2 0 2 0 – 2 1HANDBOOK

ParentFamily

CALENDAR AND

and

Dear Parents and Family Members,

We are excited to welcome you as partners in your student’s journey at The University of Southern Mississippi! We know that you play an important role in your student’s success in college. It is our goal to provide you with information about the people, places and resources that are going to help you and your student transition to college at Southern Miss.

Keep up to date with information pertinent to you and your student. Check out the Southern Miss Parent and Family Facebook page and regularly refer to usm.edu/registrar/calendars. If you have questions throughout the year, contact the Center for Student Success at parentsandfamily@usm.edu.

Welcome to the Southern Miss family. Best wishes for the upcoming year!

Southern Miss… To The Top!- Orientation and Transition Programs

Although this guide will be an excellent resource for you as you begin your journey as a member of the Southern Miss family, we recommend you regularly check the iSouthernMiss app to stay informed of campus events and news that’s pertinent to you!

iSouthernMiss

PA R E N T S A N D F A M I LY@ U S M . E D U 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 6 4 0 5

S O U T H E R N M I S S PA R E N T & F A M I LY

The Center for Student Success assists students and families with their transition into

the university community and supports students on their journey to graduation. Through the Parent and Family Association, a free resource

for families, the center offers programs and events allowing you to stay informed and involved as

partners in your student’s education. Members of the Parent and Family Association are provided

monthly e-newsletters, invited to on-campus events, have access to a monthly web series, and so much

more. Connect with us via social media!

☐ Register for Parent and Family Weekend 2020 (October 30–31, 2020) and enjoy programming provided by departments across campus.

☐ Stay advised on current campus safety information by signing up for Eagle Alerts on the University Police Department’s website.

☐ Review the USM Payment Policy, pay fall semester bill or establish a payment plan with Business Services at usm.edu/business-services.

☐ Discuss finances, academic expectations, class attendance, campus resources, and behavioral expectations related to college freedom with your student. Open and honest conversations equip them to meet the challenges ahead.

☐ Encourage your student to have a conversation with their roommate to discuss roommate expectations and creating a mutually beneficial living space.

☐ Prepare for Move-In Day. South Mississippi is hot in August, so please plan accordingly. Review the move-in tips and reminders provided by the Department of Housing and Residence Life.

☐ Plan to send a month’s supply of your student’s required medications (allergy, diabetes, etc.), as a precaution and bring a prescription transfer from your local pharmacy to the Moffitt Health Center Pharmacy (campus clinic).

☐ Encourage your student to check their Southern Miss email account daily to receive important information from the University.

☐ Discuss which activities your student might find interesting, and encourage them to attend the fall Student Involvement Fair. Research shows that students who get involved during their first six weeks of class do better academically than students who do not get involved.

☐ Encourage your student to be an active participant at Golden Eagle Welcome Week (August 12–15)!

Welcome TO THEGolden Eagle FAMILY!

APP

Parent and Family CHECKLIST

The Center forStudent Success

ASSOCIATIONPARENT AND FAMILY

Taking

Dean of StudentsUSM.EDU/STUDENT-AFFAIRS/ABOUT-DEAN-STUDENTS- OFFICER . C . C O O K U N I O N 2 1 0 | 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 6 0 2 8

The Office of the Dean of Students strives to be proactive in providing a safe, secure learning environment for all. The Campus Action Referral and Evaluation System (CARES) is a team of campus professionals who respond to reports of concern regarding the academic progress and well-being of students. Anyone is able to submit a concern about a student using CARES at usm.edu/student-affairs/cares.

Encourage your student to review the Student Code of Conduct, which can be accessed at

usm.edu/student-affairs/division-policies.

