Southern Miss Awarded $2.1 Million U.S. Department of Education Grant
A five-year, $2.1 million U.S. Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program grant awarded to The University of Southern Mississippi will support efforts to remove barriers students may face in completing their degrees.
Titled “Improving Student Degree Attainment: A Comprehensive Approach,” the grant focuses on predictive analytics as well as high-quality teaching, advising and mentorship. It includes supplemental funds that will allow the project team to expand intentional career guidance efforts throughout the student experience, from recruitment to graduation.
Associate Provost for Faculty Success Dr. Kelly Lester will serve as project director. Co-project directors are Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success Dr. Douglas Masterson and Associate Provost for Student Success Russ Willis. The project team will also include Dr. Julie Reid, associate professor of sociology; Dr. Richard Mohn, strategic advisor; and Dr. Joanne Tran, assistant provost for academic affairs. Lester, Masterson, Reid and Dr. Amy Chasteen, professor of interdisciplinary studies, wrote the original grant proposal.
“We’re honored to receive this prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of Education,” Lester said. “It will support our efforts toward student success at the course, program and institutional levels, and amplify the great teaching and advisement we offer at Southern Miss. It will also showcase our central focus on students and preparing them for life after graduation.”
Key goals set by the project team include improving student degree completion by identifying and addressing significant obstacles—particularly those related to data collection, integrity and analysis; consistent advisement and training; and professional development for faculty and staff who work closely with students.
Additional benefits of the grant include expansion of the university’s ACUE (Association of College and University Educators) Faculty Development Institute and support for professional development for advisors and the Institutional Research team. The grant will also fund a new position in the Office of Institutional Research and provide technology upgrades to the Center for Faculty Development and its active learning classroom spaces. Career-readiness initiatives and continued access to Coursera professional development for students are also supported.
“The award of this grant reflects an institution that understands the needs of its students and a commitment to serve them effectively with additional resources,” said Southern Miss Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lance Nail. “Kudos to Dr. Lester and the submitting team for presenting such a strong proposal. Their vision and the hard work of the new team will exhibit strong returns on this investment in our students' success.”
About The University of Southern Mississippi
Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions. Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others. We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 37 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life.
