Southern Miss has been helping new students transition into college life through a required course, UNV 100, which is taken by incoming students during the first eight weeks of their first semester to help them learn campus resources, writing, communication skills and academic success strategies.
Students meet once a week during the course period. The course aims to help students with receiving support early in their college year so they do not think they have to navigate college alone. The course also aims to make students feel more connected to the campus community and help build habits that will help them succeed academically and personally.
“The course introduces them to people, programs, and resources that are here to support them throughout their time at Southern Miss,” said Molly Moss, the assistant director of Leadership and Student Involvement. “Our goal is to help students start their college journey feeling prepared and connected to the university community.”
According to Moss, UNV 100 is founded on research in higher education linked to student success and retention. She elaborated that research across higher education shows that these courses help students transition to college by connecting them to resources, building academic skills, and increasing their sense of belonging.
UNV 100 also utilizes homework to help students practice the skills that they learned during the course. Since the class has multiple different sections, the exact assignment depends on the professor teaching the class. However, common assignments include writing reflections, participating in different activities around campus, and quizzes to help with study strategy.
Since the course aims to make students feel welcome at Southern Miss, the course looks for professors who are passionate about working with new students and who want to help them succeed. The course works best with an approachable professor who is knowledgeable about campus resources and committed to mentoring students during a major life transition.
“We want students to feel connected to the campus community, understand the resources available to support them, and develop habits that will help them succeed academically and personally,” said Moss. “Because the course is discussion-based and focused on skill development, instructors who enjoy engaging with students and creating a supportive environment tend to be the most successful.”
Students have also commented on the course’s importance. Nobel Paudel, an international student, shared his experience with the course.
“The class was really helpful in navigating college,” Paudel said. “We learned about university resources and history, which helped me in my college journey.”
UNV 100 is a pass/fail course. It cannot be repeated if a student fails the course.