AccommodationsUSM.EDU/ODAB O N D H A L L , 1 S T F L O O R | 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 5 0 2 4

The Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) is the University’s designated office to verify students’ eligibility for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ODA works with eligible students on an individual basis in developing and coordinating plans for the provision of reasonable accommodations that are specific to their disabilities. To receive disability accommodations at Southern Miss, students must register with ODA and then discuss their accommodation requests with an ODA staff member. An application for services must be filed online, and appropriate documentation of the student’s disability must be provided.

Parking PermitsUSM.EDU/PARKINGM C L E M O R E H A L L , 1 S T F L O O R | 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 5 4 4 7

Parking and Transit Services is responsible for overseeing the multiple aspects of parking and transit for The University of Southern Mississippi campuses, including zone enforcement, event parking, and combined maintenance and improvements of all parking areas on our campuses. All vehicles parked on campus must be registered online and a parking permit purchased. The permit cost is not included in the cost of tuition and fees. Students are required to register their vehicles and purchase parking permits online at usm.edu/parking.

TextbooksSHOPSOUTHERNMISS.COMB A R N E S & N O B L E | T H A D C O C H R A N C E N T E R | 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 4 3 8 1

Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss acts as a complete support system for the campus community and ensures students are equipped with the tools they need for success in the school year. The bookstore provides a wide variety of affordable course materials, including new, used, digital and rental textbooks. Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss also offers a best-in-class retail experience, providing an unmatched assortment of Golden Eagle apparel, including shirts, hats, sweatshirts and more.

Access to Student RecordsUSM.EDU/REGISTRARK E N N A R D - W A S H I N G T O N H A L L , 1 S T F L O O R | 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 5 0 0 6

Students can grant access to any authorized person to view their student information inside our online student record system, SOAR. This portal is view-only access and does not allow the authorized person to perform any activity for his or her student, except to make payments. However, important information such as grades, financial aid and class schedules can be accessed.

• Log on to SOAR and locate the Parent/Guardian Access tile.

• The student will create a family member account login and password. This password will not expire.

• Once activated, family members can log into SOAR using their newly created login and password to view their student’s information.

• For further assistance related to SOAR family member portal access, contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@usm.edu or 601.266.5006.

Meal PlansEAGLEDINING.COMTH A D COCHR A N CE NTE R , 1S T FLOOR 6 0 1 . 2 6 6 . 5 3 7 6

Eagle Dining has a variety of meal plans that allow a student to regularly dine at our all-you-care-to-eat facility, the Fresh Food Company, and at favorites across campus like Chick-Fil-A, Freshens, Subway and Starbucks. Additional Dining Dollars can be purchased to add more spending power to a student’s plan. Meal plans are available for both on-campus (residential) and off-campus (commuter) students. Students who live on campus are automatically assigned a meal plan.

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outh

ern

Mis

s of

fices

clo

sed)

Tu/T

h fin

al e

xam

s (o

nlin

e) (8

W2)

M/W

fina

l exa

ms

(onl

ine)

(8W

2)La

st d

ay o

f cla

sses

(fu

ll te

rm)

Fina

l exa

ms

(onl

ine)

(fu

ll te

rm)

Paym

ent p

lan

inst

allm

ent d

ue

SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

YWEDNE

SDAY

THUR

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURD

AY

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

45

1112

1819

2526

US

M.E

DU

/ST

UD

EN

T-C

OU

NS

EL

ING

-SE

RV

ICE

S 6

01.

26

6.4

82

9 U

SM

ST

UD

EN

T C

OU

NS

EL

ING

SE

RV

ICE

S @

SC

S_

US

M

@U

SM

ST

UD

EN

TC

OU

NS

EL

ING

CE

NT

ER

Stud

ent C

ouns

elin

g Se

rvic

es p

rovi

des

qual

ity s

ervi

ces

to S

outh

ern

Mis

s st

uden

ts b

y pr

omot

ing

soun

d m

enta

l hea

lth a

nd th

e co

ping

sk

ills

nece

ssar

y fo

r suc

cess

ful p

ursu

it of

edu

catio

nal a

nd li

fe g

oals

. M

enta

l hea

lth p

rofe

ssio

nals

wor

k in

a s

pirit

of c

olla

bora

tion

with

in

the

Div

isio

n of

Stu

dent

Affa

irs to

sup

port

indi

vidu

al re

spon

sibi

lity,

pers

onal

gro

wth

, and

wel

lnes

s of

all

mem

bers

of t

he s

tude

nt b

ody.

