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Jump Scholars Program

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*Application deadline: April 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.*

Get a JUMP start on your college experience!

Jump scholars participate in a three-week success camp before fall classes begin their freshman year. The program is specially designed to give incoming first year students the time and support they need to adjust to campus life before the start of the fall semester.

Students live in their freshman residence hall, enroll in one intensive three-week academic course, and participate in weekly success presentations and community-building programs. Success workshops are held throughout the program to teach students the academic skills they'll need to succeed in college.

Benefits of Being a Jump Scholar

Photograph of Jump Scholars

Move to campus three weeks early with no additional housing fee!
Take your first full-credit class in just three weeks. The class counts as part of your fall schedule, so you can either get one class ahead or use your 3-credit JUMP course to lighten your course load your first semester.
JUMP is an intensive program, so you'll get to know your classmates, your professor, and Student Success Center staff before the incoming class even arrives on campus.
Success presentations and workshops will help you transition from the high school to the increased demands of college life. You'll learn study skills, time management techniques, and what student-friendly resources are available at Southern Miss.
Two competitive scholarships (renewable for all four years) are exclusively available to Jump Scholars.

Who is eligible to apply to be a Jump Scholar?

All first-year students coming to Southern Miss in the fall are eligible to apply. You'll need two references who can speak to your character and motivation. These individuals should be adults who know you well, perhaps through school or organizations to which you belong, and cannot be family members, family friends, or friends.

Application deadline: April 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Apply now

Jump Courses

College Algebra (MAT 101)
General Psychology (PSY 110)
Introduction to Sociology (SOC 101)

All three courses offered satisfy a requirement in the core education curriculum. College algebra satisfies the Mathematics requirement, and Psychology and Sociology satisfy one of two requirements in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

While every effort will be made to place students in their first choice of classes, class sizes are kept small in the JUMP program to allow for individual attention from faculty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fall 2023 tuition and housing are covered during the August 2023 intersession period for Jump Scholars. Additional costs for the program will include an intersession meal plan, a $60 intersession course fee, textbook costs and personal expenses. Some of the charges can be charged to the student account and paid along with the fall 2023 balance.

The program is included in the full 2023-2024 academic year so any existing scholarships you have will go toward covering semester costs!

If you have dual enrollment for each of the classes offered, the Jump program might not be the best fit. Participants are required to select one of the three Jump courses offered during the intersession period (MAT 101, PSY 110, or SOC 101). Should you wish to take one class over, that is something you should discuss with an academic advisor.

Jump scholars will move into their fall housing assignments prior to the program starting!

Questions about your housing arrangements should be directed to Housing and Residence Life.

The Jump scholars program will start approximately 3 weeks before the start of the fall semester. Specific dates for move-in and the first day of classes will be announced as they are solidified. You can anticipate moving to campus in late July.

The intersession period is a three-week academic session before the beginning of each full term semester. Intersession classes are included in a student's total enrollment for the upcoming. For example, a student who is enrolled in 18 semester hours in the fall could take a three-credit-hour intersession course before the fall and only have 15 hours of classes during the full 16-week semester.

Yes. Our Jump Scholars are required to live in on-campus housing for the 2023-24 academic year.

Yes! Jump Scholars are able to reside in any first year residence hall on campus, and may select their preferred roommate even if they are not a Jump Scholar as well.

*If your preferred roommate is not a Jump Scholar, they will need to move in on the official move in date assigned by Housing and Residence Life.*

Questions about your housing arrangements should be directed to Housing and Residence Life.

Scholarships

Exclusive scholarship opportunities for Jump Scholars

Jump Scholars are eligible to apply for two Jump-specific scholarships.

The Powell Scholarship is a $1500 annual award, renewable up to 4 years, that Jump Scholars in good academic standing who have demonstrated financial need can apply for.
The Moorman STEM Jump Scholarship is a $2500 annual award, renewable up to 4 years, that Jump Scholars in good academic standing with financial need who are majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics can apply for.

Recipients participate in additional success programming during their freshman year with The Center for Student Success

Jump Ambassadors

Our ambassadors are former Jump Scholars who provide mentoring and support to our newest scholars.

	Analisa Cheairs Analisa is a junior biological sciences major. She wanted to be an ambassador to help incoming scholars connect to one another and to USM, to help scholars open their mind, and to be part of something greater than herself. Her favorite part of being in the JUMP program was how to balance academics and social life before the semester even started. She will be working with our Sociology Group.
	Davion Cole Davion is a sophomore graphic design major. He wanted to be an ambassador because he wanted to help encourage and support new Jump Scholars. His favorite part of being in the Jump program was getting to know how many campus resources were available and how to use them. He also enjoyed being able to become familiar and comfortable with campus before the semester started. He will be working with our Psychology Group.
	Brianna Cousin Brianna is a sophomore nursing major. She wanted to be an ambassador so she can provide the incoming scholars the same experiences, opportunities, and guidance that she received in the program. Her favorite thing about the Jump Scholars Program was the overall experience. She will be working with our Psychology Group.
	Aldon Laney Aldon is a sophomore forensics (chem/biochem) major. They wanted to be an ambassador so they could pass on information to incoming students about how to adjust to college during the first year. Thier favorite thing about the Jump Scholars Program was being able to learn how to build connections and navigate campus early. They will be working with our Sociology Group.
	Maddie Miller Maddie is a sophomore computer science and mathematics double major. They wanted to be an ambassador to help pass on a similar experience for the incoming group and also to help the scholars connect to campus. Their favorite part of being a JUMP scholar was learning how to be an individual while living on campus and how to become their own person. They will be working with our College Algebra Group.
	Breion Myrick Breion is a sophomore biological studies major. She wanted to be an ambassador because of the people she met, her mentors and the experience she had. She was grateful for the opportunity and wanted to pay it forward to the incoming class. Her favorite part of being a JUMP scholar was the people she met and being able to get to know campus really well. She will be working with our Psychology Group.
	Keynijah Sullivan Keynijah is a sophomore finance major. She wanted to be an ambassador so she could support and show up for the incoming scholars the same way her ambassadors did for her. Her favorite thing about being a Jump Scholar was attending the events (specifically the karaoke night) because she was able to socialize and come out of her shell. She will be working with our College Algebra Group.
	Donari Washington Nani is a junior digital journalism major. She wanted to be an Ambassador to help alleviate fears of incoming scholars and help them find a home at USM. Her favorite thing about being a Jump Scholar was meeting the people who would become her best friends, and also attending the different sessions the program hosted every week. She will be working with our College Algebra Group.