Orientation and Transition Programs
Golden Eagle Welcome Week
Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) is the second part of the three-part Orientation process for incoming students. GEWW takes place directly before the start of the fall semester and is meant to help new students transition to campus before classes begin.
During GEWW, students will be divided into small groups with their assigned GEWW Crew Leader. You will learn more about Southern Miss spirit and traditions, campus life, and student resources. We'll also host an involvement fair so that you can start connecting with the student organizations that interest you.
2021 GEWW Schedule Highlights
This nationally-recognized keynote will inspire you while you begin your journey at
Southern Miss. His message centers around an empowering metaphor: Your life is a show,
and you are the star. You are challenged to Be The Director, Write Your Script, Define
Your Character, Cast Your Show Wisely, and Be the Star of Your Life.
Curtis will kick-off GEWW on Sunday, August 15 at 6:30pm in Reed Green Auditorium.
Playfair is a nationally recognized and popular campus program for new student orientations.
It is more than just a “performance”— it’s an “experience” where everyone participates!
This will be a great opportunity to get to know your classmates, especially those
who do not live in your residence hall or are in your GEWW group.
You will get to participate in Playfair on Monday, August 16.
There are so many ways to get involved on campus. Decide to engage in the community
around you and go do it! A great first step is to get connected to organizations on
campus! The Office of Leadership and Student Involvement oversees around 200 student
organizations. Our involvement fair will give you an opportunity to hear from these
groups, while also meeting some students who are involved in a variety of organizations.
This will be a great opportunity to find your home here at Southern Miss!
You will get to learn about more about these organizations on Friday, August 20.
Peter first became fascinated with magic at the age of eleven when he stumbled across
a magic book at his local library. He now travels around the country performing his
award winning magic that will defy your reality. Peter's show is about two things,
astonishing magic, and having a good time; and he doesn't skimp on either. The title
Magician for Non-Believers is about being honest with his audience. Magic isn’t real...
but Peter will make you believe it is for the length of his show. Combining original
mind blowing magic, and a heavy dose of humor is his secret to success and why it’s
made him one of the top booked college acts around the country.
You will get to watch Peter perform live on Tuesday, August 17.
Students will have the opportunity to choose sessions to attend, which will include the following topics and more!
- Study Abroad 101
- Healthy Living at Southern Miss
- Show Me The Money: Financial Literacy 101
- GPS to Success
- Why Vaccines Matter for College Students
You will have the opportunity to choose your own adventure on the morning of Tuesday, August 17.
GEWW’s Got Talent is one of our favorite GEWW traditions! Watch members from your
incoming class perform their talents, or audition to perform yourself!
This year GEWW's Got Talent will be taking place on Thursday, August 19 at 8pm in Bennett Auditorium. Please note that we will have limited seats available to attend, so we recommend arriving a little early. If you are interested in auditioning be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 17 from 1 - 2pm or Wednesday, August 18 from 12 - 2pm.
This year GEWW's Got Talent will be taking place on Thursday, August 19 at 8pm in Bennett Auditorium. Please note that we will have limited seats available to attend, so we recommend arriving a little early. If you are interested in auditioning be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 17 from 1 - 2pm or Wednesday, August 18 from 12 - 2pm.
iSouthernMS App
You will want to download the app from your respective app store. Once you enter the app, you will select the GEWW persona, which will give you access to the information available regarding GEWW. To select this persona, you will need to click on the profile in the top right corner, then click on "My Persona" to switch to GEWW. If this is the first time you have accessed the app, then you will only need to select that persona from the beginning. Once you have access to the GEWW resources, you can view the GEWW schedule, bookmark events that you are interested in, and learn about special deals around Hattiesburg for our newest Golden Eagles! Our staff is working daily to keep the app updated with all the information you need. Be sure to check back regularly for additional resources.
To access the schedule on your desktop, click here.
Pre-Registered GEWW Events
There are some events throughout GEWW that require a registration, due to limited spaces. Please see the list below and be sure to sign-up for any that you are interested in!
