Honors College
Honors College Student Handbook
Page Content
The University of Southern Mississippi Honors College Student Handbook was created as a guide for current Honors Scholars. The Handbook serves as an informational resource for students about expectations and requirements, and as a guiding policy document for the Honors College (HC), its students, and its staff. Changes in policy are updated in the Handbook and kept current on the HC website.
Table of Contents
- History and Mission
- The Honors College Code
- The Curriculum
- Advisement
- Academic Standing
- Resources
- The Honors College Leadership Council
- Electronic Newsletter and Honors College
- Social Media
- The Honor House and the Loft
- Honors College Team
History and Mission
Our History
The University of Southern Mississippi offered its first Honors classes in 1965. By
1976, the program had evolved into a formalized Honors College, making it the sixth
oldest public honors college in the nation and the oldest Honors College in the state
of Mississippi.
Appropriate to its historic role at the University, the home of the Honors College is the Honor House, one of the original buildings on the Southern Miss campus. Built in 1912, the Honor House was given its current name when it was a dormitory for women who were put “on their honor” to respect curfew and other campus policies. Today’s Honors College is comprised of 500 curious, imaginative, and aspiring scholars who strive for excellence, thrive on academic challenge, and serve and lead both on campus and in the community.
Our Mission
The Honors College at the University of Southern Mississippi fosters a deep, communal
engagement with ideas and an atmosphere of personal connection and achievement by
providing students with small classes, opportunities for active learning, and dynamic
research experiences. We create a supportive and challenging intellectual community,
promote attentive mentoring, and introduce our students to cutting-edge scholars and
artists. Above all, we encourage our students to seize opportunities and determine
their own paths—both at the university and beyond. Upon graduation, our students will
have the independence and confidence to pursue their passions and the knowledge and
tools with which to chart a fulfilling future course dedicated to the public good.
The Honors College Code
We expect all Honors College Scholars to recognize and take seriously the many implications of “honor.” We hold Honors Scholars to high standards not only regarding academic performance and integrity, but also civility and tolerance. We value the diversity of the Southern Miss campus and expect our students to respect one another and honor and learn from differing viewpoints, cultural experiences, faith systems, and interests.
Upon accepting admission into the College, all Scholars are governed not only by the Southern Miss Academic Integrity Policy, but also by the Honors College Code, which reflects our mission and our fundamental commitment to rigorous standards of excellence:
As a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Honors College, I commit to serving as a leader and role model on campus and to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, personal conduct, and campus citizenship.
I will exert a sustained effort to pursue academic and scholarly excellence and to grow both personally and intellectually. I recognize the inherent value of each member of the Honors community, and I pledge to help forge a more equitable, just, and inclusive community for all.
I recognize that it is my responsibility to uphold this code and to encourage others in their efforts to do so.
The Curriculum
Overview
The Southern Miss Honors curriculum is divided into two phases—Honors Foundations
(for freshmen and sophomores) and Honors Keystone (for juniors and seniors). Those
who enter the College as freshmen are expected to complete the four-year curriculum;
upon completion of Honors Foundations requirements, these students will transition
automatically into the Keystone curriculum. Students may also enter the Honors College
as rising juniors and complete the Keystone curriculum only.
Graduating students will be awarded an Honors College Medallion and Gold Cap, which they may wear with their robes during commencement proceedings.
Honors Core
Through course offerings and extra-curricular programming, the Honors College nurtures
the habits of mind, spirit of curiosity, and sense of civic engagement that are at
the heart of our mission. The curriculum is developmental and builds steadily toward
the achievement of the Honors thesis in the senior year. Students must maintain a
3.25 cumulative GPA to remain in good academic standing in the Honors College.
Honors Foundations (Freshmen and Sophomores): 16 hours
Freshman Year: Honors Colloquium (HON 111/112): 6 hours
Taught by specially-chosen Honors Faculty Fellows, this two-semester course sequence
nurtures students’ curiosity and their ability to ask, and answer, rich and complex
questions. While a common theme and common assignments unite all sections, each class
offers its own approach. Class sizes are typically 15-18 students.
