USC president to step down over admissions scandal, Pro-Palestinian protests

University of Southern California (USC) President Carol Folt, who took on the university’s top role five years ago amid fallout from a high-profile admissions scandal, has announced she will retire in July at the close of the academic year. Her departure comes after a turbulent tenure, during which she faced fresh controversies over pro-Palestinian campus protests.

“Serving as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Folt said in her message to the campus community on Friday. “After more than 20 years of leadership at three great universities, however, I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution.”

Folt joined USC in 2019, following her leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and previous roles at Dartmouth College. Her arrival at USC followed the resignation of former president C L. Max Nikias, amid an admissions scandal that implicated college athletic staff across multiple US institutions, with allegations of students being falsely admitted on sports scholarships. Folt also faced the challenge of handling the criminal case involving USC gynecologist George Tyndall, accused by hundreds of students of sexual misconduct, a matter that led to USC’s commitment to hundreds of millions in settlements.

In her tenure, Folt has steered USC through significant advancements, including “the $1 billion investment in Frontiers of Computing and USC's new School of Advanced Computing, Health Sciences 3.0, Athletics Reimagined, Sustainable Urban Futures, and USC Competes,” along with substantial upgrades to athletic facilities and the university’s move into the Big Ten sports conference. USC also established a Capital Campus in Washington, DC, during her presidency, aiming to extend its academic and professional influence on the East Coast.

Despite these achievements, Folt has recently faced criticism related to her handling of pro-Palestinian protests. Earlier this year, protests and encampments at USC’s Alumni Park culminated in a police-led operation that resulted in 93 arrests. The campus’s response to the unrest led to USC adjusting its commencement proceedings, opting to move ceremonies to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Additionally, the university drew controversy when it barred pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum from speaking at the graduation ceremony, citing safety concerns.

USC Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson praised Folt’s leadership, saying, “Carol was hired at one of the most important moments in the school's history, bringing her unique and significant experience as a university president and chancellor at two institutions of distinction... Her keen strategic eye towards the future, and the groundbreaking initiatives she has launched as a result, will benefit both the current and next generations of Trojans and undoubtedly contribute to USC’s long-term sustainable excellence.”

While Folt will step down as president, the 73-year-old plans to remain with USC as a tenured faculty member. In her final months, Folt said she will focus on “the business of running this great university, and ensuring a seamless transition for the new president.”