Serv

ices

are

free

and

con

fiden

tial.

PO

INTS

TO

REM

EMB

ER

h

Stud

ent C

ouns

elin

g Se

rvic

es w

ill a

sses

s w

hich

type

of f

ree,

co

nfid

entia

l cou

nsel

ing

serv

ices

will

mee

t the

stu

dent

’s ne

eds

and

mak

e a

reco

mm

enda

tion.

h

Stud

ents

are

gra

nted

eig

ht s

essi

ons

per s

emes

ter,

and

if th

e ne

ed a

rises

for m

ore,

cou

nsel

ors

will

con

sult

to d

eter

min

e ex

tend

ed s

essi

ons

at n

o co

st to

the

stud

ent.

h

Stud

ents

may

cal

l to

mak

e an

app

oint

men

t or s

top

by th

e of

fice.

DEC

EMB

ER 2

020

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

Wha

t cla

sses

did

you

enj

oy th

e m

ost?

Whi

ch

clas

ses

are

you

look

ing

forw

ard

to n

ext s

emes

ter?

h

Wha

t is

the

mos

t im

port

ant t

hing

you

lear

ned

abou

t yo

urse

lf th

is s

emes

ter?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

te a

t usm

.edu

.

Cou

nsel

ing

Gra

duat

e Co

mm

ence

men

t

Gra

des

avai

labl

e to

vi

ew in

SO

AR fo

r st

uden

ts w

ho h

ave

com

plet

ed th

eir

cour

se e

valu

atio

ns

Unde

rgra

duat

e Co

mm

ence

men

tFi

nal e

xam

s (o

nlin

e) (f

ull t

erm

) Win

ter H

olid

ay (S

outh

ern

Mis

s of

fices

clo

sed)

Win

ter H

olid

ay (S

outh

ern

Mis

s of

fices

clo

sed)

CEN

TER

SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

YWEDNE

SDAY

THUR

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURD

AY

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

12

89

1516

2223

2930

US

M.E

DU

/HO

US

ING

6

01.

26

6.4

783

SO

UT

HE

RN

MIS

S H

OU

SIN

G

@L

IFE

US

M

Hous

ing

and

Resid

ence

Life

offe

rs a

con

veni

ent a

nd s

afe

plac

e fo

r stu

dent

s to

live

whi

le

mak

ing

the

mos

t of t

heir

soci

al a

nd a

cade

mic

live

s. Th

e de

partm

ent’s

mis

sion

is to

pro

vide

a

high

-qua

lity

phys

ical

, soc

ial a

nd c

ultu

ral e

nviro

nmen

t tha

t enc

oura

ges

and

supp

orts

the

holis

tic d

evel

opm

ent o

f the

resid

entia

l stu

dent

. The

dep

artm

ent i

s co

mpr

ised

of 3

50 s

taff

who

hel

p ov

erse

e op

erat

ions

in 14

resid

ence

hal

ls, 1

0 so

rorit

y ho

uses

and

nin

e fra

tern

ity

hous

es. T

hey

empl

oy th

eir o

wn

mai

nten

ance

team

and

hou

seke

epin

g st

aff, a

nd th

e st

uden

t pop

ulat

ion

livin

g on

cam

pus

num

bers

mor

e th

an 3

,500

stu

dent

s.

