Category: Latest Updates

Updated Tuesday (1/16/2024) at 12 p.m.

Due to inclement weather, all undergraduate and most graduate classes on Tuesday, January 16, are canceled. Information on certain graduate or professional courses is available here.

The dining halls (Arnold, Lee) and Mac’s Place will operate as scheduled. Starbucks is open and closes at 5 p.m. Chick-Fil-A, Panera and The Market are open and close at 6 p.m. Sushic is open and closes at 5 p.m. Follow smudining on Instagram for more information.

Fondren Library is open and closes at 5 p.m.

Dedman Center is open and closes at 5 p.m.

The SMU Bookstore is open and closes at 5 p.m.

The SMU Men’s Basketball game on Tuesday evening (vs. Temple) will take place as scheduled.

Faculty and Staff

Only employees designated as essential on-campus should report to work on campus. If you have questions about your on-campus/remote designation, please refer to these FAQs.

Continue to check the SMU Aware website for the latest information.

January 12, 2024

Dear SMU Community,

Frigid temperatures and inclement weather are forecasted Sunday through Tuesday. SMU is observing the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday and classes resume on Tuesday. Please be prepared for the unusually cold weather and check back here for updates on any operational changes.

PREPARE AND STAY INFORMED

• Ensure we can reach you. Keep your contact information updated. Verify or update your details on your my.SMU account.
• Stay informed with SMU Aware. As an SMU student or employee, you are already signed up to receive SMU Alerts. Check the website and follow SMU Aware on social media for additional information and updates.
• Take home your laptops and charge electronic devices, including external batteries, to stay connected during potential power outages.
• Prevent freezing pipes by maintaining adequate heat in your room, apartment, or house. Set your thermostat around 65 degrees or higher. Let faucets drip during extreme cold and open cabinet doors to warm pipes, especially on external walls.
• Become familiar with SMU Policy 9.12.  For academic continuity information, please review the Inclement Weather and Emergency Operations Guidelines. Staff members should refer to the Operational Changes FAQs.
• Monitor local news reports for the latest information about weather and travel conditions.

RESOURCES FOR ON-CAMPUS RESIDENTS

• Use STABLE to submit a maintenance request for temperature issues in your room.

• Report emergency repair issues, such as leaks or flooding, to the SMU Office of Facilities at (214) 768-7000 and inform your RA.
• Check for dining availability on the SMU Hospitality website or SMU Aware during severe weather.
• If SMU loses power, door card readers will switch to battery mode for up to a few hours. Watch for email updates on accessing your room/building.

NAVIGATE SAFELY

• Wear sturdy shoes or boots with heavy treads to prevent falls on slippery surfaces.
• Be cautious when crossing streets and intersections. When roads are slippery, vehicles may not be able to stop.
• Prepare your car with a winter car kit including a scraper, flashlight, water, snacks, and a blanket.

DRESS WARMLY

• Wear layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing, a hat, scarf and gloves.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

Be proactive and stay safe this winter! For more information, visit SMU Aware and follow updates on our website and social media channels.

[5:56 p.m. UPDATE]:

Here is an update to the SMU Warning sent earlier today.  Dallas police have 27-year-old Shane Patrick Hubenak of Dallas in custody.

Hubenak is under investigation for threats against persons associated with SMU, his family members, and to businesses in other areas in Texas. He is also wanted on warrants for terroristic threats and had been considered armed and dangerous.

If you have information about this person or case, contact SMU Police.

Campus Awareness Tips

If you see something, say something. Report suspicious people or activities. Call SMU Police, report anonymously online, use the SMU Aware Safety App, or call 214-SMU-2TIP. 

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[10:30 a.m.] Police are investigating a Dallas man, not affiliated with the University, for threats against persons associated with SMU, his family members, and to businesses in other areas in Texas.

27-year-old Shane Patrick Hubenak also has several open warrants for terroristic threats and is known to be armed and dangerous. See photos below.

