Programs for Engaging Students in Experiential Learning 

University guidelines limit the number of hours an undergraduate or graduate student may work to 25 hours in any given workweek (Monday – Sunday). This limit does not apply to students participating in a program that provides an educational experience as approved by the Student Experiential Learning Committee.  If your department does or would like to provide such an experiential learning opportunity for students, and would like the option to pay students for participating in this experience, OR you include minors as participants, OR both, then complete an online Experiential Learning Program Request Form for consideration. Please direct any questions to studentprograms@olemiss.edu.

Requests for programs that may involve paying program participants will be reviewed on the second Tuesday of each month by the Student Experiential Learning Committee to determine whether the proposed program should be classified as employment or if the program meets the threshold to be considered an experiential learning program. The committee determines the appropriate way to pay students, reports Financial Aid if there is any, and complies with UM policies with regard to these areas. Participant selection criteria are not evaluated. Regardless of the selection criteria, all programs are expected to follow guidelines set forth by the Office of Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance (EORC) in their selection processes. Please direct questions or concerns to EORC (eorc@olemiss.edu) or the Office of General Council (662-915-7014).

The Committee's decisions and/or recommendations will be communicated with the contact provided on the request form.  Unless otherwise noted, approvals for programs expire each year; annual renewals are required.

*The Student Experiential Learning Committee consists of representatives of HR, ORSP, Financial Aid, Outreach, Provost's Office, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the University Research Board, the Office of General Counsel, and other faculty members.

Paying UM Students

See the Flow Chart for Paying UM Students (with appendices).

Providing Summer Research Experiences for Non-UM Students: GRAD 400 Research Internship Special Experience

Faculty members or departments wishing to provide a summer research experience for students from other institutions may work with Graduate Dean Annette Kluck to set up a variable-credit course in their department. Non-UM students can have their tuition scholarshipped for this experience. See the attached example course syllabus.

Engaging Minors in Research

The Rebel Research Scholars program is available to support summer and academic year programs involving hosting minors on campus. Please see the Resource Guide for Research Experiences Involving High School Students, the Rebel Research Scholars Toolkit/Flyer (below), and the “Information for Programs Involving Minors” section of the Experiential Learning Program Request Form (see PDF version for reference). Requesting programs wishing to engage minors as participants should submit the requests for review at least one month before the beginning of the proposed program.

Housing for Summer Undergraduate Research Participants Not Enrolled for Summer Credit at UM

The Department of Student Housing will offer housing to university departments and organizations as well as organizations from outside the university community that host residential conferences and programs. Dates for conference housing availability will be public in Spring 2025. For rate information please visit: https://studenthousing.olemiss.edu/camp/conferencehousing/.

The Conference Housing Team will begin meeting in the spring to discuss building locations. The Organizing Groups who submit reservation requests will be notified of their room and hall assignments prior to May but no later than ten (10) days before the first check-in date. Check back in Spring 2025 for the Conference Housing Reservation Request Form for Summer 2025.

Contact Information:

• Rebel Research Scholars:
  • Grey Young, Compliance Specialist (EORC), gkyoung1@olemiss.edu
  • Ellen Shelton, Interim Writing Center Director and ORSP Research Development Fellow, eshelton@olemiss.edu
• Student Experiential Learning Program Board:
  • Virginia Rougon Chavis, Associate Provosts, vlrougon@olemiss.edu (studentprograms@olemiss.edu)
• Campus Housing:
  • Lauren Oliver, Assistant Director for Summer Housing and Conference Services, labergho@olemiss.edu

Links and Resources

• Rebel Research Scholars Toolkit/Flyer (pdf) Feb 2023
• Rebel Research Scholars Timeline and Checklist (pdf) Aug 2024
• The Resource Guide for Involving High School Students in Research (pdf) Aug 2024
• Minors in University Laboratories Fact Sheet: http://safety.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2014/06/minors2015.pdf
• Protection of Minors Policy: http://eorc.olemiss.edu/minors/
• Online Experiential Learning Request Form
• Coming Soon: Conference Housing Reservation Request Form for Summer 2025