PO

INTS

TO

REM

EMB

ER

h

Stud

ents

who

live

on

cam

pus

show

a h

ighe

r sch

olas

tic p

erfo

rman

ce a

nd a

re m

ore

likel

y to

gra

duat

e th

an th

ose

who

live

off

cam

pus.

h

The

Resi

denc

e H

all A

ssoc

iatio

n (R

HA)

org

anize

s m

any

fun

activ

ities

to h

elp

build

re

latio

nshi

ps a

nd m

emor

ies

that

will

last

a li

fetim

e! L

ivin

g on

cam

pus

mea

ns b

eing

at

the

cent

er o

f cla

sses

, stu

dent

act

iviti

es a

nd m

ore!

h

Begi

nnin

g fa

ll 20

20, v

acci

natio

ns fo

r Men

ingi

tis B

and

Men

ingi

tis A

CYW

will

be

enco

urag

ed fo

r all

stud

ents

livi

ng o

n ca

mpu

s.

JAN

UA

RY 2

021

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

Wha

t are

som

e of

you

r goa

ls fo

r thi

s se

mes

ter?

Wha

t do

you

hope

to h

ave

acco

mpl

ishe

d by

May

?

h

Have

you

look

ed a

t eac

h cl

ass

sylla

bus

and

put i

mpo

rtan

t dat

es in

yo

ur c

alen

dar?

Whi

ch p

arts

of t

he

sem

este

r will

be th

e bu

siest

for y

ou?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

te a

t usm

.edu

.

RES

IDEN

CE

LIFE

HO

US

ING

and

Mar

tin L

uthe

r Kin

g Jr.

Day

- Cl

asse

s di

smis

sed

(Sou

ther

n M

iss

offic

es c

lose

d)

Sprin

g N

ew S

tude

nt

Orie

ntat

ion

Win

ter H

olid

ay

(Sou

ther

n M

iss

of

fices

clo

sed)

Clas

ses

begi

n (in

terc

essi

on)

Fina

l exa

ms

(inte

rces

sion

)

Last

day

to a

dd/d

rop

with

out a

cade

mic

/fin

anci

al p

enal

ty

(inte

rces

sion

)

Last

day

to a

dd/

drop

cou

rse

requ

est

or w

ithdr

aw fr

om

the

Univ

ersi

ty a

nd

rece

ive

a gr

ade

of W

(in

terc

essi

on)

Clas

ses

begi

n

(full

term

)Sa

turd

ay

clas

ses

begi

n

Last

day

to a

dd/d

rop

with

out a

cade

mic

/fin

anci

al p

enal

ty (8

W1)

Last

day

to a

dd/d

rop

with

out a

cade

mic

/fin

anci

al p

enal

ty

(full

term

)

SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

YWEDNE

SDAY

THUR

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURD

AY

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

56

1213

1920

2627

US

M.E

DU

/LS

I 6

01.

26

6.4

40

3 S

OU

TH

ER

N M

ISS

OF

FIC

E O

F L

EA

DE

RS

HIP

A

ND

ST

UD

EN

T I

NV

OLV

EM

EN

T @

US

M_

LS

I @

US

M_

LS

I

The

Offi

ce o

f Lea

ders

hip

and

Stud

ent I

nvol

vem

ent p

rovi

des

valu

able

co-

curri

cula

r ex

perie

nces

that

exis

t to

fost

er s

tude

nt g

row

th a

nd d

evel

opm

ent w

hile

cre

atin

g pa

thw

ays

for

stud

ents

to e

ngag

e in

thei

r com

mun

ity. T

he o

ffice

is h

ome

to o

ver 2

00 s

tude

nt o

rgan

izatio

ns,

the

Sout

hern

Mis

s Ac

tiviti

es C

ounc

il (S

MAC

) pro

gram

min

g bo

ard

and

the

Stud

ent

Gov

ernm

ent A

ssoc

iatio

n. L

ocat

ed in

the

Stud

ent A

ctiv

ities

Hub

, the

offi

ce s

pace

is a

cen

tral

hang

out s

pot f

or a

ll st

uden

ts. S

top

by to

find

out

way

s yo

u ca

n ge

t inv

olve

d on

cam

pus!

