Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Programs and Services


Return to: University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast  


Automobiles on Campus

Students, employees, and frequent visitors of the university are required to purchase parking permits to register their automobiles with the University Security Department. Temporary permits are issued when a vehicle is to be on campus fewer than 14 days. Parking zones have been established along with other regulations. Penalties are assessed for violations of regulations.

Vehicle registration is valid for one academic year on the Gulf Park campus. Keesler Air Force Base permits are issued free of charge each semester. Proof of insurance and a valid driver’s license must be shown before a Keesler permit can be issued. Permits may be obtained from The University of Southern Mississippi Keesler Teaching Site. Southern Miss Gulf Coast parking decals can be obtained at the Gulf Park Security Office, and each day of student registration.

Bookstore

Textbook Service

The Gulf Coast Bookstore location in Long Beach offers course materials for all Gulf Coast sections including Gulf Park, GCRL, and Stennis.  All Hattiesburg section course materials are located at the Hattiesburg Campus Bookstore.  Students with online courses can order at shopsouthernmiss.com and choose delivery or in-store pick-up.  Buyback will be held on a daily basis at the Gulf Park Bookstore.

Disability Accommodations (ODA)

In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), Southern Miss does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs or activities. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities are provided through the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA). ODA verifies eligibility for accommodations and works with eligible students to develop and coordinate plans for the provision of accommodations. Eligible students include those who are enrolled in degree and nondegree programs offered by The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, and are considered qualified to meet all university program requirements despite a disability, and meet the definition of disability as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA.

Accommodations may include exam modifications, assistive technology, document conversion, interpreters, note-takers, and readers. In order to receive appropriate and timely accommodations, eligible students should contact the ODA before the semester begins to file an application and submit documentation of disability for review. The ODA is committed to creating a positive campus environment where students with disabilities are encouraged to pursue careers on the basis of personal interest and ability.

For an application and guidelines for documentation of disability, contact the Office for Disability Accommodations, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, or call 601.266.5024, 228.214.3232 or visit the Web site www.usm.edu/oda. Individuals with hearing impairments can use Mississippi Relay Services at 800.582.2233 (TTY) to contact campus offices.

Gulf Coast Library and Media Center

During 2002, Cox Library, Media Center, and Curriculum Lab moved to the spacious new 55,000-square-foot named The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library and Media Center. Filled with natural light, this state-of-the-art facility has a learning commons that offers single and group computer work stations, presentation areas and access to the Writing Center and Speaking Center.

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library serves as a resource center for the Gulf Park campus. It contains collections of print and nonprint material that directly support the instructional programs offered by Southern Miss Gulf Coast. This includes over 100, 000 books, over 3000 dvds and cds, and 18,000 volumes in the Curriculum Lab. The library has access to over 200 electronic databases, many offering the full text of the articles. The library uses the Library of Congress Classification System. Special collections include the Curriculum Lab and the Gulf Park College for Women Archives.

The university-wide library cooperative program gives Gulf Coast students and faculty access to most library resources on the Southern Miss campus in Hattiesburg. This program is facilitated by The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries’ online catalog, which can be searched in The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library, as well as by remote access via the Internet, from a home or office computer. A thrice-weekly shuttle transports library materials between the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus and the Gulf Park campus. The shuttle transports materials twice a week between GCRL and the Gulf Park campus. Materials not available in The University of Southern Mississippi libraries are borrowed through Document Delivery services from other lending libraries throughout the United States.

Audiovisual Services of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library Media Center has audiovisual equipment, most forms of media software, and educational television available for use by faculty, students, and staff. Graphic Services of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library Media Center can generate for students, faculty, and staff items such as transparencies, posters, labels, forms, newsletters, and brochures and can assist with designing displays and presentations.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of Southern Mississippi complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disability Act. No otherwise qualified individual with a disability, solely on the basis of his/her disability, will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination in the administration of any educational program or activity, including admission or access thereto or in treatment or employment therein by The University of Southern Mississippi. All reasonable accommodations must be approved through the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for students, or the Human Resources director for faculty/staff. Students who need assistance in reasonably accommodating a disability in the classroom or on campus should contact the ODA director at 601.266.5024 or 228.214.3232; faculty and staff should contact the director of Human Resources at 601.266.4050. Individuals with hearing impairments can use Mississippi Relay Service at 800.582.2233 (TTY) to contact campus offices.