Sophomore Year: Honors Seminars (HON 303): 6 hours
Taught by the university’s most innovative professors, these special topics classes
will focus on the questions that are currently energizing scholarly and creative research
across the disciplines. With a focus on interdisciplinary and cutting-edge exploration,
these classes are designed to spark excitement and investigation. Multiple sections
will be taught each semester, on varying topics; class sizes are typically 15-18 students.
Freshman and Sophomore Year: Honors Forum (HON 321), 4 hours
For over 40 years, the University Forum Lecture Series has been bringing some of the
most respected and innovative cultural, scientific, and artistic voices in the world
to Southern Miss.
A one-credit hour class taught in association with this series, Honors Forum promotes engagement with the intellectual and cultural life of The University of Southern Mississippi.
Honors Keystone (Juniors and Seniors): 5 hours
Junior Year: Developing the Honors Thesis I and II (HON 300 and HON 301): 2 hours
Taught in sequence, these one-credit hour classes will provide students with the tools
they need to lay the foundation of their Honors thesis and shepherd them through the
process of topic and project plan development. HON 300 is a prerequisite to HON 301
and cannot be waived.
Senior Year: Thesis Research
In the senior year, students must
- Complete a minimum of 3 research hours (e.g. ENG 492H, MAT 492H) under the guidance of their chosen thesis advisor.
- Submit an approved Honors Thesis.
General Requirements and Policies
Advisement in Honors is required each semester and supplements advising in the student’s
major program. This specialized advising is a benefit of Honors College membership
and facilitates students’ academic progress and success at Southern Miss. For more
information about advisement, see below.
Honors Scholars who elect to study abroad during a regular academic semester must discuss and request waivers/substitutions with their Honors advisor. Such waivers and substitutions are not guaranteed and must be approved by the Honors advisor and the Dean of the Honors College before the semester in question.
A grade lower than a B in any Honors class will result in Honors College review to ensure that the student is on track to successfully complete the Honors Thesis.
Upon completion of HON 301, students must be continuously enrolled in 492H (or equivalent) hours until the thesis is submitted and approved.
The Honors Thesis is generally completed in the student’s major program; exceptions must be approved by the appropriate program representatives and the Honors College Dean in advance.
Year-by-Year Guide for Southern Miss Honors Scholars
The following is based on a student earning a bachelor’s degree in four years (8 semesters)
and is a general guide only. The program of study will be different for students who
study abroad, complete internships off-campus, take summer coursework, etc. Advisement
throughout each student’s academic career will ensure that they are making appropriate
progress in the curriculum.
By the end of each year, students should have completed the following:
- Honors Foundations, Year One (Freshmen)
- HON 111 (fall)
- HON 112 (spring)
- HON 321 (both fall and spring term)
- A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
- Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters
- Honors Foundations, Year Two (Sophomores)
- HON 303 (fall)
- HON 303 (spring)
- HON 321 (both fall and spring term)
- A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
- Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters
- Honors Keystone, Year One (Juniors)
- HON 300 (fall)
- HON 301 (spring)
- A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
- Academic advisement with Honors advisor in both fall and spring semesters
- Honors Keystone, Year Two (Seniors)
- 492H (Honors Research), or course equivalent, in thesis advisor’s department (e.g., ENG 492H or BSC 492H); 3 hours divided over two semesters
- A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
- Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters
- Meet all required deadlines for thesis development and submission
- Complete Honors College Aquila Research Taxonomy
- Complete Honors College Exit Survey
Honors College Advisement
What is Advisement?
Honors Scholars benefit from careful attention and guidance throughout their time
in the Honors College. Honors advisors assist students with:
- Honors curriculum and requirements
- General academic planning
- AP, IB, dual enrollment and transfer credits
- Major and career plans (e.g., graduate, law, medical, and other professional schools)
- Leadership, service, and involvement opportunities
- Study-abroad opportunities
- On-campus student success resources
Advising Information/Policies
Honors College students are required to meet with an HC Advisor each semester during
regular advising periods. You may, however, request Honors advisement as needed at
any time during the semester.
