The University of Southern Mississippi is a member of the Association of Collegiate Licensing Administrators. The ACLA is an international association of collegiate licensing administrators, licensees, individuals, and organizations affiliated with collegiate licensing whose purpose is to foster the growth and development of collegiate licensing and the competence of its practitioners. The organization was founded in 1986 to enhance the professionalism and high standards of collegiate licensing through information exchange and interaction among those individuals and organizations involved with collegiate licensing programs. More than 350 colleges and universities are members in addition to more than 100 licensee members.