New Graduate Students

In addition to the Graduate School online orientation, most academic programs have separate orientations. Please check with your academic unit or specific program for information on orientation.

To help you get started, here are some additional resources and policies with which you should review and familiarize yourself:

• Institutional Review Board
  RCR/Integrity Assurance 
  Academic Integrity Policy (CITI)
  Dr. Sam Bruton, Director Office of Research Integrity
  All graduate students must complete the CITI and Academic Integrity Policy modules.
  
• Sexual Misconduct Policy
  Dr.%20Rebecca%20Malley, Title IX Coordinator
  View Sexual Misconduct Policy
  View Consensual Relationships Policy
• Affirmative Action and Equal Employment
• Hattiesburg Campus Library Services
  Ms. Tisha Zelner, Associate Professor/Head Public Services
• Gulf Park Campus Library Services
  Ms.%20Adrienne%20McPhaul, Assistant Professor/Science, Health, and Nursing Librarian
• Health Insurance (Graduate Assistants) 
  Students who are not Graduate Assistants can obtain health insurance through the clinic, contact Student Health Services at 601.266.5390 for additional information.
• Southern's Online Accessible Records (SOAR) Tutorials
  Ms.%20Marlissa%20Northrop, PeopleSoft Trainer, Office of Associate Provost for Academic Excellence

Here at The University of Southern Mississippi we are committed to fostering integrity in our academic community. All graduate students are required to participate in the University’s Research and Scholarly Integrity Assurance Program, including online courses and on-campus forums and workshops.

The required online course is offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). All new graduate students should create a CITI account using their USM email address and answer the enrollment questions to generate their required CITI curriculum. Questions regarding CITI requirements should be directed to Jo Ann Johnson, Integrity Assurance Program Manager at 601.266.5997 or via email at Joann.JohnsonFREEMississippi.

If you are conducting research involving human or animal subjects, you will be required to complete additional designated courses, as well as submitting their proposals for approval prior to beginning their research.

• Students completing research involving human subjects should submit their proposed research to the Institutional Review Board.
• Students completing research involving animal subjects should submit their proposed research to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Additionally, you should review the Academic Integrity Policy to help maintain a honest, responsible, respectful, and ethical campus community.

At present, the university has approximately 900 university assistantships in all areas. Assistantships are awarded competitively by academic programs or other service areas. Access more information about Graduate Assistantships. 

The University of Southern Mississippi and the Graduate School are committed to helping students reach their personal and professional goals, including financial ones.  Because graduate students face important financial choices as they pursue their studies and transition to careers, the Graduate School has provided a list of sites below designed to provide guidance on topics regarding financial literacy. 

• GradSense, a financial literacy resource offered by The Council of Graduate School, is designed to help students make wise financial decisions that will support their long-term academic and professional career goals. Along with median debt and income data, GradSense provides students with loan repayment advice, spending tips, and career guidance. 
• Federal Student Aid is a one stop shop for all kinds of information regarding your finances while in school. You can learn how to spot scams and deceptive loan practices, as well get some helpful tips for managing your money on a student budget.
• The Department of Education also hosts an blog, which highlights interesting topics throughout the year. Be sure to check out an April 2016 post about the importance of financial literacy.
• MyMoney.gov was developed under the Financial Literacy and Education Commission as a national financial education website by the Department of the United States Treasury. To keep up to date about the ongoing work of The Commission, visit the Financial Literacy and Education Commission website. There you will find Commission meeting minutes, previous activities, and additional resources.