Regular Honors advisement will typically take place during late September/October (for spring classes) and late February/March (for summer and fall classes).
Honors Scholars must meet Honors advising expectations each semester during regular advising periods (typically, late September/October for spring classes, and late February/March for summer and fall classes). Students may request additional Honors advisement as needed at any time during the semester. Honors advisement supplements but does not replace advisement within the student’s discipline.
Students can schedule an appointment with their Honors advisor through the staff directory.
Academic Standing
We are invested in our students’ success and are committed to providing guidance when and where it is necessary in order to ensure that a student is making good academic progress. To that end, we monitor student grades and progress at both midterm and at the end of each semester. So that we can intervene early and offer assistance, those students who do not meet our GPA criteria or who appear to be experiencing academic difficulties at midterm will be contacted and may be required to meet with an Honors advisor or with the Dean to establish a plan for improvement. At the end of each semester (fall, spring, and summer), we review the grades and progress of all Honors Scholars to assess their academic standing in the Honors College.
Good Standing
In order to remain in good standing in the Honors College, students must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Make successful progress toward completion of a degree and of Honors requirements
- Meet Honors advising expectations every semester
Honors College Probation
The following conditions are grounds for Honors College probation:
- Cumulative GPA below 3.25
- Term GPA below 2.5
- Failure to progress in the Honors curriculum. Failure to progress includes such matters as: not completing Honors requirements in a timely fashion; receiving an incomplete (I) grade in a required Honors course; failing to work effectively with thesis advisor and/or respond to outreach and communication from advisors and/or the Honors College
- A failing grade in one or more Honors classes (including thesis hours); a “no pass” grade in HON 321
- Failure to meet Honors advising expectations
- Violation of the Honors College Honor Code, the USM Student Code of Conduct, and/or The University of Southern Mississippi Academic Integrity Policy/receiving a grade of XF*
Students will be informed of their probation by email to their @usm.edu account. Students on probation will be required to complete an Honors College Probation form and to meet with the Dean of the College to establish a Plan for Academic Improvement (PAI). The PAI, which remains internal to the Honors College, will be used to guide further action with regard to standing in the Honors College. A student on probation who fails to meet with their advisor and/or who fails to meet the requirements of the PAI by the end of the following term will be suspended from the Honors College.
Honors College students are allowed only one probationary semester; in rare cases, and only with approval of the Dean, a student will be granted one semester of “Probation Continued” status. Students will not be allowed more than two semesters of probation in total.
*Note on summer coursework and probationary standing: Students who are placed on probation/probation continued at the end of the spring semester and who choose to take summer coursework are required to meet with their advisor to implement a Plan for Academic Improvement (PAI) that will include appropriate benchmarks for the summer semester. Students who fail to do so may be suspended from the Honors College.
Honors College Suspension
The following conditions are grounds for Honors College suspension:
- Cumulative GPA below 3.25 for two consecutive terms
- Cumulative GPA below a 2.5 in any given semester
- Failure to progress in the Honors curriculum.* Failure to progress includes such matters as: not completing Honors requirements in a timely fashion; receiving an incomplete (I) grade in a required Honors course; failing to work effectively with thesis advisor and/or respond to outreach and communication from the advisor and/or the Honors College
- A failing grade in one or more Honors classes (including thesis hours); a “no pass” grade in HON 321*
- Failure to meet with the advisor as required
- Failure to meet the terms of the Plan for Academic Improvement, if a student has been placed on probation
- Violation of the Honors College Honor Code, the USM Student Code of Conduct, and/or The University of Southern Mississippi Academic Integrity Policy/receiving a grade of XF*
Students will be informed of their suspension by email to their @usm.edu account. Students who wish to appeal their suspension may do so by completing a Suspension Appeal Form. All appeals will be considered by the Honors College Appeals Committee. If a student is suspended a second time after a successful appeal, they may not appeal a second time.
