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The University of Southern Mississippi

Ocean Engineering Affiliate Program

Launched in Fall 2024

Partner with Us

The Ocean Engineering Affiliate Program facilitates a collaborative partnership, allowing organizations and individuals to interact with and contribute to the School of Ocean Science and Engineering’s Ocean Engineering (OE) program at USM. This partnership is designed to foster conversations with all of our affiliates in regards to changing industry needs to best prepare our students for success.

Your Chance to Engage

Affiliate Day

Affiliates Day

Join us for our annual Affiliates Day, where you can meet our students, faculty, and alumni. You'll see OE students and recent alumni presenting their capstone projects and sharing their Southern Miss experience.

All affiliates are invited to participate, deliver guest lectures, and promote opportunities within their organizations to our students.

During the event, USM leadership will provide updates on recent developments and future initiatives. Affiliates are encouraged to share insights into the needs of their respective industries, empowering us to further tailor our program to better meet the evolving demands of the blue economy.

Affiliate Wall

Affiliates Wall

Come see our Affiliates Wall, that will be prominently displayed at the entrance of Lloyd Hall, where most of the OE classes are held. On the wall, plaques honoring our affiliates will be displayed.

Both students and visitors can inform themselves about the OE affiliates and gain an understanding of how the OE program is supported by the community.

 

Current Affiliates

Thank you to all our current affiliates for your unwavering support and for helping us chart our course. 

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See Affiliate Details

 

Fund a Priority

CNC Mill

CNC Mill A CNC Mill will enhance our educational capabilities by providing students with access to cutting-edge technology. This equipment will be used in CAD/CAM classes and for capstone and robotics team activities.

OE Capstone Project

OE Capstone Project Senior capstone projects often require specialized hardware. Contributions will allow students to pursue solutions less constrained by financial limitations.

OE Robotics

OE Robotics Team Contributions will assist the team in acquiring essential hardware and covering travel expenses for competitions. We invite individuals with relevant expertise to consider becoming a team coach or serving in an advisory capacity to support the team's success.

OE Scholarships

OE Scholarships  Our commitment to fostering education extends to providing scholarships for students pursuing OE. Contributions will fund scholarships, enabling talented individuals to reach their academic goals.

OE Day Cruise

OE Day Cruise  Educational day cruises offer students hands-on experience in OE. Contributions will significantly lower course fees, enriching the educational experience of our students.

Overnight Cruise

OE Overnight Cruise Educational overnight cruise experiences foster student engagement and teamwork. Contributions will help establish regular overnight cruises, ensuring that OE students can participate in this transformative experience.

Wave Flume

Wave Flume  A wave flume is an essential research tool in ocean engineering. Contributions will facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of a wave flume dedicated to education, offering our students invaluable hands-on learning opportunities.

Laser Cutter

Laser Cutter A laser cutter will provide students with precision cutting technology for metal and acrylic materials. This equipment will support projects in design and manufacturing, CAD/CAM classes, and innovative student projects, including capstone and robotics team activities.

Ethics competition

Ethics in Engineering Case Competition In 2024, USM's Ocean Engineering team reached the semi-finals of the Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Competition, beating out top teams from renowned schools like Embry-Riddle. To keep up this momentum and continue representing USM on a national stage, we need your support! Your contribution will help cover expenses for students to attend future competitions, where they can gain critical experience and make us proud.

 

Become an Affiliate

We invite organizations of all sizes and individuals to join us in advancing our OE program. We are open to conversations with all of our affiliates regarding changing industry needs to best prepare our students for success. We offer diverse tiers tailored to accommodate various organizational structures and support levels. Whether you represent a small business, business, a corporation, or are an individual, there's a place for you in our community.

What are the Benefits?

Recognizing the pivotal role affiliates play in our community, we are proud to extend a range of benefits to individuals and corporations (in addition to tier-specific benefits found below), including:

  • Participation in the Affiliates Day event.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE Events.
  • Copies of the school’s periodic newsletter.
  • Donation receipt for tax purposes.

