people to create change within their respective fields.
Constituents: students of color, students interested in addressing racial disparities (in institutions and communities), students interested in racial issues intersecting with planning and policy issues, and all other students.
Contact: [email protected]
Student Health Council (SHC)
Student Health Council (SHC) provides students with the critical academic, professional, and social skills required for a successful career in healthcare administration. They serve as a liaison between students, alumni, Graduate Student Government of USC, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and faculty & staff of the Price School. Through participation in SHC activities, students are able to develop a deeper understanding of careers in health services management, finance, consulting, and other administrative paths. They will also be able to build a strong network of academic and professional contacts full of knowledge and experience in healthcare. Board members of SHC gain skills that employers look for: leadership, problem-solving, public speaking, and experience working on a cross-functional team. Their work will unite the many diverse members of the MHA cohorts and other degrees, helping to create a more cohesive Price community. Most importantly, through meetings with faculty, outreach, and other events, members will have the opportunity to mold the future of the USC MHA program.
Constituents: Master of Health Administration (MHA) students and Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) students, undergraduate and doctoral students emphasizing health administration
Contact: [email protected]
Trojan Real Estate Association (TREA)
As the leading Real Estate organization at USC, TREA focuses on curating events, resources, and networking opportunities for its members to encourage them to gain insights and develop meaningful connections within the Real Estate Industry.
Constituents: Undergraduate students of all majors seeking insight into the commercial real estate industry
Contact: [email protected]
Undergraduate Planning at Price (UP)
Undergraduate Planning at Price (UP) is a student-run club that specifically represents the needs and interests of undergraduate urban planning students and is open to anyone interested in urban planning related topics. Our vision is to cultivate a space for regular involvement and community building, promote academic and professional development, foster critical dialogue, and provide relevant programming for undergraduate students at Price. Join our Facebook group, follow our Instagram, and sign up for our mailing list to stay updated on our general meetings and events!
Constituents: All undergraduate students interested in urban planning and nascent topics
Contact: [email protected]
Upsilon Phi Delta Healthcare Administration Society
Upsilon Phi Delta (UPD) is the national academic honor society for students in healthcare administration in the United States. Established in 1965, the organization aims to further the sector of health administration and the professional dedication of its members by recognizing, rewarding, and encouraging academic excellence in the field of health administration. UPD’s activities serve to elevate the standards, ideals, competence, and ethics of individuals preparing for careers in healthcare management, policy, and leadership.
Constituents: Health administration students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Contact: [email protected]
USC Homeland Security Student Organization
The Mission and Purpose of HSSO at USC is to: connect USC students of the past, present, and future interested in the homeland security field; provide its members with an extensive social and professional network; promote career advancement opportunities and educational experiences regarding homeland security and emergency management related issues.
Constituents: Any students interested in the fields of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Contact: [email protected]
Other Student Organizations
To learn more about other USC organizations, please visit https://engage.usc.edu/home_login (note: USC Shibboleth log-in required)
Amid pandemic, student associations serve as catalysts
https://priceschool.usc.edu/usc-price-student-associations-thrive-amid-pandemic/
Honor Societies
USC Price encourages membership in public policy-related honors societies. These organizations unite peers of distinguished academic merit, character, and achievement.
Pi Alpha Alpha
Pi Alpha Alpha is the National Society for Public Affairs and Administration and is an affiliate of the American Society for Public Administration. Its purposes are to:
- encourage and reward scholarship and accomplishment among students and practitioners of public affairs and administration
- promote the advancement of education and scholarship in the art and science of public affairs and administration
- foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of governmental and related public service operation
To be eligible for membership, undergraduates must have completed 15 semester hours in public affairs or public administration, maintain a 3.5 GPA in public affairs/administration and 3.0 GPA overall, and hold 2nd semester junior year standing. Graduate students must have completed at least fifty percent of required course work (minimum of 18 units) and hold a minimum GPA of 3.7.
The deadline to apply in the Fall 2023 cycle was October 23, 2023 at 5:00pm. Please be on the lookout in early Spring 2024 for the next round of applications.
Online Application Form – information forthcoming
Membership fee: $80
Please make the check to USC and drop it off at the Student Affairs Office in RGL 111.
Alumni and online students, please mail checks to our physical address:
USC Price Student Affairs
Attn: Pi Alpha Alpha
650 Child’s Way, RGL 111
LA, CA 90089-0626
For more information, please contact:
USC Price Office of Student Affairs
[email protected]
213-740-6842
Upsilon Phi Delta
The mission of the Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society is to recognize, reward, and encourage academic excellence in the study of public health administration.
Goals:
- encourage interest in academic preparation for careers in healthcare management and policy
- promote activity that elevates the standards, ideals, competence, and ethics of women and men preparing for careers in healthcare management, policy, and leadership
- provide scholarships to outstanding students pursuing degrees related to careers in healthcare management, policy, and leadership
- recognize, by means of granting honorary memberships, individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession
Membership in Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society is open to individuals who meet national and local standards of the organization and who are initiated into membership of a collegiate chapter. Membership is open to students, faculty, healthcare executives and administrators, and those contributing to the healthcare administration profession.
Eligibility: Undergraduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in 18 credit hours of work after
officially declaring a healthcare administration major at an AUPHA Member Program. Graduate members must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 based on at least 18 credit hours of graduate work at an AUPHA Member Program.