The following information is provided by Deanie Kepler, director of Parent and Family Programs, and Christi Contreras, director of Parent Giving:
The end of the fall semester and the holiday season are quickly approaching. As students begin to prepare for final exams, we’d like to share information from SMU resources to provide support.
Health and well-being
We were so pleased this year to mark the opening of the new Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility that provides students with comprehensive health care. The Health Center is home to Medical Services, Counseling Services, a full-service pharmacy and SMU’s health education program (smu.edu/healthcenter; 214-768-2141).
At SMU Counseling Services, students can obtain confidential help with stress, anxiety, depression or other concerns. Dr. Cathey Soutter, director of SMU Counseling Services, encourages parents to be aware of any signs of distress when talking with their students, such as withdrawal from normal interests, crying or emotional outbursts, or changes in class attendance or in sleeping or eating routines. Parents can remind students of counseling resources on campus (smu.edu/counseling; 214-768-2277, an emergency contact number is provided 24/7). In the event of any concern about a health or safety emergency, please call SMU Police (214-768-3333, available 24/7).
We’d also like you to be aware of the SMU Dean of Student’s “Caring Community Connections,” a system for family members, faculty, staff and students to provide confidential information in order to connect students who may need support with resources. A form is online at smu.edu/deanofstudentsccc. Please also check with your student that his or her emergency contact information is kept up to date in my.SMU.edu.
Two serious health and safety issues on campuses across the country are sexual misconduct, particularly among acquaintances, and alcohol and substance abuse. On SMU’s health and safety website – smu.edu/liveresponsibly – you can find information about SMU policies, campus and community resources, education and prevention. All students are expected to “live responsibly,” upholding high standards of behavior, respecting the rights of others, and assisting others in need.
Finally, please remind your student to stop by the Health Center to get a free flu shot if he or she has not yet done so.
Academic support
At SMU’s Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC), learning specialists help students make a plan for final exams. They recommend creating a daily study schedule, using library resources and meeting with professors during office hours. At the A-LEC, students can obtain free tutoring, take workshops and review essays with English faculty members. If you would like to show support during exams, the A-LEC suggests sending encouraging messages and a reminder of your student’s strengths (smu.edu/alec; 214-768-3648).
Winter break is a good time to consider learning experiences beyond the classroom, such as Engaged Learning projects, internships through the Hegi Family Career Development Center and SMU Abroad programs. Winter and summer breaks also offer opportunities to earn credits through SMU JanTerm, MayTerm and other Summer Studies courses, both on the main Dallas campus and at SMU-in-Taos. The University Advising Center can help students plan ahead (smu.edu/advising; 214-768-2291).
We hope this information helps support your student’s continued progress at SMU. Below is contact information for SMU resources, and please do not hesitate to contact either of us directly if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach Deanie Kepler at 214-768-4797, or gkepler@smu.edu, and Christi Contreras at 214-768-4746, or cshelton@smu.edu.
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SMU will brighten the holiday season at its annual lighting ceremony, Celebration of Lights, at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, on the Main Quad. The ceremony will feature student musicians performing songs of the season, SMU President R. Gerald Turner reading the Christmas story from the New Testament and the lighting of the SMU Christmas tree. The celebration ends with participants bathed in the light of the candles they hold as they sing “Silent Night.” The public is invited to attend and enjoy hot cider and cookies before the ceremony begins.
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