USM Center for Student Success Committed to Providing Ultimate Support

Wed, 07/26/2023 - 10:12am | By: Van Arnold

From the first day as a freshman until the final day as a graduating senior, students at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) can be assured that their academic success remains a top priority. Officials with the University’s Center for Student Success (CSS) would not have it any other way.

Originally known as Office of First-Year Experience and later New Student and Retention Programs, the name was officially changed in 2021. Students’ academic and personal growth remain cornerstones of the Center. Through purposeful development, students learn to navigate new experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

“As a student-focused office, we keep the needs of students at the forefront of everything we do,” said CSS Director Dr. Ashley Burnside. “We seek to foster an open, welcoming environment where students can receive answers when they aren’t sure exactly how to articulate what they need or where they need to go. In doing so, we meet students where they are.”

A significant portion of the undergraduate student population engages with the Center through myriad services and outreach initiatives during the academic year.

“With the number of events and programs we have within our office – workshops, individual student appointments we schedule, and drop-in meetings, we see hundreds of students each year,” said Holly Blakeney, Assistant Director for First-Year Programs. “We also have our general outreach efforts from our office that connects with even more undergraduate students.”

One integral resource provided by the Center is Success Coaching, whereby USM faculty, staff, and graduate students serve as mentors during each semester. Blakeney, who oversees the coaching program, notes that typically 15-25 coaches participate each semester. Some return for multiple semesters.

“Our coaches help students learn how to manage their time, build relationships with staff and faculty, connect to campus, study more effectively, and build their critical thinking skills,” said Blakeney. “Students are required to meet with their coach a minimum of four times within the semester, but if their coach and the student prefer, they can meet more than the minimum.”

Blakeney estimates that the coaching program alone serves between 50-150 students each semester. All undergraduate students are eligible for coaching assistance. However, special focus is placed on specific groups, including first-year students, first-generation students, underrepresented minority students and first-time participants, and transfer students.

Coaches are expected to mentor one-to-six students for the semester. They are equipped with facilitation guides and activities to help enhance conversations with their assigned students. The program is open to faculty, staff, and graduate assistants on the Hattiesburg Campus.

Blakeney emphasizes that seeing a diverse group of coaches sign up each semester helps create an air of excitement at CSS. At the moment, she is actively seeking a coaching cohort for the fall 2023 semester.

“We have a nice mix of faculty members, staff, and graduate students across campus. Several disciplines can be found in our coaching group,” she said. “Because we provide the necessary structures, activities, and facilitation guides for the coaches to follow, we see mentoring experience levels from beginning to advanced. We have seen folks from Polymer Science, English, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as administrators looking to connect directly to students.

Connect. Persist. Succeed. Words that represent so much more than a pamphlet slogan or advertising hook. At the Center for Student Success, they serve to inspire a staff devoted to comprehensive student development.

“Regardless of what needs a student might have, CSS does its best to offer support,” said Burnside. “When students need help learning how to study, how to build their schedules, or need assistance understanding what it takes to be a successful college student, we are here to support and encourage. We allow students to describe what success looks like to them, assist them in setting realistic goals, and support them as they work hard to accomplish those goals.”

Learn more about the Center for Student Success at USM or call 601.266.6405.