The Division of Student Affairs at Southern Miss is diligently striving to enhance involvement and interaction on campus among both existing and future students.
The Stu-dent Affairs Division at Southern Miss is actively fostering a more vibrant campus atmosphere by engaging present and potential students, and highlighting the array of services, resources, and chances for involvement through various events and initiatives.
In its quest to boost campus life, the division recently organized ‘Going Gold Day’ and ‘Eagle Fest’ at the Hattiesburg campus, aimed at both current and aspiring Golden Eagles. The roster of recent events also includes the Founders Week festivities, the yearly Stu-dent Awards Day, and the much-loved birthday celebration for Southern Miss.
Beyond these festive occasions, the leadership within Stu-dent Affairs is eager to join forces with the Academic Affairs department to create further initiatives for stu-dent success.
We’re actively seeking funds to provide financial aid to students
Dr. Kristi Motter, the Vice President of Stu-dent Affairs and Enrollment Management at USM, mentioned, “We’re actively seeking funds to provide financial aid to stu-dents who are facing outstanding balances. Additionally, we’ve sought several grants to support initiatives like the Kennard Scholars program, Peer-to-Peer Counseling, and ‘Coffee with a Professor,’ and we’re optimistic about receiving them.”
The primary focus of it is to nurture and amplify stu-dent achievement. Alongside Academic Affairs, the division is also keen on collaborating with other university sectors to pinpoint stu-dent needs and forge supportive initiatives, with a strong emphasis on stu-dent engagement activities.
Dr. Motter revealed, “We’ve recently revamped our organizational structure to bring Leadership, Multicultural Engagement, and Fraternity and Sorority Life under a single framework, aiming to bolster stu-dent engagement. By uniting these areas, we aim to engage a broader stu-dent population through comprehensive program planning and development.”
Adapting to the evolving needs of stu-dents, especially in light of recent challenges, is a familiar task for the Stu-dent Affairs Division. Their guiding principle remains that every student’s concerns, struggles, daily efforts, and necessities are of paramount importance. The division is dedicated to proactively addressing these needs as they emerge, with ample resources and support systems in place for stu-dents grappling with academic, personal, or financial issues.
“We’re here to support stu-dents, leveraging our extensive network of campus partnerships,” added Dr. Motter. “Our team is constantly brainstorming and launching new initiatives to aid students.”
Academic Affairs and Stu-dent Affairs are joining hands to deliberate on fresh and existing projects aimed at elevating stu-dent success. They are confident that this augmented support and outreach will be well-received and significantly aid students in their Southern Miss journey.
Looking ahead, Stu-dent Affairs is set to deepen its collaboration with Academic Affairs and is excited to welcome a new team member who will work closely with USM stu-dents involved with PRISM. Moreover, the division is expanding the cohort of students participating in the IMPACT program.
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Dr. Motter encourages all stu-dents to explore the division’s training programs or to simply engage with Stu-dent Life to discover their niche.
“We’re committed to helping stu-dents find their sense of belonging within the community,” she stated.
For further details on the upcoming events and workshops orchestrated by USM Stu-dent Affairs, stu-dents are advised to consult the division’s calendar and follow their social media channels. Questions can be directed to the Stu-dent Affairs team via email at studentaffairs@usm.edu.