From left to right: associate academic director Valerie Pierce, managing director Aga Paul, academic director Deborah Detzel, USC President C. L. Max Nikias, vice president for strategic and global initiatives Anthony Bailey, marketing director Terrence Liu, assistant director of administration Pamela Yamamoto Ireland and admissions and advising manager JJ Lee take part in the rededication of the Davidson Conference Center as the new home of the USC International Academy on October 21, 2015. (USC Photo/Gus Ruelas)

On October 21 2015, USC President C. L. Max Nikias led a rededication ceremony to formally inaugurate the Davidson Conference Center for the USC International Academy. A site once dedicated primarily to large-group meetings, the Davidson Conference Center on the northeast corner of the University Park Campus has been refitted to contain 28 classrooms. The change reflects the high student demand for the USC International Academy’s services.

The university launched the academy in fall 2014 for international students. The academy helps students qualify for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs at research universities across the U.S., including USC, by assisting them with test preparation, language courses and individualized admissions consulting.

Offerings include a pre-master’s program that provides a unique suite of courses to prepare students for USC’s rigorous graduate degrees. No other top 25 private research university offers similar services. Nearly 100 USC graduate degrees offer conditional admission through the pre-master’s program, including business, engineering and computer science.

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