Programs and Events

Every October, the Office of Sustainability hosts a series of events to celebrate Campus Sustainability Month. All events are free and we encourage the campus community and the wider community to take advantage of these informative and fun demonstrations. Be sure to follow us on social media to get the latest updates, games, and events!

Email melissa.covingtonFREEMississippi if you have any questions.

The Office of Sustainability offers free bikes to students to help cut down carbon emissions on campus. The program has been in operation since 2008, and offers over 60 bikes to the student population at Southern Miss. If you would like to apply for an EcoEagle bike, please click here.

Looking to get involved on campus? The ADOPT A SPOT Program is the perfect choice for you. Individuals and organizations can help keep Southern Miss beautiful by adopting an area and pledging to keep it clean at least once per semester. Click here for more info: https://www.usm.edu/physical-plant/adopt-spot-program.

Campus Race to Zero Waste is a friendly competition that pits colleges and universities against each other for the title of top recycler. This event is a benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an 8-week period each spring, colleges across the United States and Canada report the amount of recycling each week. Also during these 8 weeks, our office hosts various games in which students can compete for prizes. With each week’s updated ranking, participating schools follow their performance against other colleges and use the results to rally their campus to reduce and recycle more. For more information on this event, click here. 

During one week of April, our office hosts a series of events during Earth Week. Organizations on and off campus will participate and promote environmental awareness and concerns as well as share ideas on best practices for a sustainable future. These events are open to all members of the university and Hattiesburg communities, and we hope that everyone will join us in celebrating the beautiful planet we call home.

Held either during spring or fall semester, this event showcases outfits designed with trash and/or recyclable material. Each participant is required to give factoids on why the materials were chosen, why they are bad for the environment, and what can be done to resolve said issues. Current USM students, individually or as a group, are invited to participate to compete for a $200, $100, or $50 Visa Gift Card and other prizes.

Move Out Madness allows students who are leaving residence halls, sorority, and fraternity houses to donate unwanted food, clothing, school supplies, and other items in order to keep them out of the landfill. All reusable goods are given to a select charity and all non-perishable foods go to Eagles Nest Food Pantry. 

Move In Madness is held during the fall when students are returning to campus. As students move in, staff and volunteers encourage, educate, and assist breaking down boxes for recycling. Thousands of pounds of cardboard are collected from select Res Halls allowing us to keep recyclable material out of the landfill.

Seymour’s Career Closet is a new program at the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus which will allow students to shop for FREE clothing in preparation for job interviews, internships, networking events, etc.  

Items accepted will include both men’s and women’s suits, blazers, blouses, slacks, dresses, skirts, dress shoes, belts, ties, and portfolios.  

To drop off or for special pickups, please email sustainability@usm.edu.  Seymour’s Career Closet is located on the first floor of Bolton Hall. This program is brought to campus by the Graduate Student Senate, Office of Sustainability, and The Division of Student Affairs.