Engaging Students in Research

Use experiential learning to deepen your research and invest in our students.

Student researcher in lab

Guidance for Including Students

Engaging students in your research can provide meaningful learning opportunities while advancing your work. Important considerations include ensuring that the experience is focused on education rather than resembling a student worker job and understanding how to navigate compensation processes and compliance requirements.

Is it experiential learning or student employment?

At the University of Mississippi, the Student Experiential Learning Committee is charged with determining whether an opportunity qualifies as experiential learning for the purpose of:

  • Paying students for their participation
  • Including minors as participants


If you wish to provide an experiential learning opportunity for students, and would like the option to pay students for participating, and/or you include minors are participants, you will need to complete an online Experiential Learning Program Request Form for consideration.

Questions? Email studentprograms@olemiss.edu.

Student wearing safety goggles and white coat oversees equipment in a research lab
Student works at a laboratory desk while studying samples and recording findings

Rebel Research Scholars

Researchers can engage high-school students in research during the summer session through Rebel Research Scholars. This program through the Office of Outreach Division of Pre-College Programs offers high school students hands-on, faculty-led research experiences.

Two happy children play on iPads while a university student engages them during experiential learning research
Two students laugh as they chat and eat at an out door table on campus

Housing for Summer Undergraduate Research Participants

The Department of Student Housing offers university housing to UM departments and external organizations to host residential conferences during the summer. Find room rates and request reservations for your offering.

Contacts

Rebel Research Scholars

Grey Young
Compliance Specialist (EORC)
gkyoung1@olemiss.edu

Student Experiential Learning Program Board

Virginia Rougon
Associate Provost
vlrougon@olemiss.edu 
studentprograms@olemiss.edu

Campus Housing

Lauren Oliver
Assistant Director for Summer Housing and Conference Services
labergho@olemiss.edu

Commonly Asked Questions

If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to email us!

The Student Experiential Learning Committee reviews requests for programs on the second Tuesday of each month. The committee determines whether the program qualifies as experiential learning or should be categorized as employment. They also confirm the appropriate payment process (if appropriate), report any implications for Financial Aid, and ensure the program complies with university policies.

Participant selection criteria are not reviewed, but all programs must follow the guidelines from the Office of Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance (EORC). For questions about selection processes, contact EORC at eorc@olemiss.edu or the Office of General Counsel at ogc@olemiss.edu.

Decisions and recommendations will be sent to the contact provided on the request form. Unless noted otherwise, program approvals expire annually and must be renewed.

The committee includes representatives of HR, ORED, Financial Aid, Procurement, Provost's Office, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, EORC, the Office of General Counsel, Outreach and Continuing Education, and other faculty members.