Southern Miss Awarded $2.1 Million U.S. Department of Education Grant
Tue, 12/16/2025 - 09:22am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
A five-year, $2.1 million U.S. Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program grant awarded to The University of Southern Mississippi will support efforts to remove barriers students may face in completing their degrees.
Titled “Improving Student Degree Attainment: A Comprehensive Approach,” the grant focuses on predictive analytics as well as high-quality teaching, advising and mentorship. It includes supplemental funds that will allow the project team to expand intentional career guidance efforts throughout the student experience, from recruitment to graduation.
Associate Provost for Faculty Success Dr. Kelly Lester will serve as project director. Co-project directors are Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success Dr. Douglas Masterson and Associate Provost for Student Success Russ Willis. The project team will also include Dr. Julie Reid, associate professor of sociology; Dr. Richard Mohn, strategic advisor; and Dr. Joanne Tran, assistant provost for academic affairs. Lester, Masterson, Reid and Dr. Amy Chasteen, professor of interdisciplinary studies, wrote the original grant proposal.
“We’re honored to receive this prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of Education,” Lester said. “It will support our efforts toward student success at the course, program and institutional levels, and amplify the great teaching and advisement we offer at Southern Miss. It will also showcase our central focus on students and preparing them for life after graduation.”
Key goals set by the project team include improving student degree completion by identifying and addressing significant obstacles—particularly those related to data collection, integrity and analysis; consistent advisement and training; and professional development for faculty and staff who work closely with students.
Additional benefits of the grant include expansion of the university’s ACUE (Association of College and University Educators) Faculty Development Institute and support for professional development for advisors and the Institutional Research team. The grant will also fund a new position in the Office of Institutional Research and provide technology upgrades to the Center for Faculty Development and its active learning classroom spaces. Career-readiness initiatives and continued access to Coursera professional development for students are also supported.
“The award of this grant reflects an institution that understands the needs of its students and a commitment to serve them effectively with additional resources,” said Southern Miss Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lance Nail. “Kudos to Dr. Lester and the submitting team for presenting such a strong proposal. Their vision and the hard work of the new team will exhibit strong returns on this investment in our students' success.”