USM Student Achievement

An accredited SACSCOC institution is obligated to provide to its students, constituents, and the public information about itself that is complete, accurate, timely, accessible, clear and sufficient. Information provided to the public includes published statements of its goals for student achievement and the success of students in achieving those goals. Information on student success may include reliable information in retention, graduation, course completion, licensure examinations, and job placement rates and other measures of student success appropriate to institutional mission.  (SACSCOC Policy Statement, “Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure,” Revised December 2022)

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a student-centered, doctoral-granting, public research university dedicated to supporting student success through scholarship and learning, and by integrating students at all levels in the creation and application of knowledge through excellence in teaching, research, and service. USM strives to prepare its diverse student body to thrive in a global society by providing quality educational experiences in an inclusive environment.

At USM, the Student Success Leadership Council (SSLC) is responsible for identifying student achievement measures and annually evaluating the University’s progress toward attaining its desired outcomes. The SSLC is a comprised of representatives from each of the Institution’s four degree-granting academic colleges, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, and the Office of the Provost.  Included in the tabs below are the SSLC-approved data points used to measure student success at USM, which include retention and graduation rates, licensure exam scores, and job placement figures.