*In determining whether an academic integrity violation warrants probation or suspension, the Honors College will consider the previous record along with the extent of the violation. In cases of suspension, remediation of the XF grade does not guarantee Honors College reinstatement or the ability to graduate from the Honors College. Upon receipt of a suspension appeal, the Honors College Appeals Committee will review the case and determine whether remediation warrants reinstatement.
Note on Academic Standing and Honors College Scholarships: Students must maintain good standing in the Honors College and complete all requirements, including the thesis, in order to retain their scholarships. The Honors College will carefully monitor the progress of all students; in cases where a student appears at risk of failing to complete Honors requirements, the HC may hold and/or delay disbursement of the scholarship until such time as the student has demonstrated substantial progress. In the case of suspension, the scholarship will be cancelled immediately. If the suspension takes place in the course of a semester, the scholarship, if already disbursed, will be revoked and the student will be asked to return the funds to the university.
Withdrawing from the Honors College
Students may indicate their intention to withdraw from the Honors College by completing
the Honors College Withdrawal Form. All students seeking to withdraw will be required
to meet with the Dean. Further, we encourage any student contemplating withdrawal
to meet with an Honors advisor and/or the Dean to discuss whether withdrawal is appropriate
or advisable. In the case of withdrawal, the scholarship will be cancelled immediately.
If the withdrawal takes place in the course of a semester, the scholarship, if already
disbursed, will be revoked and the student will be asked to return the funds to the
university.
Graduation Procedures
Beginning in summer 24, there is no separate application for Honors graduation. Students
must complete the graduation application in SOAR and pay any appropriate fees to successfully
apply for graduation from the University.
Resources
The Honors College Student Leadership Council
The Honors College Student Leadership Council (HCLC) is the student leadership organization
of the Honors College. The council is made of four committees: Ambassadors, Academic,
First-Year Mentors, and Community Engagement & Service. These branches are involved
in recruitment and retention and the development of community initiatives, service,
etc., that will enhance the Honors College student experience. New Honors Scholars
have a chance to join in September of each year for a limited number of positions
on specific committees
Newsletter and Honors College Communications
Sent to all Honors College students on the Hattiesburg and the Gulf Park campus on
a weekly basis, the newsletter is designed to keep students abreast of important Honors
College, campus, and community information. The newsletter will typically contain
information on important topics such as: job, scholarship, internship, and study abroad
opportunities; visiting lecturers; upcoming deadlines and advisement schedules; and
Honors College policies, events, student achievements, residence life information,
and class information.
Social Media
Stay informed about Honors College fun facts, alumni news, student achievements, and
upcoming events by liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram.
Facebook: Southern Miss Honors College
Instagram: @HC_SouthernMiss (#hcusm)
The Honor House and The Loft
As a Southern Miss Honors Scholar, you have privileges at the Honor House and our
student space in Cook Library. Using your student ID, you have 24-7 access to the
Honor House lounge and access to The Loft during Cook Library hours. When visiting
the Honor House lounge during regular business hours, you may request paper from the
Graduate Assistant; however, please be prepared to bring your own paper at night or
on the weekends.
Please be courteous to your fellow students and the Honors College staff and clean up after yourself in both spaces. We want the Honor House and our centralized lounge to be a comfortable place for all.
| Dr. Joyce Inman, Dean joyce.inman@usm.edu |
Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, Associate Dean rebecca.tuuri@usm.edu |
Dr. Andrew Haley, Director of University Forum Andrew.haley@usm.edu |
| Ms. Jaide Hollingsworth, Budget & Operations Jaide.hollingsworth@usm.edu |
Ms. Helen Greene, Recruitment & Communication helen.greene@usm.edu |
Ms. Jessie James-Prince, Academic Advisor & LLC jessica.r.james@usm.edu |
| Ms. Kelli Sellers, Academic Advisor & Thesis Research kelli.sellers@usm.edu |
Mr. Kyle Ethridge, Scholarships & HCLC kyle.ethridge@usm.edu |
Ms. Mary Beard, Nationally Competitive Programs & Awards Mary.a.beard@usm.edu |