New Students

Getting Started with Technology is Easy at Southern Miss!

Follow these simple steps to gain access to the technology you need to complete your assignments and to place the world at your fingertips.

Step 1. Find out your EmplID from your paperwork received after you were admitted.
Step 2. Activate your usm.edu email address.
Step 3. Establish your security questions through SOAR.
Step 4. Review the Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy.

Step 1 All students are assigned a Universal Student ID (EmplID) by the Office of the University Registrar when their records are created in the Student system. This EmplID is the key to accessing most Southern Miss technology systems. Information outlining the steps to initialize the EmplID is mailed along with your acceptance letter. This letter contains a password used to login to SOAR (Southern’s Online Accessible Records).

Step 2 Contact the Help Desk once the EmplID has been identified to activate your usm.edu address. The Help Desk can be reached at 6-HELP or 64357.

Step 3 SOAR allows a student to reset their own password using self-service hint information. If you forget your password, or if your account is locked after too many failed login attempts, you can reset your password and unlock your account without having to contact the Help Desk. Contact the Help Desk to collect your initial SOAR password. Click here to login to SOAR and start establishing your security information. If you need further instructions, review Self Service Password Reset.

Step 4 Review the Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy