University of Mississippi
Visit University of Mississippi | Contact Administration

The University of Mississippi strives to be a great, comprehensive, public institution of higher learning.

The University of Mississippi is a public, comprehensive, research institution that exists to enhance the educational, economic, healthcare, social and cultural foundations of the state, region, and nation. As the oldest public institution of higher learning in the state and as a Carnegie Research Extensive institution, the University’s primary functions are the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge through a variety of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and public service activities. The University’s main campus at Oxford emphasizes a traditional, residential educational experience, with a central College of Liberal Arts and several professional schools. The University’s regional campuses in Tupelo and Southaven emphasize professional offerings and primarily serve adult learners. The University Medical Center in Jackson includes the University Hospitals and Clinics as well as Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Related Professions, Dentistry, and Graduate Studies.
The University educates students to assume leadership roles in the state, nation, and world through its nationally recognized programs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Its teaching, research, and service missions are characterized by equal access and equal opportunity to all who qualify.

Teaching: The University will provide excellent, student-centered academic and co-curricular programs. Our goal is to produce graduates who have the breadth and depth of knowledge to be lifelong learners, to be successful in their discipline, and to be good citizens. Instruction builds upon a central College of Liberal Arts, with programs through the doctorate in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Our professional schools provide programs, including continuing education programs, for the preparing the following: K-12 and higher education teachers and administrators; lawyers and legal professionals; engineers in a variety of specialty areas; accountancy and business professionals; pharmacists, health care and applied human sciences professionals. Academic programs also include the Barksdale Honors College, the Lott Leadership Institute, and the Croft Center for International Studies. The Medical Center programs train health care professionals at the first professional, graduate, and postgraduate levels.

Research: The University will produce research and scholarship that is nationally recognized and supports the economic, healthcare, and cultural development of the state, the region, and the nation. The mission to generate new knowledge extends to the sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, business, accountancy, applied sciences, educational pedagogy, biomedical sciences, and health care areas. Research programs include the National Center for the Development of Natural Products and the National Center for Physical Acoustics in Oxford and the Jackson Heart Study at the Medical Center.

Service: The University will be a leader in providing service to the public, through the application and dissemination of its expertise and knowledge, in Mississippi, the region, and the nation. This public service function is fulfilled through a variety of outreach programs involving almost all academic disciplines and extending across northern Mississippi, with branch campuses in Tupelo and Southaven, and reaching state-wide and beyond in some cases. The Medical Center seeks to raise the health level of Mississippians by providing exemplary patient care and by responding to community needs through continuing health care education, outreach programs, and cooperative partnerships.

Additionally, the University is committed to
• developing diverse campuses that recognize and promote the value of individual differences;
• providing the highest quality educational support services and modern health care technologies to enhance the learning and patient care environments;
• maintaining efficient and effective administrative services to support its basic functions;
• supporting and developing a highly qualified faculty and staff; and
• leveraging its strengths and expertise by developing interdisciplinary programs within the institution and partnerships with other IHL institutions for the benefit of the University and the state.

The University of Mississippi is experiencing a renaissance unparalleled in the institution's 153 year history. Dramatic growth in its endowment, a huge jump in funding for research and an explosion of innovative new academic programs make The University of Mississippi one of America's great public universities.

Imagine the thunderous applause when alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff learned that their passionate efforts on behalf of Ole Miss had attracted $525.9 million in private gifts through the Commitment to Excellence campaign. The impact of this grass-roots effort already can be seen in competitive student scholarships, new academic programs, increased faculty support, cutting-edge technology, prestigious Phi Beta Kappa chapter, sweeping construction and renovation, and campus beautification.

"Our graduates and friends, as well as our students, faculty and staff, joined together and worked tirelessly to attract the investments we need to be a truly great public university," said Chancellor Robert C. Khayat. "Every aspect of life on the Oxford campus and at The University of Mississippi Medical Center has been improved, while we've expanded campuses in Tupelo and Southaven."

The story began in 1848 when The University of Mississippi – the flagship university of the state – opened its doors to its first 80 students. The research extensive, doctoral degree-granting University now has nine academic divisions on its main campus: the College of Liberal Arts; the schools of Accountancy, Applied Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law; and the Graduate School. Research excellence has led to UM's selection as home for more than 20 major research centers that garner national and international attention. The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Croft Institute for International Studies, Lott Leadership Institute and Institute for Racial Reconciliation also strengthen and expand the academic experience.

The health sciences complex in Jackson trains professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, health-related professions and dentistry. With a goal of bringing the resources of the university to the people it serves, Ole Miss continues to expand academic courses and degree offerings on its Tupelo and Southaven campuses.