Southern Miss Business September 2023 Newsletter

The Future of Pre-employment Screening

With nearly 4 million more jobs than unemployed Americans, companies must be very intentional about how they screen job applicants. Having spent more than half of my career in management consulting (employment testing specifically), the pre-employment practices in the current tight labor market conditions are of great interest to me. I thought I would share a few thoughts about the current situation and offer a few ideas about future pre-employment screening practices.

Some employers have started scaling back on pre-employment screening because of the labor shortage. For example, some companies have revamped background checks to fight the labor shortage. Streamlining recruitment and hiring practices is always a good move, but simply doing less to have a faster process may not yield good results. Pre-employment screening can help employers make informed decisions about who to hire, providing insight into an applicant's fit for the job and organization, their past, and potential risks. Pre-employment screening can include a broad array of elements including background checks, criminal history reports, drug tests, interviews, personality tests, work samples, simulations, intelligence tests, and assessment centers to name a few. While pre-employment screens vary in time and financial costs to the employer, they provide important information that aid employers in making sound and legally defensible hiring decisions. Regardless of how tight the labor market is, the costs associated with making poor hiring decisions are significant. So, no matter how few applicants an employer has for any given position, eliminating pre-employment screens is not advisable unless it has been determined that certain screens or tests do not provide useful information.

On a related note, several states have either banned or are actively considering the elimination of pre-employment screening for cannabis use. This shift is primarily driven by the growing acceptance of marijuana, whether for medicinal or recreational purposes. Currently, twenty-one states, along with the District of Columbia, have granted legal status to marijuana for adult recreational consumption, and most states have provisions for medical marijuana use. Many major companies are reconsidering drug testing or have abandoned drug testing employees all together. As more states embrace marijuana legalization, it's likely that this trend will persist in the coming years, leading to a gradual reduction in pre-employment cannabis testing. Nevertheless, it's important to note that marijuana remains prohibited under federal law, and specific federal regulations mandate drug and alcohol testing for individuals in safety-sensitive roles within industries such as aviation, railroads, and trucking. Consequently, federal agencies and entities contracted by the federal government will probably continue to employ such testing procedures to weed out potential problem employees. Also, employers will likely address workplace safety concerns around marijuana through reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing policies that target impairment instead of pre-employment drug screening.

It should be noted that companies should only use pre-employment screens that are relevant to the job in question and ensure that they are valid. There are a multitude of options on the market and many of the companies selling pre-employment screens and tests have tremendous marketing budgets which make their products look and sound amazing. Companies should determine the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) required to successfully perform the target jobs and choose screens that are valid measures of those KSAOs. Reputable testing companies will be able to provide employers with validity information for the tests and screens and most can help them determine if the content of their jobs align with the content their tests purport to measure. Skipping this step can expose companies to significant risk of litigation. Recent examples include Walmart, Target, among others. A good test used for the wrong job or purpose is like taking good medicine for the wrong ailment. It can cause more harm than good.

Another consideration regarding pre-employment screens involves cost. Because some pre-employment screens are more expensive and/or time consuming than others, employers should be strategic about when certain pre-employment screens are utilized in the hiring process. In general, less expensive, and less time-consuming screens should be used earlier in the hiring process when the applicant numbers are larger. For example, minimum qualifications screens and multiple-choice tests measuring skills, abilities, personality, etc. are relatively cheap and easy to administer. Using these during the initial stages of the screening process can help to control expenses associated with administration time and cost of tests or assessments. After the applicant pool has been whittled down using these screens in earlier stages of the process, companies should use more expensive, more involved screens such as structured interviews, assessment centers, background checks, etc. Using this approach can help organizations avoid unnecessary costs and make the most of their time as well as that of the applicants.

How has the tight labor market affected your organization's pre-employment screening practices? How has it affected your behavior or decisions as a job applicant? Where do you see the future of pre-employment screening heading? I'd love to hear your thoughts and reactions.

Introducing the 2023-24 Eagle Scholars

We are pleased to announce the 2023-24 selections for the EAGLE Scholars Program. This prestigious scholarship and leadership development program is committed to fostering the growth and success of motivated undergraduate business students who embody integrity, a strong work ethic, dedication to completing their degrees, financial need, and outstanding academic achievement. The 2023-24 EAGLE Scholar recipients include:

• Julian Atehortua – Junior, International Business; Rionegro, Colombia
• Lainey Bartlett – Junior, Accounting; Vancleave, Miss.
• Abby Box – Junior, Accounting; Jackson, Miss.
• DeAnthony Dickerson – Junior, Entrepreneurship; Starkville, Miss.
• Kathleen Garraway – Senior, Human Resources Management; Madisonville, Louisiana
• Maggie Gressett – Senior, Marketing; Lake, Miss.
• Alejandro Hung – Junior, Finance; Porlamar, Venezuela
• Faith Kitowski – Junior, Merchandising; Plover, Wisconsin
• Andrew Myers – Senior, Accounting and Finance; Slidell, Louisiana
• Haeden Overby – Senior, Hospitality and Tourism Management; Oxford, Miss.
• Ashlyn Roche – Junior, Accounting; Mandeville, Louisiana
• Desiree Rodriguez – Senior, Marketing; Biloxi, Miss.
• Charla Thomas – Senior, Accounting; Clinton, Miss.
• Andrew Welch – Senior, Finance; Hamilton, Miss.