PO

INTS

TO

REM

EMB

ER

h

Invo

lvem

ent i

n co

llege

is a

pre

dict

or o

f suc

cess

! Stu

dent

s w

ho a

re in

volv

ed o

utsi

de

of th

e cl

assr

oom

tend

to p

erfo

rm b

ette

r aca

dem

ical

ly a

nd fe

el m

ore

conn

ecte

d to

ca

mpu

s. H

ighl

y en

gage

d st

uden

ts a

re m

ore

inve

sted

, whi

ch m

eans

they

are

mor

e lik

ely

to c

ome

back

to s

choo

l eac

h se

mes

ter t

han

less

eng

aged

stu

dent

s.

h

Whe

ther

it’s

atte

ndin

g a

free

outd

oor c

once

rt ev

ent p

ut o

n by

SM

AC, b

ecom

ing

a se

nato

r for

the

Stud

ent G

over

nmen

t Ass

ocia

tion,

or v

isiti

ng w

ith a

Stu

dent

Invo

lvem

ent

Amba

ssad

or in

the

offic

e, in

volv

emen

t com

es in

man

y sh

apes

and

size

s!

h

Thro

ugho

ut th

e ye

ar, t

he o

ffice

hos

ts v

ario

us le

ader

ship

dev

elop

men

t wor

ksho

ps a

nd

even

ts fo

r stu

dent

s, as

wel

l as

stud

ent i

nvol

vem

ent f

airs

at t

he b

egin

ning

of

each

sem

este

r. Be

sur

e to

follo

w u

s on

soc

ial m

edia

so

you

don’

t mis

s ou

t!

FEB

RUA

RY 2

021

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

How

are

you

adj

ustin

g to

you

r new

sc

hedu

le th

is s

emes

ter?

h

Wha

t cam

pus

orga

niza

tions

are

you

ge

tting

mor

e in

volve

d in

this

sem

este

r?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

te a

t usm

.edu

.

Mar

di G

ras

Brea

k - C

lass

es d

ism

isse

d

(Sou

ther

n M

iss

offic

es o

pen)

LEA

DER

SH

IP a

nd S

TUD

ENT

INV

OLV

EMEN

T

Last

day

to a

dd/d

rop

cour

se re

ques

t or

with

draw

from

the

Unive

rsity

and

rece

ive

a gr

ade

of W

(8W

1)

SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

YWEDNE

SDAY

THUR

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURD

AY

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

56

1213

1920

2627

US

M.E

DU

/CC

E 6

01.

26

6.5

074

U

SM

CE

NT

ER

FO

R C

OM

MU

NIT

Y E

NG

AG

EM

EN

T @

US

MC

CE

@U

SM

_C

CE

The

Cent

er fo

r Com

mun

ity E

ngag

emen

t coo

rdin

ates

mea

ning

ful a

nd m

utua

lly

bene

ficia

l ser

vice

exp

erie

nces

to a

ddre

ss U

nive

rsity

and

com

mun

ity n

eeds

, effe

ct

posi

tive

soci

al c

hang

e, a

nd c

ultiv

ate

activ

e ci

tizen

lead

ers.

Thro

ugh

partn

ersh

ips

with

facu

lty, s

taff,

stu

dent

s an

d ov

er 10

0 co

mm

unity

age

ncie

s, CC

E fa

cilit

ates

ac

tiviti

es th

at in

tegr

ate

lear

ning

, ser

vice

and

lead

ersh

ip.

PO

INTS

TO

REM

EMB

ER

h

We

sugg

est s

tude

nts

supp

ort o

ne o

r tw

o or

gani

zatio

ns a

nd v

olun

teer

whe

n th

ere

is n

eed.

h

Alte

rnat

ive

Brea

k tri

ps p

rovi

de s

tude

nts

with

low

-cos

t bre

ak a

ltern

ativ

es th

at o

ffer

the

oppo

rtuni

ty to

trav

el to

a d

iffer

ent r

egio

n an

d pe

rform

mea

ning

ful s

ervi

ce

whi

le e

xplo

ring

an a

rea’s

cul

ture

and

his

tory

.

