A Message from the President
Welcome to Thee Wonderful World of
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
Dear New Tigers:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Jackson State University. As a JSU alumna and interim president, I recall arriving on campus for the first time. I was nervous and excited, wondering what was ahead. Very soon, you will walk the yard and realize you are now part of a university with a proud history and a bright future.
You are joining a campus where your experiences and goals are valued. Our mission is to care about your wellbeing spiritually, academically, physically and emotionally. We are here to help you learn and grow at your own pace, create opportunities to try new things, meet people from many backgrounds and develop skills for your future.
Whenever you need support or encouragement, our orientation leaders, resident assistants, faculty and staff are ready to help. The Latasha Norman Center for Counseling and the Center of Student Engagement and Leadership are just two of the many resources available for you. If you are unsure where to start, visit our Quality Care Center located on the 3rd floor of the Student Center for assisstance. You are never alone here.
Campus life at JSU offers a wealth of opportunities. Here you will find clubs, organizations, traditions and ways to meet new friends. Some of your best memories will come from these experiences, whether you are joining a student group, talking with a mentor or just enjoying the sunshine on the yard between classes.
Wherever your JSU journey takes you, remember you belong here. You have a community that believes in you and is committed to your success.
Welcome to THEE—Jackson State University!
Sincerely,
Denise
Jones Gregory, Ph.D.
Interim President
Jackson State University
A Message from your Student Leaders
Greetings, New Tigers!
On behalf of the Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board at Jackson State University, it is with great honor that we welcome you to our beloved institution! With your assistance, we will work tirelessly to ensure that the student body remains dedicated to academic excellence and servant leadership, all while having a great time and creating lasting memories. It is only with your unwavering support and commitment that our Dear Ole College Home will continue to grow. Let’s challenge and inspire each other to be involved and stay the course. JSU is a family like no other and together we will have the time of our lives. Welcome Home to THEE! We look forward to working and growing alongside each of you.
Yours truly,
Raegan
Johnson & Jalin Cole
SGA President & Campus Activities Board President 2025-26
It is our great honor and pleasure to welcome you to our beautiful campus. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. As Mister and Miss Jackson State University, we always strive to represent our great institution with the essence of confidence and determination, and the trust that success is obtainable with hard work and dedication. We are excited to lead each of you down your own unique pathway of success. Together, let’s reach our full potential and embody a spirit of pride that is unlike no other institution. Welcome to THEE, Tiger Nation!
Sincerely,
Jarek Peterson & Lauren Ballard
Mister and Miss Jackson State University 2025-26
Our Story
Jackson State University® has a distinguished history, rich in the tradition of educating young men and women for leadership, having undergone seven name changes as it grew and developed. Founded as Natchez Seminary in 1877 under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, the school was established in Natchez, Mississippi “for the moral, religious and intellectual improvement of Christian leaders of the colored people of Mississippi and the neighboring states.” In November 1882, the school was moved to Jackson; in March 1899, the curriculum was expanded and the name was changed to Jackson College. The state assumed support of the college in 1940, assigning to it the mission of training teachers.
Subsequently, between 1953 and 1956, the curriculum was expanded to include a graduate program and bachelor’s programs in the arts and sciences; the name was then changed to Jackson State College in 1956. Further expansion of the curriculum and a notable building program preceded the elevation of Jackson State College to university status on March 15, 1974. In 1979, Jackson State was officially designated the Urban University of the State of Mississippi. Presently, Jackson State University, a public, coeducational institution, is recognized as a Research 2 “High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” institution based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is supported by legislative appropriations supplemented by student fees and federal and private grants.
Our Mission
The mission of Jackson State University, an HBCU and comprehensive urban research university, is to provide quality teaching, research and service at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels to diverse populations of students and communities using various modalities to ensure that they are technologically-advanced, ethical, global leaders who think critically and can address societal problems and compete effectively.
Our Vision
Building on its historic mission of empowering diverse students to become leaders, Jackson State University will become recognized as a challenging, yet nurturing, state-of-the-art technologically infused intellectual community. Students and faculty will engage in creative research, participate in interdisciplinary and multi-instructional/organizational, collaborative learning teams and serve the global community.
Jackson State University® | 7
MoVE II dAY -
BE THEE GUEST
09 AUG.
Parent Academy Happy Hour Chats
11 A.M. - 1 P.M. & 4 P.M. - 6 P.M.
College of Science, Engineering and Technology Building (CSET)
Campus Partners and Greeters
FRIEND LIKE thee
Thee Kingdom’s Code: Know the Rules, Rule the Realm
7 P.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Pajama Time - Pillow Talk
Real Talks with Community Assistants (CAs)
8:30 P.M. | Ladies - Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Gents - F.D. Hall Music Center
Transition to Residence Halls
Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Week
10 AUG. tiger World: A whole new vibe
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10
Once Upon a Brunch
9 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
T-shirt & Lanyard Pick Up | Amphitheater
Opening Plenary Session
12 P.M. - 12:45 P.M.
Ice Breakers Activity
12:45 P.M. - 1:15 P.M.