USM Accounting Students Named MSCPA Scholars

Southern Miss Business accounting student Jarrett Lea has been awarded the Hamp King Award and an undergraduate scholarship by the Education Foundation of the Mississippi Society of CPAs (MSCPA). The Hamp King Award is given to the most outstanding undergraduate scholarship recipient among the nine Mississippi colleges and universities that submitted a nomination for the award. This is the second year in a row a Southern Miss School of Accountancy student has been selected for this recognition. The award was established in honor of Hamp King, who served as Mississippi’s state auditor for many years.

Additionally, accounting student Haley Milstead has been awarded the Ralph F. Neely Graduate Scholarship by the Education Foundation of the MSCPA. The scholarship was awarded based on Haley’s academic achievements and involvement in campus activities.

The Education Foundation of the Mississippi Society of CPAs awarded $49,000 in college scholarships for the fall 2023 term. Founded in the early 1970s, the Foundation seeks to promote accounting education in Mississippi colleges and universities by helping students pursue a CPA career. College juniors, seniors, and graduate students representing nine Mississippi institutions applied for the scholarships, which required submitted essays, transcripts, and resumes. Scholarships worth $3,000 each were awarded to 16 students, and an extra scholarship worth $1,000 was awarded to the Hamp King Award winner.

School of Marketing Students Earn Certificate for Tri-Star Program

Congratulations to all of the undergraduate School of Marketing students who received their Applied Marketing Experience star in the Tri-Star Program! The Applied Marketing Experience is a comprehensive and immersive experience that allows students to connect what they have learned in the classroom to real-world experiences. These students needed to complete an internship, field experience, or a study abroad program to earn this star.

Coffee & Convos: Prospectus Presentation

The School of Marketing hosted its annual Coffee & Convos: Prospectus Presentation event this month. At this event, five senior Honors College students presented their thesis proposals:

• Greyson Swartzfager - Entrepreneurship; Advisor: Dr. Wei Wang
• Haeden Overby - Hospitality & Tourism Management; Advisors: Drs. Wei Wang & Banu Bas
• Ivy Oberkirch - Sport Management; Advisor: Dr. Sabrina Reed
• Patrick Tyson - Anthropology/Sociology/Spanish; Advisor: Dr. Wei Wang
• Christian Nesser - Sport Management; Advisor: Dr. Sabrina Reed

Russ Willis Named USM Nominee for Sun Belt Faculty of the Year

Mr. Russ Willis was selected as the University's nominee for the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Faculty Member of the Year. Each Sun Belt Conference institution nominates one faculty member from their university who has a passion for teaching, engaging, and inspiring students while displaying enthusiasm for student-athletes and the athletic department. Mr. Willis was nominated by USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Department of Athletics, and the University Athletic Council.

Dr. Kimberly Goodwin Offers Perspective on Decline in Mortgage Applications

Dr. Kimberly Goodwin, director of the School of Finance, offered her perspective on the decline in mortgage applications this month. A study conducted by the Mortgage Bankers Association revealed that during the initial week of September, mortgage applications reached their lowest point in 27 years. According to Dr. Goodwin, this development isn't entirely unexpected. Dr. Goodwin went on to appear on WDAM to continue the discussion on the current interest rates.

Dr. Heather Annulis Presents on Building Trust in the Workplace

Dr. Heather Annulis, director of the School of Leadership, presented a workshop on Building Trust in the Workplace. The workshop was based on the book Trustology: The Art of Science and Leading High-Trust Teams, providing effective practices for building trust in the workplace, a key competency for success and thriving in an ever-changing work environment. With over 45 staff and faculty in attendance both in person and online, this workshop provided a great professional development and networking opportunity among USM colleagues. This workshop is part of a series of professional development opportunities presented by the USM Association of Office Professionals.