MA

RCH

202

1

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

Have

you

mad

e pl

ans

for S

prin

g Br

eak?

h

Do

you

know

whe

n to

regi

ster

for f

all c

lass

es?

Have

you

mad

e an

adv

ising

app

oint

men

t?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

te a

t usm

.edu

.

Sprin

g Br

eak

- Cla

sses

dis

mis

sed

(Sou

ther

n M

iss

offic

es o

pen)

CEN

TER

FO

RC

omm

unity

Enga

gem

ent

Tu/T

h fin

al e

xam

s (8

W1)

M/W

fina

l exa

ms

(8W

1)

Clas

ses

begi

n (8

W2)

Last

day

to a

dd/d

rop

with

out a

cade

mic

/fin

anci

al p

enal

ty

(8W

2)

Last

day

to a

dd/

drop

cou

rse

requ

est

or w

ithdr

aw fr

om

the

Univ

ersi

ty a

nd

rece

ive

a gr

ade

of W

(fu

l ter

m)

SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

YWEDNE

SDAY

THUR

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURD

AY

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

23

910

1617

2324

30

US

M.E

DU

/ST

UD

EN

T-A

FF

AIR

S/O

FF

ICE

-MU

LTIC

ULT

UR

AL-

PR

OG

RA

MS

-AN

D-S

ER

VIC

ES

60

1.2

66

.50

57

US

M O

FF

ICE

OF

MU

LTIC

ULT

UR

AL

PR

OG

RA

MS

AN

D S

ER

VIC

ES

@U

SM

MP

S

The

Offi

ce o

f Mul

ticul

tura

l Pro

gram

s an

d Se

rvic

es p

rom

otes

the

holis

tic d

evel

opm

ent

of m

ultic

ultu

ral s

tude

nts

thro

ugh

lead

ersh

ip d

evel

opm

ent,

educ

atio

nal p

rogr

amm

ing

an

d co

llabo

ratio

n w

ith U

nive

rsity

dep

artm

ents

. The

offi

ce s

trive

s to

incr

ease

re

crui

tmen

t and

rete

ntio

n of

mul

ticul

tura

l stu

dent

s by

cre

atin

g a

stro

ng s

ense

of

cam

pus

com

mun

ity a

nd a

ssis

ting

stud

ents

in b

ecom

ing

succ

essf

ul g

radu

ates

.

PO

INTS

TO

REM

EMB

ER

h

The

offic

e le

ads

the

plan

ning

and

impl

emen

tatio

n an

exc

iting

, m

onth

-long

Bla

ck H

isto

ry M

onth

pro

gram

.

h

Sout

hern

Mis

s AL

LIES

is a

net

wor

k of

facu

lty, s

taff

and

stud

ents

w

ho a

re w

illin

g to

be

a vi

sibl

e su

ppor

t sys

tem

for s

tude

nts

w

ho id

entif

y as

LG

BTQ

+.

h

The

Kent

e Ce

rem

ony

is a

n ex

citin

g ev

ent h

eld

each

sem

este

r th

at re

cogn

izes

Afric

an A

mer

ican

stu

dent

gra

duat

es a

nd

thei

r acc

ompl

ishm

ents

.

APR

IL 2

021

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

Have

you

foun

d fa

vorit

e lo

cal s

pots

in H

attie

sbur

g?

h

Wha

t are

you

r pla

ns fo

r thi

s su

mm

er?

Are

you

inte

rest

ed in

sum

mer

cla

sses

or f

indi

ng a

n in

tern

ship

?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

te a

t usm

.edu

.

