Members of the graduate faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi are recognized as experts within the various academic disciplines and programs that offer graduate degrees at the institution.  The university recognizes the academic and professional credentials they have earned as evidence that supports their ability to teach, train, and mentor graduate students. The various levels of graduate faculty status described on the pages linked below reflect the faculty member’s accomplishments in academic, research, creative, or clinical pursuits which may be demonstrated by such indicators as peer-reviewed journal articles or published creative works; invited or volunteered performances, exhibitions, and presentations; funded research; and clinical achievements. 

• Regular Graduate Faculty Status
• A-Z List of Regular Graduate Faculty
• Associate Graduate Faculty Status
• A-Z List of Associate Graduate Faculty
• Graduate Faculty Status Reference Table

The Graduate Council determines policies pertaining to graduate education at the university. The Graduate Council reviews, endorses, or recommends the rejection of proposed changes in the graduate curriculum and thoroughly reviews all proposals for additions, modifications, and/or deletions of courses, majors, minors and certificate programs verifying compliance with university policies.

The Graduate Council includes elected members from the various degree-granting colleges and the Gulf Coast campus. The graduate student association has an appointed, non-voting representative. The council elects a chair from its regular members. Ex officio members are the president of the university, the provost, the vice president for research and economic development, the deans of the degree-granting colleges, the parliamentarian, the university librarian and the university registrar. The university registrar serves as recording secretary. Graduate Council meetings are open to all faculty. The council’s recommendations are in its minutes.
The responsibilities of the Graduate Council include but are not limited to:

1. Determining policies of admission to graduate study at Southern Miss.
2. Considering and approving graduate programs submitted to the council through curriculum committees of each college.
3. Electing members of the graduate faculty upon recommendation by the academic chairs and deans.
4. Approving new courses, modifying existing courses and deleting courses for graduate credit including online courses.
5. Acting upon any other issues affecting graduate programs.

The graduate programs and policies approved by the Graduate Council are carried out through the Graduate School and the graduate faculty in each degree-granting college of the university’s academic organization. 

• Graduate Council Bylaws (PDF)
• Faculty Status Form

Graduate Coordinators provide informed leadership and oversight for programs and serve as the liaison between the program faculty and students and the Graduate School. The Graduate Coordinator must be familiar with Graduate School policies and procedures and willing to seek counsel from the Graduate School as needed to ensure accurate implementation.  The Coordinator communicates effectively with program faculty to ensure students receive appropriate guidance and have the opportunity for success.

Coordinators will be emailed a handbook at the beginning of each fall semester. They will also be available upon request

• Graduate Assistant Background Check

All offers of employment with The University of Southern Mississippi (including offers of assistantships) are contingent on the successful completion of a background check. You may not begin as an employee of the University until the results of your successful background check have been received. Once your hiring office has initiated the hiring process with HR, you should receive an email from Red Tail Security Screening with instructions on authorizing a background check.

• Graduate Assistant Change in Funding
• Graduate Assistant Memorandum (FY27) • Addendum 
• Stipend Calculator - Fall 26/Spring 27
• Graduate Assistant Tuition Waiver

All full-time GAs will receive a tuition waiver equal to 100% of the assessed in-state and out-of-state (if needed) tuition fees. All part-time GAs will receive a tuition waiver equal to 50% of the assessed in-state and out-of-state (if needed) tuition fees. Tuition waivers do not cover course fees, student activity fees, international programming fees, textbook fees, capital improvement fees, or any other type of fees. Tuition waivers will be prorated if the assistantship is terminated.