Student Advisement Manual
Honors College
Kenneth J. Panton, Dean
118 College Drive #5162
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4533
The first Honors classes were taught at the university in 1965. In 1971, the program was named in honor of George R. Olliphant and in 1976 an Honors College was established. The college provides a stimulating education for high-ability students from all of the university’s academic disciplines, rewarding and recognizing excellence through scholarships and other awards, and preparing undergraduates for entry to the most prestigious national and international graduate schools. From their freshman year, students are taught in small classes by experienced teachers and are introduced to the practical applications of knowledge as well as to its theoretical bases. In their junior and senior years, Honors College students focus on research projects, working closely with their professors, and are strongly encouraged to participate in study-abroad programs in order to widen their cultural horizons and experience environments outside the United States. The curriculum of the Honors College consists of two phases: General Honors (for freshmen and sophomores) and Senior Honors (for juniors and seniors). To enter the college as freshmen, students compete with other applicants on the basis of high school grades, scores on the American College Test (or the Scholastic Aptitude Test), detailed evaluations by two high school teachers and their principal or guidance counselor, and an essay. Students may also be asked to come to the campus for a personal interview. Successful completion of General Honors will be cited on the student’s transcript and diploma. Senior Honors is described in the Undergraduate Bulletin. For more specific details, students and advisers are urged to consult the Honors College Handbook, available on the Web at www.usm.edu/honors.
International Student and Scholar Services
Barbara Jackson, Administrator
118 College Drive #5151
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
(601) 266-4841
fax (601) 266-5839
www.usm.edu/cice/isss
isss@usm.edu
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) coordinates all facets of international admissions and student/scholar services. ISSS provides counseling on immigration regulations, personal matters, and culture shock and adjustment, as well as some academic counseling in conjunction with the various departments. The office processes all international applications, evaluates foreign academic credentials, and issues the appropriate immigration documents for the nonimmigrant foreign student. Intercultural programming for international students and the community is also coordinated by ISSS.
The ISSS office disseminates Southern Miss information to foreign schools, U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, and nonprofit international organizations such as the Institute for International Education. ISSS also provides information to, and immigration documents for, research scholars invited by various Southern Miss departments to participate in limited research opportunities.
Continuing Education and Distributed Learning
Sue Pace, Administrator
118 College Drive # 5055
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4210
www.usm.edu/cice/cedl
sue.pace@usm.edu
Continuing Education and Distributed Learning (CEDL) functions to complement The University of Southern Mississippi’s overall mission of teaching, research, and service. By serving as liaison between the university and the community at large, CEDL extends access to the educational programs of the institution through multiple delivery systems to individuals at various stages of their lives and careers for intellectual, professional, social, and cultural advancement. CEDL acts in partnership with the academic colleges to link faculty expertise and resources with the needs of the university’s clients and constituencies. In this role, CEDL serves as an agent for opportunity, innovation, and quality. Continuing Education and Distributed Learning accomplishes its mission by distributing educational opportunities in settings and formats that broaden the university’s traditional modes of delivery.
Credit Programming and Distributed Learning
The office of Credit Programming and Distributed Learning has the responsibility of coordinating and administering all credit, intensive, weekend, intersession, and extension courses. Included are courses available on the Internet and select courses using compressed interactive video. Courses offered through this office are the result of collaborative relationships with the university’s academic departments. In addition, academic courses may be arranged in a format and location to meet the specific needs of governmental, business, industrial, and educational groups.
Through Independent (correspondence) Study, a student may earn up to 32 hours of undergraduate university credit or one complete unit of high school credit. Independent study allows the student to earn credit through the advantages of home study. These courses are particularly suited to the needs of the student who is unable to attend the university on a regular schedule.
Marketing and Professional Development
The office of Marketing and Professional Development is responsible for a diversity of programming that serves to address the educational needs of the community. Through market research and awareness efforts, this office seeks to identify the educational needs of professionals, paraprofessionals, and those making career changes. This office coordinates and administers the logistical details for conferences, institutes, workshops, and training programs, whether on-site or via the Internet. Additionally, this office provides convention and annual meeting coordination assistance to professional associations, fraternal organizations, and other education groups. The Listener’s License Program, administered through this office, enables individuals to utilize university resources by observation within the academic class setting on a nonparticipating basis. This office also oversees the approval and awarding of continuing education units (CEUs) offered by the university. The CEU is a nationally recognized unit of measure for noncredit continuing education programs. It is designed to document learning experiences that are valid in their own right, but differ from experiences for which academic credits are traditionally awarded.
Institute for Learning in Retirement
The Institute for Learning in Retirement is an association of active women and men 50 years of age or older who seek to explore stimulating learning experiences while developing new friendships. In this world of change and complexity, the institute brings insight and perspective to interested – and interesting – adults who wish to pursue activities of the mind in an informal and supportive environment. The institute’s program recognizes that a growing number of adults are adventuresome, active, and intellectually curious. The cornerstone is peer-learning and shared responsibility. The strength of the program is that it is self-directed and run for and by the members. It draws on members’ talents and experiences as instructors, facilitators, and leaders.
At Southern Miss, Steve Wiest, a Hattiesburg High graduate who earned a degree in jazz studies at Southern Miss in 1980, took advantage of the many opportunities available to him to perform.