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Virtual Orientation Resources

We are excited to welcome you as you start your journey at Southern Miss! New Student Orientation, Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) and UNV 100 work together to introduce new students to the people, offices and resources that will make them successful at Southern Miss and beyond.

Download the iSouthernMS App.

All of the information for Virtual Orientation can also be found by downloading the iSouthernMS app.

On the iSouthernMS app, parents and families can follow along with their student to learn about resources and meet the people on campus who are here to assist their student throughout their time at Southern Miss.

CLASS FORMATS EXPLAINED

FIRST YEAR GUIDE

Parent & Family Calendar

Before Virtual Orientation

Make sure to take care of these to-do list items prior to your Virtual Orientation session!

Get Ready to Hear from Us.

Since your Orientation experience is virtual, we'll use virtual tools to connect with you. Prior to your session, download Zoom and GroupMe. Make sure you also activate your USM email account.

Watch Orientation Videos.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to browse videos in the Information Fair where you'll learn about offices from around campus.

At the bottom of the page, you'll also be able to access three Orientation presentations that will help you be successful during your first year.

Transition to Academic Life
Getting Involved
Money Matters

Complete Pre-Course Registration and Read Your Degree Plan.

Within two weeks of your Virtual Orientation session, you'll hear from an academic advisor via your USM email who will assist you with Pre-Course Registration. They will help you plan your fall class schedule and tell you how you'll confirm your schedule on your Virtual Orientation day.

Each academic major has a degree plan that outlines the courses you'll need to take in order to earn your degree. You will create your class schedule each semester around this required coursework. Take some time to view your degree plan and to think about the courses you would like to take during your first semester.

Degree Plans

During Virtual Orientation

This is what you'll take care of on the day of your Virtual Orientation session!

REQUIRED Small Group Session 8:30 - 10 a.m.

Get to know your Southern Style leader and fellow new Golden Eagles as you learn about life as a college student at Southern Miss! You’ll receive a Zoom link from your Southern Style leader the day before your session. Make sure you download Zoom and GroupMe during the week before your Orientation session.

REQUIRED Schedule Confirmation Appointment 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

During this session, you will finalize your fall class schedule. Your academic advisor will contact you via your USM email within two weeks of your Virtual Orientation session to assist you with Pre-Course Registration and give you instructions for how to confirm your schedule on the day of your session.

At the conclusion of your Schedule Confirmation Appointment, your academic advisor will give you instructions for how to check-out of Virtual Orientation.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED Virtual Orientation Breakout Sessions 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Throughout the day, you can choose from six breakout sessions on different topics. In these sessions, you can interact live with faculty, staff and current students. Each hour, there are two sessions, and you can pick which one you want to attend, when you aren't in your Schedule Confirmation Appointment. Details about how to access these Zoom meetings will be provided at the conclusion of your Small Group Session.

After Virtual Orientation

This is what you can expect to take care of after Virtual Orientation!

Order Textbooks.

You can preorder your textbooks through Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss. You will need your class schedule to get started.

Barnes & Noble

Get Your Student ID Made.

Having that ID made makes it official: you're a Golden Eagle! Click on the link below to upload a photo for your student ID. You'll then get information about how to pick it up when you get to campus in August.

Student ID Card

Get Excited for GEWW.

Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) is how we welcome new students to campus in a big way! This is a fun experience that will help you meet people and learn more about how to have a successful first year at Southern Miss! GEWW is August 12 - 15.

GEWW