Kristi Motter, Associate Vice President for Enrollment
118 College Drive, Box 5112
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
success@usm.edu
Mission and Organization
The Student Success Center is dedicated to providing students in transition with the knowledge and skills on which to develop a successful university experience. The Student Success Center partners with faculty, staff and administrators in upholding the mission, standards, and requirements of the University. To that end, the unit administers several separate and distinct programs, designed to help students connect with the tools, resources and programs that can be keys to success in their first year and beyond.
Organization and Administration
Associate Vice President for Enrollment
The associate vice president for enrollment is the chief administrative officer of the Student Success Center and is responsible for all operations of the unit, to include working across organizational boundaries in building a challenging, supportive, caring, cohesive and inclusive learning environment.
First Year Initiative
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive, Box 5034
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
phone: 601.266.6405
FAX: 601.266.6150
FYI@usm.edu
parentsandfamily@usm.edu
Established on December 1, 1998, the Office of the First Year Initiative was created to enhance the satisfaction, success and persistence of first-year students. The FYI office provides programs and services to help new students make a successful personal, academic and social adjustment to The University of Southern Mississippi.
The Office of the First Year Initiative (FYI) seeks to provide quality programs and customer service-oriented services to help new students enhance their success and satisfaction. FYI envisions being a leader in initiatives aimed to increase the retention rate of first-time students. We strive to enhance the undergraduate experience by focusing our time, energy and staff resources on the students encountering their first year of college life.
Orientation
New freshman and transfer students entering The University of Southern Mississippi participate in a year-long orientation process, GS 100. GS 100 includes Orientation, Golden Eagle Week (GEWW), and the GS 100 Blackboard online course during the first semester of the student’s first year at Southern Miss. GS 100 is designed to acquaint students with university structure, policies, procedures, physical layout, faculty, students, organizations and academic programs. GS 100 is a 1-hour pass/fail course.
Transitional Instruction
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
The over-arching purpose of these programs is to help students make successful transitions. These courses encourage the development of active learning skills, promote responsible decision-making, facilitate exploration of academic majors and career planning, and help students establish rewarding human relationships in college with peers, professors and the university staff.
General Studies GS 100 - Orientation
GS 100 is a 1-hour pass/fail course.
University Studies (UNV) courses
The University Studies program consists of several courses that support student academic success and that provide structured opportunities for out-of-class learning.
The SSC administers two academic courses designed specifically for new students, UNV 101 for new freshmen and UNV 301 for new transfers. These courses are intended to facilitate students’ transition to university life and seek to provide a common experience for first-year students at Southern Miss, regardless of major. Both courses are a two-hour, letter-graded course that may be used to fulfill degree requirements at Southern Miss. Southern Miss strongly encourages all new students to enroll in the appropriate seminar (UNV 101 or UNV 301 ) during their first semester of enrollment.
- UNV 101 for new freshmen
- UNV 120 student leadership seminar
- UNV 301 for new transfer students
- UNV 310 job-seeking skills course
- UNV 312 mentor training course
- UNV 315 course for resident assistants
- UNV 325 course for peer educators
- UNV 450 and UNV 451 research seminars for McNair Scholars
Learning Skills (LS) courses
- LS 101 - Academic Support I for students placing into intermediate algebra math (MAT 099 ), intermediate reading (CIE 99 ) and intermediate writing (ENG 99 ) courses, according to the IHL policy (Section 600-608 - D)
- LS 250 - Strategic Learning for underachieving students needing to improve their overall performance, including those on academic probation, probation continued or suspension
Given that these programs reach students at critical points in college, the Student Success Center is essential to the university community in terms of promoting retention and persistence, graduation rates, academic success and student satisfaction.
Developmental Education Program
118 College Dr., Box 5112
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
The Developmental Education Program provides an academic foundation for underprepared students to make the transition to college-level courses. The DEP offers students who do not meet regular admission criteria an opportunity to enroll in a four-year public institution of higher learning in the state of Mississippi. The entire program consists of three semesters (summer, fall and spring) of prescribed study, determined by current IHL Board policy.