Mul

ticul

tura

l Pro

gram

sA

ND

SER

VIC

ES

Last

day

to a

dd/

drop

cou

rse

requ

est

or w

ithdr

aw fr

om

the

Univ

ersit

y an

d re

ceiv

e a

grad

e of

W

(8W

2)

Goo

d Fr

iday

Hol

iday

- C

lass

es d

ism

isse

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hom

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olle

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Inte

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conn

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an a

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Stu

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SUND

AYMON

DAY

TUESDA

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SDAY

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Afte

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JUN

E 20

21

Ask

Your

Stu

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h

Are

you

plan

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to v

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our f

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s ov

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the

sum

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Care

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whi

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Car

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s an

d st

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stud

ents

cho

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a m

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sses

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ts a

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expl

ore

care

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ptio

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taff

mem

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sum

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over

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and

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r int

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The

offic

e is

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me

to H

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hake

, the

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care

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s st

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se

arch

for a

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jobs

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to

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wor

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that

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term

car

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The

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stud

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.

JULY

202

1

Ask

Your

Stu

dent

h

Wha

t are

you

mos

t exc

ited

abou

t for

this

fall

sem

este

r?

h

Have

you

map

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out y

our c

lass

es?

All d

ates

are

subj

ect

to c

hang

e. S

tay

up to

da

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.edu

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Car

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SER

VIC

ES

College LingoLeadership and Student Involvement usm.edu/lsi 601.266.4403 The Hub

Fraternity and Sorority Life usm.edu/fraternity-sorority-life 601.266.4823 R.C. Cook Union

Center for Community Engagement usm.edu/community-engagement 601.266.5074 The Hub

Multicultural Programs and Services usm.edu/student-affairs/office-multicultural- programs-and-services 601.266.6331 The Hub

Dean of Students usm.edu/student-affairs/about-dean-students-office 601.266.6401 R.C. Cook Union

Career Services usm.edu/career-services 601.266.4153 McLemore Hall

University Police Department usm.edu/police 601.266.4986 Bond Hall

Financial Aid usm.edu/financial-aid 601.266.4774 Kennard-Washington Hall

Housing and Residence Life usm.edu/housing 601.266.4783 Hickman Hall

iTech usm.edu/itech 601.266.4357 Cook Library

Business Services usm.edu/business-services 601.266.4137 Forrest County Hall

Admissions usm.edu/admissions 601.266.5000 Kennard-Washington Hall

Registrar usm.edu/registrar 601.266.5006 Kennard-Washington Hall

Moffitt Health Center usm.edu/student-health-services 601.266.5390 Century Park South

Counseling Center usm.edu/student-counseling-services 601.266.4829 Bond Hall

Eagle Dining eagledining.com 601.266.5376 Thad Cochran Center

Parking and Transit Services usm.edu/parking 601.266.5447 McLemore Hall

Student Support Services/TRIO usm.edu/federal-trio-programs 601.266.6920 McLemore Hall

The Writing Center usm.edu/writing-center 601.266.4821 Cook Library

The Speaking Center usm.edu/speaking-center 601.266.4965 Cook Library

Office of Undergraduate Scholarships usm.edu/scholarships 601.266.4540 Kennard-Washington Hall

Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families usm.edu/military-veterans 601.264.4629 3503 Morningside Drive

Hattiesburg, Miss.

Academic Advisor | A faculty or staff member in your academic area who is assigned to help you with your academic planning is your advisor.

Academic Calendar | Found on the Registrar’s website, this calendar highlights all of the important academic deadlines and campus holidays.

Academic College | Academic colleges are clusters of courses of study available to students at Southern Miss.

Advisement | Advisement occurs when you meet with your academic advisor each semester to discuss how you are progressing toward your degree, to finalize your class schedule for the upcoming term, and to talk about your plans after graduation.

Canvas | Canvas is a website that you will log into using your SOAR ID and password to access online classes and supplemental material for your courses.

Commencement | Also known as graduation, Commencement is the ceremony that honors the completion of your degree.

