Navigating Southern Miss: A Comprehensive Guide to Student Life and Resources

The University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss) offers a vibrant and comprehensive student experience, extending far beyond academics. From a rich tapestry of extracurricular activities to essential support services, the university is dedicated to fostering the holistic development of its student body. This guide delves into the various facets of student life at Southern Miss, providing detailed information on student organizations, dining, housing, health services, career development, and more, ensuring that every student can make the most of their time on campus.

A World of Student Organizations and Activities

At the heart of Southern Miss's extracurricular offerings are its more than 200 student organizations. These groups span a wide array of interests, including service, social, religious, professional, and honorary pursuits, providing opportunities for nearly every student to engage and connect. Beyond these diverse organizations, several groups serve the entire student body in representative capacities.

Governing and Special Interest Groups

The university's student governance is structured through the Student Government Association (SGA), which represents all enrolled students and operates with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The SGA is more than just a structured organization; it is the official voice of the student in university affairs, continuously striving to improve programs and services available to the Southern Miss student population.

Special interest groups cater to a broad spectrum of passions and affiliations. These include the Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Council, which oversee Greek life. Other notable organizations encompass the Afro-American Student Organization, Alcoholics Anonymous, Anime Club, Chinese Student Association, Collective Hip Hop: An Artistically Original Society (CHAOS), College Democrats, College Republicans, Collegiate Black Women, Disney College Program Alumni Association, Eagle Connection, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Gay/Straight Alliance, Golden Eagle Intertribal Society, and Honors College Ambassadors. The I.D.E.A.L. program also fosters specific student interests and development.

Performing Arts and Musical Ensembles

The university's strong commitment to the fine arts is vividly demonstrated through its prominent student performing groups. The Southern Miss Repertory Dance Company, open to all students by audition and sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance, presents a diverse repertoire of original choreography and masterwork reconstructions in various formats, including concerts, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and tours.

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The University Theatre, the campus's primary dramatic organization, also falls under the purview of the Department of Theatre and Dance. For vocal music enthusiasts, the Oratorio Chorus is a large symphonic chorus open to students and the Hattiesburg community, performing two major concerts annually featuring Western art music masterworks. The University Chorale is a select choir of auditioned singers, while the University Singers is a mixed chorus of approximately 60 voices known for its varied repertoire and frequent performances. Jazz enthusiasts can join the Jazz Singers, a small, select ensemble specializing in vocal jazz music, particularly contemporary works and arrangements.

Beyond vocal ensembles, instrumental music thrives. Carillon, a handbell group, presents around 40 performances annually and tours regularly, focusing on contemporary sacred music. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band are open to all students by audition, offering opportunities to perform a wide range of wind repertoire. Notably, the Marching Band, affectionately known as "The Pride of Mississippi," provides electrifying half-time shows at university football games and has made regular national television appearances. Chamber music ensembles, including brass, woodwind, and string quartets, as well as larger homogenous groups like the Trombone Choir and early music ensembles such as the Collegium Musicum, further enrich the musical landscape. Service awards are available to talented students participating in these programs.

Media and Broadcasting

WUSM-FM, a university-owned public radio station, plays a crucial role in serving the diverse educational and cultural needs of the Hattiesburg community, offering a platform for student involvement in broadcasting and media.

Student Life and Campus Resources

Southern Miss is committed to providing a supportive and enriching environment for all students, offering a range of services designed to enhance their academic, social, and personal well-being.

Housing and Residential Life

The Department of Residence Life is dedicated to fostering a premier physical, social, and cultural environment that encourages and supports the holistic development of residential students. Research consistently indicates that students living in residence halls tend to exhibit higher scholastic performance and are more likely to graduate compared to their off-campus counterparts. To support academic success, the Residence Life staff implements programs focused on study skills and ensures quiet study lounges are available in most halls.

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Safety and security are paramount. All residence halls feature controlled card access entry, 24-hour desk assistants, and hall staff on each floor. University police officers augment desk operations nightly and conduct regular patrols of both the interior and exterior of the halls. Prospective residents can find information and apply for campus housing through the university's website at www.usm.edu/residence-life.

Dining Services

Eagle Dining offers a comprehensive and varied dining experience with 12 locations across campus. These range from all-you-care-to-eat residential facilities, such as the Fresh Food Company and Real Food on Campus (RFoC) at Hillcrest, to popular retail outlets like Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks. A variety of meal plans are available, designed to suit different student needs.

Bonus Bucks are an integral component of each meal plan, serving as a flexible supplement to residential dining. These can be utilized at all Eagle Dining retail locations, including the four P.O.D. (Provisions on Demand) markets. Students can sign up for meal plans and make changes, such as upgrades, prior to the university's deadline for charges to student accounts, typically about two weeks into the semester. Guests can be treated using a guest meal swipe, Bonus Bucks, or Dining Dollars.

