While the focus of any college experience is academics, Southern Miss is committed to sustaining a culture of healthy minds, healthy bodies and healthy campuses. Your student will benefit from all of the services and activities that are dedicated to just that goal.

Payne Center
Intramurals
Student Health Services
Counseling Services
Disability Accommodations
Office of Sustainability
Religious Organizations

Payne Center

The Payne Center is a one-of-a-kind wellness facility featuring spaces that support a comprehensive recreation and fitness program for the entire university community. The Payne Center offers students a Work Out Zone, indoor pool, group exercise classes (including yoga and Pilates), basketball, volleyball, squash, racquetball and badminton courts. Membership at the Payne Center is free of charge for full-time students.

Intramurals

Southern Miss students participate in intramural sports at the second highest rate of any other college or university in the nation! More than 40 activities are offered featuring individual and team/dual competition. Whether it’s flag football, bowling, ultimate Frisbee or water polo – there’s truly something for everyone.

Student Health Services

Serving the Southern Miss community for more than 40 years, Southern Miss Student Health Services offers general medical care for all students, faculty and staff. Students can walk in or schedule an appointment, and a $5 fee is charged for each office visit. The clinic houses a full-service laboratory, X-ray facility and pharmacy. Also located in Student Health Services, the Office of Health Promotion works to advance the mental and physical health of students through services that teach prevention, awareness and empowerment to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Counseling Services

Student Counseling Services offers a wide variety of services to Southern Miss students, including individual counseling, group counseling and couples counseling. Outreach and consultation services are available for students, faculty and staff. Student Counseling Services can assist your student with a variety of issues by providing free and confidential services.

Disability Accommodations

The Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) is Southern Miss’ designated office to verify students’ eligibility for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ODA woks with eligible students on an individual basis in developing and coordinating plans for the provision of reasonable accommodations that are specific to their disabilities. ODA interacts with all offices and departments on campus to encourage students with disabilities to have full access to, and participating in, university activities.

Office of Sustainability

In 2008, President Martha Saunders announced that Southern Miss is “going green.” In April 2008, Dr. Saunders signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and then formed the Office of Sustainability. A University Climate Commitment Council comprised of faculty, staff and students directs all sustainability activities; including an extensive campus-wide recycling system in every class, office and residence hall; and EcoEagle, an initiative that will incorporate sustainability issues into curriculum. Also underway is the construction of a new freshman residence hall that will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified residence hall in Mississippi. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. For more information about the Southern Miss Green Initiative you may visit The Office of Sustainability's web site.

Religious Organizations

University students participate in a variety of religious organizations and activities. A detailed list of all student religious organizations on campus can be found on the Student Activities Web site. The city of Hattiesburg is also home to quite a few faith-based organizations, many of which have college student-focused components.