ROAR into Academics: General Session
1:15 P.M. - 2 P.M.
Breakout Rotations Begin (5 of 10 Sessions)
2:15 P.M. - 5:15 P.M.
ROAR Recap
5:30 P.M. - 6 P.M.
Dinner (Break)
6 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Enchanted Block Bash
7:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. | Student Center/Plaza
spirit
03 DAY 11 AUG.
Breakfast
6:30 A.M. - 8:15 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Morning Motivator
8:30 A.M. - 9 A.M.
Remaining 5 Sessions
9:15 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.
Lunch Break
12:15 P.M. - 2 P.M.
Concurrent Business & Support Blocks
2:15 P.M. - 4:15 P.M.
THEE Final ROAR
4:30 P.M. - 5 P.M.
Closing & Dinner
5:15 P.M. - 6 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium
Change into All Black Dress Attire
Thee Tiger March
8:30 P.M. | Line-Up Starts at 8 P.M.
Amphitheater B (In Front of Reddix Building)
Thee Official Welcome
9 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium
Convocation
Breakfast
7 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Magic Mix-Up: Laugh, Link and Let Go
“The Playfair Experience”
9 A.M. - 11 A.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Lunch
11 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
From the Castle to Thee Plaza: Where Moves Become Magic
1 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Go Thee Distance: Your Journey to Leadership
3 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium “Embark on Your Journey to Becoming a Campus Leader”
Dinner
5 P.M. - 7 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Pixar & Popcorn: A Magical Movie Night
8 P.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Transition to Residence Halls
Get Ready 05 DAY 13 AUG.
Breakfast
7 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Royal Standard: Navigating College & Conduct
9 A.M. - 10 A.M. | Dean of Students Office
Thee Support Kingdom: Part 1
10 A.M. - 11 A.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium “Every Hero Needs a Council. Student Affairs is Yours.”
Lunch
11 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Guiding Light: A Blue Streak Story
1 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium “Where Every Tiger Begins Their Journey with a Mentor by Their Side.”
A Tale As Old As Time: Dear Future Me
2:30 P.M. - 4 P.M. | Student Center
Dinner
5 P.M. - 7 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Freshman Election Nominations
7 P.M. - 8 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium
Through Thee Looking Glass: A Hypnotic Journey
8 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium
thee Tiger Necessities
Breakfast
06 DAY 14 AUG.
7 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. | Heritage/Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Support Kingdom: Part 2 “Where Help Meets Thee Hustle”
9 A.M. - 11 A.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium “Every Hero Needs a Council. Student Affairs is Yours.”
Lunch
11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Thee Ohana Splash Bash: Waterville 1877 Edition
2 P.M. - 5 P.M. | John A. Peoples Lawn “Ohana Means, ‘Nobody Gets Left Dry’!”
Dinner
5 P.M. - 7 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Mister & Miss Freshman Review Practice
7 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium Contestants Only
Thee Toy Box Takeover: Game Night Unleashed
7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. | Student Center
Almost There
Breakfast
07 DAY 15 AUG.
7:30 A.M. - 9 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
A Dream Worth Fighting For 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium “A Voice to Inspire. A Moment to Remember.”
Lunch
11 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Rise of Thee Roar: A Pep Rally Like No Other
1 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Thee Freshman Hotspot
3 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. | Rose E. McCoy Auditorium
Dinner
4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Once Upon Thee Yard: Meet Thee Greeks Edition
7 P.M. - 9 P.M. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Part of thee World
Breakfast
16 AUG.
7:30 A.M. - 9 A.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
JSU Community Service Event
9 A.M. - 11 A.M. | TBD
Lunch
11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
THEE MERGE
TBD | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC)
Dinner
5 P.M. - 7 P.M. | Heritage & Legacy Dining Halls
Campus Map
Alma Mater Jackson
Fair
[Verse 1]
Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear
Thee I love, my dear old college home
Thee I love, wherever I may roam Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear
[Chorus]
Hail, hail to thee, yes, hail to thee
Hail to the college of my heart
Hail, hail to thee, yes, hail to thee
Hail, to the college of my heart
[Verse 2]
Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear
Thee I love thy colors rich and bright
Thee I love the Blue and the White Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear
[Chorus]
Hail, hail to thee, yes, hail to thee
Hail to the college of my heart
Hail, hail to thee, yes, hail to thee
Hail, to the college of my heart
Fight Song
Cheer Boys
[Verse]
Cheer boys for Jackson
Jackson will win!
Cheer boys for Jackson
Never give in!
You do your best boys
We will do the rest boys
Cheer boys for victory!
Fight, Fight, Fight!
