The Hattiesburg American reported on November 18 that University of Southern Mississippi (USM) students would be charged $180 in fees for intercollegiate athletics as part of their semester tuition bill. According to the article, the fees helped to raise $5.4 million toward the $19.3 million athletic operating budget. An additional $1 million was provided from the university’s Education and General Budget, and the remaining $12.9 milion was self-generated.
Notably, the 33 percent in university support for athletics is among the lowest among its peers in the Conference USA, according to USM athletic director Richard Gianni. The funding will be used to support athletes’ tuition, room, board, and books; physical maintenance of athletic facilities; utilities; security; team travel; and event management.