Mission Statement

Founded in 1982, Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) is a department within USC Student Life’s Student Equity and Inclusion Programs area that offers an array of programming designed to educate, engage and empower students.

APASS has a two-fold mission:

to facilitate Asian Pacific American participation, dialogue, community-building, and empowerment, while at the same time,
to serve as a source of cross-cultural educational programming for the entire campus.

We strive to create unique learning opportunities that include mentorship, leadership development, advocacy, and community involvement. We understand the distinctive needs among the different ethnicities within our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and we succeed in deriving strength from our diversity. We believe in a pan-Asian Pacific American identity that is rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, and continues to grow in the transnational sphere.

Program Highlights

APA New Student Welcome

The APA New Student Welcome helps all first-year (freshman, transfer, and spring admits) discover great programs and organizations to get involved with. Discover the dynamic and diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander community at USC, meet other students, and make the most of your college experience! For more information, visit: https://apass.usc.edu/programs/studentwelcome/

PEER First-year Mentoring

The PEER mentoring program is a collaborative project between APASS and the USC Counseling and Mental Health. Since 1994, PEER matches first-year APA students (freshmen, transfers, and spring admits) with continuing APA students in a unique mentoring relationship focused on transition, success, and growth.

The PEER Community meets monthly for skill-building workshops, networking, and community-building.

Mentors and mentees are matched by a number of criteria, including: academic program, interests, and extracurricular involvements.

For more information, visit: https://apass.usc.edu/programs/peer/

CIRCLE Leadership Development

Critical Issues in Race, Class, and Leadership Education, or CIRCLE, is a seven-week educational leadership program focused on developing future Asian Pacific Islander community leaders through encouraging dialogues between students, connecting them to local community based organizations, and exploring both historic and contemporary Asian Pacific Islander issues and experiences in America. Since 1988, student participants have the opportunity to engage in discussions on social justice and various issues.

For more information, visit: https://apass.usc.edu/programs/circle/

Visit the APASS homepage to learn more about the center’s programs and initiatives!

Contact or visit us

apass@usc.edu
213-740-4999
Student Union (STU) 410