Technology

The responsibility of managing technology on the Gulf Coast is placed in the Information Technology (iTech) Department. Technology issues are planned, installed, set up, and maintained by technicians that reside at Stennis Space Center, Gulf Park, and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL), and Hattiesburg campus.

Classrooms

Most classrooms have ceiling-mounted projectors and associated drop-down or pull-down screens. Cables are provided to the front of the classroom for connection to computers, DVD/VCR players, document cameras, and/or other electronics.

Passwords/E-mail

Students, faculty, and staff members are able to reset their password(s) at any iTech office, using SOAR Self Service or via phone 228.214.3404 or 601.266.HELP (4357).

Computers/Software

Computers may be ordered, set up, and software installed for faculty and staff. Support for student computers is limited to assisting with wireless setup and basic software and operating system questions. iTech is not authorized to repair or work on student computers or faculty and staff personal computers.

Computer Labs

Computer labs and community computers with printing capabilities are available to enrolled students, faculty, and staff at Gulf Park, GCSSC and GCRL. Computers in labs may be used when classes are not being held in the lab. Identical software configurations are on each computer; any deviation is so marked on the computer. Any added files or changes to the computers’ configuration are automatically removed each night.

Telephones

Telephone and fax lines are maintained by iTech at all Gulf Coast locations, except Stennis Space Center. A very limited number of public telephones are available.

Interactive Video Network (IVN)

Some classrooms are set up to provide interactive audio/video for classroom presentations, distance-learning opportunities, and meetings among distant partners. The IVN system enables faculty and students to see, speak, hear, as well as share documents and other information simultaneously between two or more connected sites. All sites have interaction with the originating site (instructor’s site) and all remote sites. Technical and instructional support is provided to faculty and students at all locations using the delivery system. Through IVN, credit programming taught from Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Southern Miss Stennis Space Center, Southern Miss Gulf Park, or the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory might be attended at any of the other locations, when scheduled. IVN technology is also used for educational and business purposes beyond Southern Miss by connecting classrooms and conference rooms worldwide to our rooms on our campuses.

Institute for Disability Studies/Technology Learning Center

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) is all about people. For over 30 years, IDS has worked to provide technical assistance, training, resources, and supports for Mississippians with disabilities and their families. IDS is providing pathways to a better life for people of all ages—infants, toddlers, school-age children, youth, workers, parents, families and seniors. IDS provides opportunities for recreation, health, and relaxation through adapted recreation programs and assistive technology equipment.  IDS provides the following components at the Gulf Park Campus:

Lending Library

IDS Gulf Park offers a wide variety of assistive technology devices and recreational equipment available for check out for a 90-day period.Switches, puzzles, augmentative communication devices, iPads, assistive writing devices, as well as regular, switch-activated, and sensory stimulation toys and much more, are also available. IDS also provides beach and sports wheelchairs, hand bikes, kayaks adaptive golf gear, adaptive fishing gear, and adaptive work out equipment available for check-out.

Opportunities for Learning

IDS provides learning opportunities through professional development, as well as monthly training and education sessions.Training based on individual and organization needs is provided for professionals, parents, caregivers, and clients.

Athletics

IDS Gulf Park provides many opportunities for athletics and physical activity through its wheelchair softball and basketball programs, golf, kayaking, tennis, archery, cycling, and an on-site fitness trail and fitness center.IDS is a recognized Paralympic Sports Club that offers exhibitions, demonstrations, and Paralympic experiences year-round.

Fun Experiences

IDS promotes health through recreation.By offering pottery and art therapy, adaptive fishing, games, toys, an adaptive playground and monthly recreational opportunities for everyone, IDS provides numerous opportunities for fun and play.

Community Support

IDS provides opportunities to meet new people and make new friends who share similar experiences through support groups, community outreach, and resource training for the community.

Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute

Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute (WLPI) is the only state organization, public or private sector, with the broad-based conceptual workplace learning and performance experience3 and expertise need to help build a sustainable human capital development infrastructure for Mississippi.