Orientation in Hattiesburg

Orientation is required for all new degree-seeking students at Southern Miss. Our hope is that you leave Orientation with your questions answered. You will have the opportunity to make connections with current students, faculty and staff.

Yes. Orientation is mandatory for all new degree-seeking students at Southern Miss. You must attend Orientation in order to complete registration for classes. Failure to attend the session for which you've registered, will result in your classes being removed from your schedule.

#1 Begin checking your USM email account.

#2 Log into your SOAR account and complete your Activity Guide to remove the hold on your student account.

#3 Submit proof of two (2) immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) to the Office of Admissions.

#4 Be ready to hear from an Academic Advisor to discuss your class schedule. They will reach out to you via your USM email account.

Freshmen starting in the summer are still required to attend an Orientation session in May, June or July. Select from any available session. After you register for Orientation, your advisor will be in touch with you prior to the summer term to make sure your summer class schedule is complete.

Transfers starting in the summer will register for Orientation using the typical process, but will complete Orientation completely virtually. All of the resources you need will be sent to you ahead of the summer term. After you register for Orientation, your advisor will be in touch with you prior to the summer term to make sure your summer class schedule is complete. 

Yes, you will have the chance to visit with the Image Center on campus to get your ID card while you are on campus at Orientation. It's what makes you an official Golden Eagle! 

Yes! You will have a conversation with an Academic Advisor who is going to assist you with finalizing your class schedule.

You must be admitted to Southern Miss in order to attend Orientation. The Office of Admissions can assist you with getting admitted to Southern Miss prior to your Orientation session. Students not admitted on the day of their scheduled Orientation will not be allowed to participate in Orientation. To contact the Office of Admissions, please email admissionsFREEMississippi or call 601.266.5000.

No. If this applies to you, please contact the Office of Orientation and Transition Programs at orientationFREEMississippi.

Your online degree plan must be listed at the Office of Online Learning in order to be exempt from  Orientation  You will need to contact the Office of Online Learning at onlineFREEMississippi or 601.266.5518 if you have questions about your next steps. 

Although you may be classified as a freshman at your current institution, you are transferring from another college and therefore, are considered a transfer student. You will register for a Transfer Orientation session.

Freshmen will meet with their University Advisement Center Academic Advisor, who will help finalize their class schedule. Transfers will meet with administrators, faculty and staff from their academic college, who will help finalize their class schedule.

Students generally receive their housing assignment in July prior to the start of the fall semester. For further information and details about your housing assignment, please contact the Department of Housing and Residence Life.

UNV 100 is a required 1-hour course for all new students at Southern Miss. It is an online pass/no-pass course administered through Canvas. The Office of Orientation and Transition Programs will contact you about this course at the beginning of next semester.