Orientation at Southern Miss
Orientation at Gulf Park
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Spring 2027 Orientation will open October 15, 2026
We are excited to welcome you to the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus. By attending an orientation session, as well as participating in Gulf Park Welcome Week, and UNV 100, you will be introduced to resources, new student connections, and memories that will make you Ready for Life as you begin your college journey through graduation and beyond.
New Student Orientation
Please note: You must set up your SOAR account to register and temporarily disable an pop-up blockers on your browser before registering. You must also submit documentation of two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization.
Please also temporarily disable any pop-up blockers on your browser prior to registering.
Orientation is required for all new degree-seeking students.
Only admitted students who have submitted documentation of two measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations can sign up for Orientation.
*Mississippi state law requires that students provide proof of two (2) vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Exemptions are permitted in cases of (a) actual or suspected pregnancy (measles or rubella vaccinations are not required for females who are pregnant; if pregnancy is suspected, a valid certificate of medical exemption from a health provider is required until pregnancy is resolved); (b) medical contraindication; or (c) birth prior to 1957. The University partners with Med+Proctor for the collection of MMR immunization documentation. Effective November 19, 2025, students who intend to enroll at Southern Miss are encouraged to use Med+Proctor to upload proof of MMR immunization. Med+Proctor charges a $10 fee for this service. To document a medical or religious exemption, click here. Otherwise, click the button below to create your Med+Proctor account using your Southern Miss SOAR ID and password. Uploaded documents are typically processed within 24-48 hours
What is Orientation?
Orientation at Southern Miss Gulf Park is a one-day event designed to prepare new students for a successful transition to life at Southern Miss. Our mission is to welcome students and their families and connect them to the people, offices, and resources that will make them successful at Southern Miss and beyond. All new degree-seeking students are required to attend an Orientation session. Parents and families are invited to attend an Orientation session to assist their student with the transition to Southern Miss.
Spring 2027 Gulf Park Orientation Dates
- Wednesday, January 13
- Please contact us at gp-orientationFREEMississippi%20if you have questions.
- Immunization documentation must be submitted prior to orientation registration.
Orientation Fees
Orientation registration fee is $50 for students and $50 for each guest. Orientation
fees are nonrefundable and cover the cost of select meals, a Southern Miss t-shirt,
materials, and programming for your Orientation session. Orientation fees for students
and parent/family members must be paid upon registering for an Orientation session.
To-Do Checklists
- Complete your SOAR Academic and Financial Agreement. SOAR is the university's student portal. Each semester, you are required to log into your SOAR account and complete the agreement. The agreement will ask you to verify or update your contact information, and most importantly, it will require you to indicate that you have read and understood the Financial Agreement and Academic Agreement. Until you have completed the agreement, you will have a registration hold on your student account. You are strongly urged to complete this step ahead of advisement so that course selection and registration goes smoothly. If you need additional help with your SOAR Academic and Financial Agreement, follow this tutorial or contact the One Stop at 228.214.3370.
- Submit proof of two (2) immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). If you have not already submitted your immunization records, you can submit your records Please note that you will need your application login and password, not your SOAR login.
- Advisement and Course Registration. Pre-advisement will begin in April 2024. Please monitor your email for information on how to schedule an appointment with your advisor. This will allow you to meet with your advisor and select your courses prior to orientation.
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Learn your SOAR password. You will have to log in to SOAR during Orientation. If you can't remember your SOAR password, reset it at campusid.usm.edu before you attend Orientation. (Your username is a lower-case 鈥渨鈥� followed by your 6- or 8-digit Southern Miss ID number.)
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Log in to your Southern Miss email account. Follow these instructions or log in to . Your Southern Miss email account is the primary way your professors and the University will communicate with you; it is important that you activate this account and check it regularly.
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Get your student ID made. Having that ID made makes it official: you're a Golden Eagle! Make sure to hold on to it 鈥� you will need it every day. Visit the One Stop on the Gulf Coast Library.
- Talk with staff in the Office of Financial Aid. Financial Aid counselors will be available during regular business hours to speak with you individually about your financial aid. (A veterans benefits coordinator will also be on site.)
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Contact Admissions if you want to change your major. If you change your mind about your major after applying for admission, contact The Office of Admissions to communicate your new major.
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Submit any AP, IB, CLEP or college credit to Admissions. If you have earned college credit from a source outside of Southern Miss, you must submit proof to The Office of Admissions so that it can be applied toward your degree. If you have earned college credit through dual enrollment at another college or university, you must request official transcripts be sent to Admissions.
- Send final transcripts to Admissions. Recently graduated high school seniors should send a final official transcript that reflects all grades earned during their senior year and date of graduation. New transfer students should send a final official transcript (with no work in progress) from the last college or univ