The rollover policy for unused meals and Bonus Bucks varies by plan. For all Resident meal plans and Bonus Bucks, they expire at the end of each semester. Commuter students who select the Campus Connector plan will find that all remaining meals and Dining Dollars roll over from semester to semester and year to year. If a student runs out of Bonus Bucks, Dining Dollars can be added online at eagledining.com. Students can check their remaining meal and Bonus Buck balances. All residents holding a meal plan for the fall semester are automatically enrolled in the same plan for the spring semester, as meal plan contracts are for the entire academic year. Similarly, commuters with a fall semester meal plan are automatically re-enrolled for the spring. Payment options are available, and for any questions not addressed here, students are encouraged to seek further information.

Students with medical conditions requiring a modified diet should consult with Eagle Dining's registered dietitian before registration. This process requires documentation, including a physician's prescription specifying the modified diet and a copy of the diet itself.

Parking and Transportation

Faculty, staff, employees, and students, whether full-time or part-time, operating a vehicle on university-controlled property are required to purchase a parking permit. These permits, available as hangtags, decals, and temporary permits, can be obtained from the Department of Parking Management, located in McLemore Hall, room 152. The department provides a brochure detailing parking zones and traffic regulations, and penalties are assessed for violations.

Career and Academic Support

Southern Miss provides robust resources to support students in their academic and professional journeys, ensuring they are well-prepared for post-graduation success.

Career Services

The Career Counseling services assist students in clarifying their academic major and future career path. Individual Career Testing is available to help students identify fields of interest. The Career Resource Center offers a wealth of information and support to all students. Furthermore, the university has established multiple partnerships with companies that provide advanced career-oriented software tools. The Job Location and Development (JLD) program is dedicated to identifying part-time off-campus employment opportunities for students.

A cornerstone of practical experience is the Cooperative Education Program. This program allows qualified students to maintain their full-time enrollment status while engaging in valuable, career-related experiences that are often described as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Student Health and Wellness

Student Health Services offers a comprehensive suite of services, including laboratory testing, X-ray, pharmacy, counseling, and educational programs. The facility is staffed by competent physicians, nurse practitioners, and a physician assistant. Located on the bottom floor of Scott Hall, Student Health Services charges a $20 fee for each student visit, with additional charges for laboratory work, X-rays, and pharmacy services. Payments can be made via cash or credit card. Staff and faculty also pay at the time of their visit. The service is a member of the American College Health Association.

Southern Miss Student Counseling Services (SCS) provides confidential individual, group, and couples counseling to students. The primary goal of SCS is to enhance individual functioning and improve students' ability to achieve their life goals, helping them develop their full potential to cope with life's stressors. Students seek services for a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, low self-esteem, substance use or abuse, sexual orientation concerns, difficulties coping with past or recent trauma, problems with eating behaviors, and challenges adjusting to university life. All counseling services are provided free of charge. The SCS professional staff includes a licensed psychologist, five licensed counselors, and up to four practicum students. The center also offers outreach and consultation services to the broader university community. Southern Miss SCS is located in Kennard-Washington Hall, Room 200. For urgent needs outside regular hours, a counselor can be accessed by phone for crisis calls by dialing 601.606.HELP (4357).

Campus Facilities and Recreation

The university provides state-of-the-art facilities to support student life, recreation, and engagement.

The Union Complex

The Union Complex, comprising the Thad Cochran Center, R.C. Cook Union, and the Hub, serves as the vibrant nucleus of student activities at Southern Miss. It is the go-to destination for dining, meeting spaces, and quiet study areas. Within these buildings are the administrative offices for the Union and Programs department, student organization offices, Seymour's food court, a game room, and much more. The Student Activities Hub, located within the Hub, is central to student organizations and acts as a one-stop shop for student involvement, embodying the spirit of making Southern Miss better than one found it.

The Thad Cochran Center houses Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss, the Fresh Food Company, a Post Office, the Image Center (offering copy and photo services), ballrooms, and meeting rooms. It also hosts the offices of Event Services and Eagle Dining. Event Services manages the reservation of various campus facilities, including Danforth Chapel, Centennial Green, Weathersby Lawn, Shoemaker Square, and Union Plaza.

Recreational Sports

Recreational Sports promotes a safe environment through recreation, sports competition, special programs, and wellness activities, aiming to enhance sportsmanship, leadership, and the quality of life for a diverse university community. The Payne Center offers extensive indoor recreational facilities, including four basketball/volleyball courts, six badminton courts, three championship racquetball courts, an international-size squash court, a six-lane heated indoor pool (the M.C. Johnson Natatorium), a one-eighth-mile indoor exercise track, sauna, free weights, circuit training, a spinning studio, and a cardiovascular workout room. Equipment rental is available, and the facility is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.

A wide array of activities and programs are available, featuring over 40 intramural sports events ranging from flag football to dodgeball. Sport clubs include table tennis, martial arts, badminton, men's soccer, men's rugby, women's lacrosse, quidditch, and ultimate frisbee. Outdoor facilities managed by Recreational Sports include the Intramural Fields, the Bruce and Virginia Wilgus Fitness Trail, and outdoor sand volleyball courts.

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