Drs. Ali Dogru and Chao Meng Awarded $249,000 Federal Grant

Drs. Ali Dogru and Chao Meng, were recently awarded a federal grant by USDA under the FSMIP program. The study, entitled "Decision Support Tools for Building a Sustainable Timber Market in Mississippi” is funded for the amount of $249,854.00. More than $1 million in total was awarded to five projects and only 11% of the applications were awarded this year. Dr. Meng is the principal investigator and Dr. Dogru is the co-principal investigator.

Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang Secures $34,000 Grant from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang, assistant professor of industrial engineering technology in the School of Leadership, secured a grant of $34,240 sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the degree of occlusion present in sidewalk pavements within a given overhead image of an area. Answering this question will assist the CDC in making informed decisions regarding the monitoring of the built environment in relation to public health.

Southern Miss Sales Program Accepted as Associate Member of University Sales Center Alliance

The Southern Miss Professional Sales Program has been accepted as an Associate Member of the University Sales Center Alliance. The USCA is a consortium of sales educators who are dedicated to advancing the sales profession through teaching, research, and outreach. The USCA consists of nearly 70 universities from the U.S. and Europe dedicated to preparing students for success in professional sales roles.

USCA sales centers offer students an unmatched combination of specialized sales courses, mentors, internships, and other forms of actual sales experience to help students learn, develop, and sharpen their sales skills. Students successfully completing these programs have shorter ramp-up times and out-produce those without this sort of specialized preparation.

Sierra Greene Placement in West Virginia University Sales Competition

Congratulations to junior marketing major, Sierra Greene, for competing in her debut competition and achieving 3rd Place in the inaugural Fastenal Sales Competition hosted by West Virginia University! This competition emphasized the importance of virtual selling, and each round held a key component of the virtual sales process.

Student competitors were tasked with drafting a cold email message in Round 1 based on a "staged prospect" LinkedIn profile. Round 2 required competitors to submit an elevator pitch video of less than 2 minutes with the goal of setting a meeting with the prospect. Out of 55 competitors, only 10 earned a spot in the final round. Our very own Sierra Greene advanced into the finals with Ashley Mitchell close behind, placing #12 overall. In the final round, competitors are given a sales scenario to prepare and then execute a live virtual sales call via Zoom with a real buyer from the industry.

In addition to Greene, five other Southern Miss sales students competed in this competition—Ashley Mitchell, Jenissa Garcia, Kennedy Lambert, Maggie Gressett, and Patrick Jones. The team was coached by Conner Gunn of Gallagher Global, Kevin Buckley of the USM Sales Program, and USM Sales Corporate Partners from Fastenal.

The USM Sales Team is now practicing for the next competition in October—the regional Lagniappe Sales Challenge hosted at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Kevin Buckley appointed Director of Technology of the SMP

Mr. Kevin Buckley, professor of practice for marketing and sales, has been appointed to the board of directors for Sales & Marketing Professionals (SMP) as Director of Technology. SMP is a non-profit networking organization that fosters connection among sales and marketing professionals. Their mission is to provide dynamic speakers, educational resources, and scholarships to support the growth and development of the next generation of leaders in industry.

The Hatchery's mission is centered on students, providing them with educational experiences, fostering connections, and offering financial support to empower their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Hatchery Speakers Series

• Coffee w/ an Entrepreneur: So far this semester, The Hatchery has highlighted the stories of three accomplished entrepreneurs, including Pastor Tony A. Reimonenq, Founder & President of LinkedUp Empowerment Center, Kyle Caminita, Founder of Hub Tech Solutions and Easy VoIP, and Kristen Preau, CEO & Owner of Jambalaya Girl.
• Lunch w/ The Hatchery: The Hatchery hosted its first monthly lunch event of the semester, featuring Caitlyne Shirley from the Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI). Caitlyne shared information about MPI's offerings and upcoming pitch opportunities, drawing on her expertise to assist student startups in expanding their businesses and tackling technical challenges.

The Hatchery Speaker Series events are open to all students, faculty, staff, and the community. Dates are listed on the Southern Miss Events Calendar. For more information on their special guests, you can visit USM Hatchery on social media.

CheckPoint Seed Fund

Just this month, the USM Hatchery granted $500 each to Tori Faith, Henry Biemann, and Grace Wilson for their business ideas. These students had the opportunity to pitch their ideas, receive mentorship and feedback, and will conduct market experiments to evaluate the desirability of their concepts.

Founders Society Dinner

Monthly dinners serve as a platform for Founders Society members to come together and connect. Students gathered at locations like the Wine Room at Crescent City Grill and Bourbon on Front, providing an opportunity for them to bond, share their business aspirations, and exchange ideas in a supportive network that fuels their current and future endeavors.

Southern Miss Today Welcomes James Wilcox

Southern Miss Today welcomed James Wilcox, director of The Hatchery, for an interview to share some of the great entrepreneurial initiatives coming out of The Hatchery!