Additional CORPORATE benefits include:

  • Access to talented students in Ocean Engineering.
  • Opportunities to collaborate on research and innovation.
  • Gain recognition in the community as a civic-minded company/organization.
  • Present and promote opportunities within your organization to our faculty and students at the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Opportunity to participate in our Ocean Engineering External Industrial Advisory Board.

 

 

Affiliate Tiers

Supporter
(Choose Level)

Exclusively for individual donors who contribute at their own chosen level of giving.

  • Membership certificate.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events.

Associate
($10,000+) over 5 years

Exclusively for individual donors who contribute $10,000 or more, annualized over a period of 5 years.

  • Framed Membership certificate.

  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.

  • Contribute to established OE priorities and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.

Partner
($25,000+) over 5 years

Exclusively for individual donors who contribute $25,000 or more, annualized over a period of 5 years.

  • Membership plaque.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Your name on an individual plaque displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall
  • Your individual contribution and affiliate status is acknowledged on the school's website.

 

Supporter
($250+) per year

Available to entities with a team of 25 employees or less, providing an opportunity to contribute $250 on an annual basis.

  • Membership certificate.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events.
  • Contribute toward various OE priorities at the discretion of the OE faculty.
  • Your company name displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name in the school’s periodic newsletter.

Associate
($1,000+) per year

Available to entities with a team of 25 employees or less, providing an opportunity to contribute $1,000 on an annual basis. 

  • Framed membership certificate for display in your facility.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Contribute to established OE priorities and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.
  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.
  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter.
     

Partner
($2,500+) per year

Available to entities with a workforce of 25 or fewer, providing an opportunity to contribute $2,500 on an annual basis. 

  • Membership plaque for display in your facility.
  • Advanced invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque prominently displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.
  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter and the opportunity to add a message as to why you support the USM community.
  • Contribute to established OE priorities or suggest a new Industrie priority and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.

Supporter
($1,000+) per year

Available to companies with a workforce of 100 or fewer, providing an opportunity to contribute $1,000 or more on an annual basis.

  • Membership certificate.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events.
  • Contribute toward various OE priorities at the discretion of the OE faculty.
  • Your company name displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name in the school’s periodic newsletter.

Associate
($2,500+) per year

Available to companies with a workforce of 100 or fewer, providing an opportunity to contribute $2,500 or more on an annual basis.

  • Framed membership certificate for display in your facility.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Contribute to established OE priorities and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.
  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.
  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter.
     

 

Partner
($5,000+) per year

Available to companies with a workforce of 100 or fewer, providing an opportunity to contribute $5,000 or more on an annual basis.

  • Membership plaque for display in your facility.
  • Advanced invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque prominently displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall
  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.
  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter and the opportunity to add a message as to why you support the USM community.
  • Contribute to established OE priorities or suggest a new Industrie priority and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.

Supporter
($2,500+) per year

Eligible to any corporation or organization that contributes an annual donation of $2,500.

  • Membership certificate.
  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events.
  • Contribute toward various OE priorities at the discretion of the OE faculty.
  • Your company name displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.
  • Your company name in the school’s periodic newsletter.

Associate
($5,000+) per year

Eligible to any corporation or organization that contributes an annual donation of $5,000. 

  • Framed membership certificate for display in your facility.

  • Invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.

  • Contribute to established OE priorities and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.

  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall.

  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.

  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter.

 

Partner
($10,000+) per year

Eligible to any corporation or organization that contributes an annual donation of $10,000 or more.

  • Membership plaque for display in your facility.
  • Advanced invitation to USM and SOSE events at the executive level.
  • Your company name and logo on an individual plaque prominently displayed on the OE Affiliates Wall
  • Your company name and logo and a link to your company’s website from our website.
  • Your company name and logo in the school’s periodic newsletter and the opportunity to add a message as to why you support the USM community.
  • Contribute to established OE priorities or suggest a new Industrie priority and enjoy enhanced visibility and access within our network.

 

Let's Connect

Have questions about navigating our affiliate program? Email us at marine.scienceFREEMississippi%20or call 228.688.3177, or use the link below.

Become an Affiliate