If you see Hubenak or his vehicle on campus, do not approach him and immediately call 9-1-1 or SMUPD at 214-768-3333. Also, if you have information about this person or case, contact SMU Police.

Campus Awareness Tips

If you see something, say something. Report suspicious people or activities. Call SMU Police, report anonymously online, use the SMU Aware Safety App, or call 214-SMU-2TIP.  

In compliance with the federal campus safety law known as the Clery Act, SMU is required to send Timely Warnings about reported crimes that could pose a continuing threat to campus. This message is intended to provide information to help you protect yourself and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.

October 24, 2023

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

In the hustle and bustle of campus life in the middle of a busy urban area, pedestrian safety cannot be overlooked. It is not just an individual duty, but a shared commitment to protect each member of our community. By prioritizing pedestrian safety, we create a safer campus experience for every Mustang. During this National Pedestrian Safety Month, please review these important safety tips for pedestrians and motorists.

Motorists

• Yield for pedestrians in crosswalks. They have the right of way. Motorists have a significant responsibility to help protect pedestrians.
• Obey traffic signs and signals. Be sure to come to a complete stop at stop signs.
• Watch your speed.
• Put the cell phone down and look out for pedestrians.
• Do not block crosswalks when you stop at intersections.
• Take extra care while driving around campus and the adjacent neighborhoods.
• Don’t drive impaired.

Pedestrians

• Obey traffic signs and signals.
• Avoid cell phone use and keep earbuds or headsets off so you can see and hear what is going on around you.
• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Activate rapid flash beacons (RFBs) if the crosswalk has them. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
• Try to make eye contact with drivers to ensure they notice your presence.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking areas.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.

Electric Scooters

Users of privately-owned electric scooters and other personal mobility devices must follow University policy, including the following:

• Obey traffic rules on campus, including stopping at stop lights and stop signs, and limit their speed to ten (10) miles per hour or less.
• Stay to the right on all roadways, pathways, and sidewalks.
• Yield to pedestrians in walkways and sidewalks and provide audible or hand signals when approaching or passing pedestrians.

Thank you for your efforts to help keep SMU a safe learning, living and working environment.

SMU Warning ­–A student reported to SMU Police that a man with a knife attempted to rob the student in the 5300 block of East Mockingbird near campus just before 9 p.m. (10-18-2023).

The student was able to get away and contact police. The suspect is described as approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build, wearing dark-colored clothing and armed with a knife.

If you have any information, please contact SMU PD at 214-768-3388.

Information also can be reported anonymously through the Police Department’s Silent Witness Program by calling 214-SMU-2TIP, online at www.smu.edu/2TIP or with the SMU Aware Safety App.

SMU is sending this Timely Warning in compliance with the federal campus safety law known as the Clery Act to provide information that may help you protect yourself and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.

Dear SMU Community,

You may be aware of calls for demonstrations across the world in connection with the war in Israel and Gaza. Please know that there is no indication of any threat to SMU and the campus is operating normally. SMU Police remain in constant contact with local, state and federal law enforcement partners, sharing information and resources.

Because of concerns expressed by Jewish and Palestinian members of our SMU community, we have put in place additional security precautions over the next several days – more officers and more patrols – to support campus safety.

What SMU Police ask from the community:

• If you see something, say something. We rely on the community to alert us to activities that appear suspicious. Please report any suspicious activity to SMU Police at 214-768-3333. Information also may be reported anonymously through the Police Department’s Silent Witness Program by calling 214-SMU-2TIP, online at www.smu.edu/2TIP or through the SMU Aware Safety App.
• Reach out to us. The ability to discuss any safety and security concerns with SMU Police can be helpful to groups and individuals and also assists in developing safety programs for our campus community. Other campus resources include the Office of the Chaplain, Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Dean of Students.
• Verify. Information on social media and the web can be misleading. Rely on trusted institutions and known sources. Call SMU Police and let us either confirm what you are hearing or seeing or put you in touch with the correct agency to get an accurate answer.
• Stay informed. The SMU Aware website remains your campus hub for emergency information. Please bookmark this website and review the safety resources and procedures.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep our campus safe.

