An accredited SACSCOC institution is obligated to provide to its students, constituents,
and the public information about itself that is complete, accurate, timely, accessible,
clear and sufficient. Information provided to the public includes published statements
of its goals for student achievement and the success of students in achieving those
goals. Information on student success may include reliable information in retention,
graduation, course completion, licensure examinations, and job placement rates and
other measures of student success appropriate to institutional mission. (SACSCOC
Policy Statement, “Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure,” Revised June
2018)
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a student-centered, doctoral-granting,
public research university dedicated to supporting student success through scholarship
and learning, and by integrating students at all levels in the creation and application
of knowledge through excellence in teaching, research, and service. USM strives to
prepare its diverse student body to thrive in a global society by providing quality
educational experiences in an inclusive environment.
At USM, the Student Success Leadership Council (SSLC) is responsible for identifying
student achievement measures and annually evaluating the University’s progress toward
attaining its desired outcomes. The SSLC is a comprised of representatives from each
of the Institution’s four degree-granting academic colleges, the Office of Institutional
Effectiveness, and the Office of the Provost. Included in the tabs below are the
SSLC-approved data points used to measure student success at USM, which include retention
and graduation rates, licensure exam scores, and job placement figures.