Office of the Provost - Academic Authority, Hattiesburg

ACADEMIC AUTHORITY
The University of Southern Mississippi

This chart represents signature authority for university academic issues. The student is responsible for knowing and complying with all University minimum requirements for graduation, especially for the student's major program. All students are required to have a minimum 2.0 USM GPA, 45 hours at 300-400 level, and the last 32 hours in residence at USM.

ACADEMIC ISSUES	Originator/Office	INSTRUCTOR or ADVISOR	DEPARTMENT CHAIR/ DIRECTOR or Designee	DEAN’S OFFICE or Designee	PROVOST
ENROLLMENT ACTIVITIES
Eligible to Enroll	Major Department	Advisor
Add/drop course (prior to deadline)	Student via SOAR
Add/drop course (after the deadline)	Registrar’s Office	X of course	X	X
Withdrawal from University (drop all courses) *	Student	Dean’s Office	X	X
Prerequisites	Student	Advisor	X of course
Overload of hours for a term	Student	Advisor	X	X
Grade Appeal	Student	Instructor of course	X	X
Official Verification of Enrollment	Registrar’s Office/Records
VA Permission Letter	Registrar’s Office/Records
MS Residency	Registrar’s Office/Records
Repeats (maximum of 2 courses or 6 hours total)	Registrar’s Office/Records
UNOFFICIAL transcript with advising audit	Student via SOAR
OFFICIAL transcript	Registrar’s Office/Records
Degree Application	www.usm.edu/registrar	X	X	X
ACADEMIC CREDIT, SUBSTITUTIONS & TRANSFERABILITY
Within degree program for major	Advisor	Advisor	X	X (processing only)
Within degree program for minor	Advisor	Advisor in Minor	X	X (processing only)
Within General Education Core	Advisor	Advisor	X**	X***	X
Advanced Placement or CLEP credit	Admissions
International Baccalaureate (IB credit)	Admissions
Military credit	Admissions
Credit by exam (Challenge Exam)	Advisor	Advisor	X
Study Abroad evaluation	Study Abroad Office	Advisor	X
Univerisity minimum hours and GPA	Advisor	X	X	X	X
APPEALS
Excessive repeats (more than 2 courses or 6 hours)	Student	Advisor	X	X	X
Administrative Withdrawal	Major Department/Dean’s Office		X	X	X
Suspension	Major Department/Dean’s Office	Advisor/Committee	X	X	If dean and chair disagree or for denials
Probation-continued	Major Department	Advisor/Committee	X	X
OTHER
Change Major/Minor (program/plan)	New Department		X	X
Change catalog year (requirement term)	Major Department		X	X
Change Personal Data	Registrar’s Office/Records

*Withdrawals from the University or individual drops on courses cannot be processed within 2 weeks prior to the end of the term.

**Two chair signatures are required: (1) Chair of the department where the course is offered and (2) Chair of the student's major
***Dean of the college where the course is offered
Revised 7/31/06