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Southern Miss highlights coastal research, workforce goals; trustees approve new Gulf Park institute and Entrepreneurship BSBA
Summary
University of Southern Mississippi President Dr. Joe Paul told trustees USM is growing research (nearly $100M in external awards in FY25), expanding coastal research with NOAA RESTORE funding and an oyster hatchery project, and launching health programs at Gulf Park; trustees approved USM's Institute of Strategic Leadership and Innovation (5-year cost ~ $1.9M) and a standalone BSBA in Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Joe Paul, president of the University of Southern Mississippi, presented an overview of USM's strategic priorities to the IHL trustees, emphasizing student-centered instruction, R1 research activity, and coastal research that the university said represents about one-third of its research portfolio. Paul noted faculty secured nearly $100 million in externally funded competitive research investments in fiscal 2025 and highlighted a NOAA RESTORE grant of just over $3 million to study seagrass ecosystems and a planned oyster hatchery that "will be capable of producing up to 1 billion oyster larvae annually," which he said will support restoration research and student learning.
Paul stressed workforce alignment, saying 74% of USM students are Mississippians and at least 63% of graduates remain in state, helping local economies. He also outlined program expansions at the Gulf Park campus including an Accelerated Nursing pathway and a physician assistant cohort planned for January 2027, plus new facilities (Kelly Jean Cook Hall) to support speech and audiology graduate offerings.
Academic actions: Following the presentation, Academic Affairs brought two items for board action. Dr. Melissa Temple presented USM's request to create the Institute of Strategic Leadership and Innovation (ISLI) at Gulf Park, an outreach and limited-scope center projected to cost approximately $1.9 million over five years; board staff recommended approval and the trustees approved the motion. The board also approved USM's request to convert an entrepreneurship emphasis into a standalone Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (120 credit hours). Board staff cited labor-market data and peer program offerings in recommending approval.
What this means: Trustees accepted USM's presentation as an example of campus-level strategic work and approved the institute and the Entrepreneurship BSBA; USM will proceed with implementation planning and report back as required by board policy.