Tuesday, August 17 | 1:00 - 2:30pm
Join the Center for Student Success, TRiO-Student Support Services, and Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement for an event celebrating the unique first generation student experience at Southern Miss! The event features Dr. Jason Wallace, the first in his family to earn a four-year college degree, and a current Southern Miss faculty member. This session is designed to inspire and uplift the first-gen community at Southern Miss, help our students succeed in their academic endeavors, and overcome adversity inside and outside of the college classroom. This event is RSVP only. Please RSVP here!Tuesday, August 17 | 1:00 - 2:30pm
Interested in connecting with other new transfer students on campus? Join us for the transfer talk lunch to meet new friends and learn all the tips and tricks for being successful in your first year at USM. This event is RSVP only. Please RSVP here!Thursday, August 19 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
Think you have some pool shark in you? You can cut the corners and make the trick shots? Well let’s find out. Come to the Union Pool Tournament and let’s see what you can do. Registration will be limited so be sure to get in quick! Register here!Thursday, August 19 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
Come check out the newest addition to Campus Rec with an F45 demo class! Spaces will be limited so get there early! Register here!Friday, August 20 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
So you met the Esports fam earlier in the week, time to come play them! Join the Esports community for tournaments involving some of our favorites and popular titles too. Register here!Saturday, August 21 | 7:30am
Kick-off your Saturday with a fun run/walk through the campus of Southern Miss! This is a great way to get out and enjoy a beautiful Saturday morning on a beautiful campus! Bring your friends and go at your own pace through our course! Register in advance at here!Students will disperse to various service sites across Hattiesburg to give back to the community that will pour into them during their time at Southern Miss. You will need to preregister for this event on Get Connected. Follow the instructions below to do so.
- Visit www.volunteer.usm.edu
- Log in using your USM email (firstname.lastname@usm.edu)
- Select the Orange spotlight on Get Connected labeled GEWW Day of Service and select the Opportunity that you are most interested in serving with
- Select the sign-up button to confirm your registration for the site.
- Complete the Initiative questions. (Have parents sign and email waiver form if the student is a minor)
- Select “Submit Opportunity Response”
Sunday, August 22 | 1:00 - 5:00pm
Come wrap up GEWW week with a beautiful afternoon on Lake Sehoy right off campus! Campus Recreation Outdoor Adventures will be set up with canoes and kayaks for you the get out on the water! Never kayaked or canoed? We will teach you! Be sure to catch the buses out to Lake Sehoy and register in advance as spots will be limited! Register here!Pre-GEWW Presentations
Be sure to get all of your last minute questions answered before you return to campus for GEWW! Join us for any of the following virtual sessions to learn more about what to expect during your time at Southern Miss. Links to recordings of past sessions and upcoming sessions can be found below.With GEWW and the start of classes just around the corner, this was the perfect opportunity to get any last-minute questions answered. Several student leaders shared their Southern Miss experiences and answered questions about student life and what to expect on campus.
To view a recording of the session, click here!
The Center for Student Success hosted a panel of family members of current Southern Miss students. This was a great opportunity to hear the perspective of family members who have been in your shoes. After all, when your student joins the Southern Miss family - so do you!
To view a recording of the session, click here!
Learn more about campus resources available to keep you safe, happy, and healthy during your time at Southern Miss. Hear from the Moffitt Health Center, Student Counseling Center, Campus Recreation, and the University Police Department about all that they can offer to help you succeed at Southern Miss.
To view a recording of the session, click here!
What does it mean to be successful in your first year as a Southern Miss Golden Eagle? Staff members from the Center for Students Success share details about your first year experience and advice on how to make the most of it! Learn more about exciting programs and services designed to help you engage in every facet of the student experience, from pursing academic curiosity to engaging in inclusive communities.
To view a recording of the session, click here!
GEWW is right around the corner, and is followed closely by the beginning of the fall semester. We want to be sure that you know what to expect for the final two steps of your orientation process. Hear more about the fun-filled events we have planned for you throughout GEWW and learn more about the curriculum for UNV 100.
To view a recording of the session, click here!
GEWW Exec 2021 |
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| Taylor Boykin Mobile, AL Speech Pathology |
Heidi Kirsch New Orleans, LA Business Administration |
Kathryn Marchand Mandeville, LA Dance & Kinesiology |
Jordan Maxwell Mobile, AL Communication Studies |
Ethan Sherwood Pass Christian, MS Sound & Recording Arts |