The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) held a joint press conference today at the university’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss., to announce a new academic partnership that will allow MGCCC to offer select freshman- and sophomore-level courses on the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus, creating a seamless pathway for students to complete course requirements for select associate and bachelor’s degrees.
The agreement is designed to expand four-year degree opportunities for MGCCC students on the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus while increasing access to instructional locations in the Gulfport, Pass Christian and Long Beach areas. Through the partnership, students will be able to complete their MGCCC associate degree and Southern Miss bachelor’s degree consecutively at the Gulf Park campus.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to student access, efficiency and success,” said Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul. “By offering MGCCC courses at Gulf Park, we are creating a more efficient, student-centered pathway from associate to bachelor’s degree right here on the Coast.”
Under the agreement, USM and MGCCC will work collaboratively each semester to identify MGCCC freshman- and sophomore-level courses to be offered on the Gulf Park campus, with an emphasis on providing sufficient face-to-face options to support both institutions’ on-campus degree programs. While MGCCC provides freshman- and sophomore-level coursework at Gulf Park, Southern Miss will continue to focus on upper-division offerings to ensure a coordinated academic pathway for students.
Students enrolled through the partnership will benefit from coordinated academic advising from both institutions each semester, improving course transferability and reducing time to degree.
“Expanding Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s presence at the Gulf Park campus allows us to deepen our connection to the West Harrison County community while making the transfer pathway even more seamless for students,” said MGCCC President Dr. Mary S. Graham. “Today demonstrates what can happen when institutions work together with a shared goal of serving students and strengthening our region.”
MGCCC students who complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher will be guaranteed admission to Southern Miss, barring non-academic factors. Eligible MGCCC graduates may also be considered for the Coastal Pathways Scholarship, which provides $5,000 per academic year for up to two years, as long as funding is available.
The partnership also supports reverse transfer opportunities, allowing students who transfer to Southern Miss with at least 60 hours of MGCCC coursework, but without an associate degree, to complete associate degree requirements after matriculating to the university.
Both institutions will maintain compliance with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) policies and may enter into additional agreements as needed to support the goals of the partnership.
Learn more about transfer opportunities and academic programs at the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus.