The summer component, an intensive nine-week remediation program, frequently referred to as the Summer Developmental Program, includes the following courses: English (ENG 90 ), reading (CIE 90 ), mathematics (MAT 090 ) and support lab (LS 090L ). Each course is three credit hours for a total of 12 credit hours. Students who successfully complete the summer term by passing all four courses will be considered to have made satisfactory academic progress in the first phase of the program and will be eligible to continue in the fall. This includes mandatory participation in the Developmental Education program in the fall and spring immediately following the student’s enrollment.
The fall component includes enrollment in LS 101 - Academic Support I . The spring component includes enrollment in LS 102 - Academic Support II . Students must pass the fall and spring components of the Developmental Education Program immediately following the completion of the student’s summer enrollment to maintain their enrollment status.
Students who fail to satisfactorily complete all three semesters of the Developmental Education Program are considered to have made unsatisfactory academic progress and are not eligible for continued enrollment. These students will be counseled to explore other postsecondary opportunities.
Dr. Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
McNair Scholars
118 College Dr., Box 5202
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.6910
Fax: 601.266.6272
The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program is a five-year grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs to institutions of higher learning for projects designed to prepare participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair Scholars are undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who have demonstrated strong academic potential. The institution works closely with these students through their undergraduate requirements, encourages their entrance into graduate programs, and tracks their progress to successful completion of advanced degrees. The goal of the McNair Scholars program is to increase the attainment of the Ph.D. by students from under-represented segments of society.
Students who qualify for the McNair Scholars program must be undergraduates with a minimum of 60 semester hours. In all projects, at least two-thirds of the participants must be low-income and first-generation college students. The remaining participants may be from groups that are traditionally under-represented in graduate education. All participants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. The Southern Miss McNair Scholars program is charged to serve 25 participants per year.
A 10-week summer course is the core of the program and results in the completion and presentation of a significant research paper, and the successful completion of the Graduate Record Examination. Scholars will also participate in monthly workshops to prepare them for the research component of the program.
Student Support Services Program
118 College Dr., Box 5202
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.6910
Fax: 601.266.6272
The Student Support Services program is a five-year grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education TRIO Programs with the mission of providing academic assistance, personal and academic counseling and individual support to eligible undergraduate students. The primary objectives are to assist participants to maintain good academic standing, to persist in college, and to graduate from the university. SSS participants work with professional staff to identify long- and short-term academic and personal goals and the strategies needed to achieve them. SSS participants may use individual and/or group tutoring, educational and developmental workshops, and other activities that promote academic success. Student Support Services is dedicated to creating a supportive climate that will make the university experience a positive one. The program strives to offer its participants access to all the resources that promote academic success.
To be a participant in the Student Support Services program, a student must be a citizen of the U.S. and be enrolled in the university. The U.S. Department of Education stipulates that participants must be any of the following:
- A first-generation college student (neither parent graduated from a four-year college or university)
- A low-income student as defined by the U.S. Department of Education
- A student with a documented disability (learning or physical)
- Or any combination of the above
Additionally, students must demonstrate academic need with a GPA of 3.0 or less and an ACT score of 21 or less. The Southern Miss Student Support Services program is charged to serve 195 students.
Undeclared Student Coordination
118 College Dr., Box 5112
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
success@usm.edu
The program for undeclared majors provides an organized plan of study for students who are exploring options for their academic major. It is the appropriate place for Southern Miss students who wish to sample university life and various fields of study before committing to a definite major. While an undeclared major, students pursue the university’s General Education Curriculum and work with specially trained academic advisers. Advisers encourage students to explore, select and eventually commit to an appropriate major, thus facilitating the timely completion of an undergraduate degree. The program works closely with Southern Miss Career Services to help the exploring student.
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