Credit Hour | A credit hour is equivalent to one hour of class time per week. Courses are usually measured in credit hours, with the average being three or four. Students may refer to how many credit hours or credits they are carrying for a particular semester. Graduation requirements are usually measured in credit hours, e.g. “120 credit hours required for graduation.”

Dean | A dean is an administrator in charge of an academic college or other major area of student life.

Degree Progress Report | This is a report that shows the progress a student has made toward degree completion.

Disburse | When funds (like your financial aid and/or a scholarship) have been applied to your account in Business Services, this is referred to as a disbursement.

The Dome | The Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building, referred to as “The Dome,” is the focal point of campus and houses the offices of the University president and vice presidents.

FAFSA | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to be considered for federal student loans, grants and some scholarships.

FERPA | The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the confidentiality of your educational records. You must waive your FERPA rights in order for your parents or guardians to have access to your Southern Miss records.

The Fresh | The Fresh is the nickname for the Fresh Food Company, the main cafeteria-style eatery on campus, and is located on the first floor of the Thad Cochran Center.

Full-Time Status | This status refers to enrollment in 12 or more credit hours for the fall/spring semester and nine or more credit hours for the summer semester. Mississippi residents receiving some forms of state aid and many scholarship students, however, must enroll in 15 credit hours.

General Education Curriculum | General Education Curriculum (GEC) refers to course requirements designed to help you have a general background in several areas outside of your major area of study.

GEWW | GEWW is an abbreviation for Golden Eagle Welcome Week, a week-long extended orientation program for all new students.

GPA | GPA is an abbreviation for grade point average.

Intersession | Intersession is a mini-term between the traditional, standard academic terms.

Major | A subject or career field that serves as the focus of study in a degree plan is called a major.

Meal Plan | A prepaid meal plan is selected at the beginning of each semester through Eagle Dining.

Minor | A secondary concentration in a specific subject or career field is called a minor.

OTP | OTP is the abbreviation for the Office of Orientation and Transition Programs.

Prerequisite | Prerequisites are courses that students are required to take prior to registering for an upper-level course.

RA | A resident assistant (RA) is someone who lives on your floor in your residence hall and is available to help you.

Registrar | The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the official records of all University students.

The Rock | The Rock is the nickname for M.M. Roberts Stadium.

SOAR | SOAR, the University’s online records system, is a website where you can add/drop classes, view degree progress, accept/decline financial aid and view grades.

SGA | The Student Government Association (SGA) represents student concerns and serves as the voice for Southern Miss students.

SMTTT | The University’s official motto is “Southern Miss To The Top” and is commonly abbreviated, SMTTT.

Syllabus | Each instructor distributes an outline or overview of the course at the beginning of each semester. The syllabus usually includes course expectations, exam and project dates, and the instructor’s office hours.

Transcript | Your official academic record, also known as a transcript, can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Tuition | Tuition is the amount of money charged for classes. (This does not include residence hall or meal plan fees.)

Verification | Verification occurs when the Office of Financial Aid requires additional documentation from you in order to evaluate your eligibility for federal financial aid.

Withdrawal | The withdrawal process means to formally drop all of your courses so that you are no longer a student at the University.

WHO CAN HELP

SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETICS

Southern Miss Athletics

@USMGoldenEagles

@SouthernMissAthletics

OFFICIAL SOUTHERN MISS

The University of Southern Mississippi

@SouthernMiss

@OfficialSouthernMiss

CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Southern Miss – The Center for Student Success

@Success_USM

Success_USM

ORIENTATION AND TRANSITION PROGRAMS

Office of Orientation and Transition Programs

@SouthernMissOTP

@SouthernMissOTP

EOE/

F/M

/VET

S/D

ISA

BIL

ITY

UC8

1596

Southern MissTO THE TOP!

ORIENTATION AND TRANSITION PROGRAMS118 College Drive #5094Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDJackson, MSPermit No. 84