SMU Police have received reports of individuals fraudulently claiming to be SMU Police officers. The callers say they are working a Homeland Security case and request money. The callers have been spoofing a phone number (214-768-3388) and/or caller ID that makes the number appear to be originating from SMU Police.

Please be advised that SMU Police never call and ask for money. Anyone with additional information should contact SMU Police at 214-768-3333.

[3:38 p.m.]Emergency responders at the Bush Center at SMU Blvd. & Binkley Ave. Avoid the area until further notice.

[4:06 p.m.]: Police are investigating a suspicious report at the Bush Center on SMU Blvd. Avoid the immediate area around the Bush Center, use an alternate route & expect traffic delays. Drivers leaving campus are advised to use Mockingbird Lane and Hillcrest Avenue.

[4:38 p.m.] Police continue to investigate an email threat at the Bush Center. Avoid the immediate area. Campus operations—including classes and evening activities—are normal.

[4:50 p.m.]  From the George W. Bush Presidential Center: “National Archives and Records Administration staff received a suspicious email. Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with security protocols, local authorities were notified. The building has been safely evacuated. President and Mrs. Bush were not at the Bush Center this afternoon, and we look forward to safely reopening tomorrow morning. We thank local emergency personnel for their swift response.”

[5:47 p.m.] Law enforcement responded to a suspicious report at the George W. Bush Presidential Center this afternoon (10-05-2023). A staff member reported receiving an email with threats to the presidential library at approximately 2:55 p.m. Staff and security immediately evacuated the center as a precaution and directed traffic away from the area during the investigation.

With the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, NARA and Bush Center staff checked the entire facility and determined that the email was a hoax. Normal activity is resuming and the Bush Center will be open tomorrow, Friday, October 6.

SMU Advisory – SMU Police are investigating an attempted auto burglary behind Phi Delta Theta House at 3056 SMU Boulevard early this morning (9-22-2023). Officers arrested one person. Two others fled.

At approximately 3:50 AM, SMU police received a report of a suspicious individual in the north alley of the 3000 block of SMU Blvd. Video surveillance showed the man walking around vehicles in the area of Dyer Court and the north alley of SMU Blvd. Officers caught one person at the scene. Two others fled toward Airline Road before officers arrived.

The two suspects at large are described as Hispanic males, 18-20 years old, with medium builds and wearing all dark clothing. One wore a black ball cap with white logo. See surveillance photos below.

Please report any information you may have about this incident to SMU police at 214-768-3333. Information also may be reported anonymously through the Police Department’s Silent Witness Program by calling 214-SMU-2TIP, online at www.smu.edu/2TIP or through the SMU Aware Safety App .

If you see something, say something. Report suspicious people or activities.  Check SMU Aware for any updates.

Dear SMU Community,

As part of National Preparedness Month this month, SMU is taking proactive steps to bolster campus safety. On Friday afternoon, we will be conducting a test of our building indoor notification system and exterior door locking systems. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming test:

Test Overview:

• Timing: The test is set for Friday, September 8, beginning at 3:50 p.m. and is expected to last approximately 10 minutes.
• Buildings Affected: Most campus buildings will be involved; however, interior doors and parking garages will remain unaffected.
• Notifications: You will hear audible voice alarms with a test message lasting approximately one minute.
• Purpose: During this test, all exterior doors will be electronically secured and will return to normal operations once the message concludes. Please note that SMU IDs will not grant access during the lockdown phase, which is not expected to last longer than 10 minutes.

Messaging:

• You will receive a text message reminder prior to the test.
• After the test is completed, you will receive an “all clear” text message and email.
• We value your feedback and will request it after the test. Your input is essential as we work to enhance campus safety and security.

If you have any questions about the planned testing, please reach out to smuaware@smu.edu. For guidance on how to respond in various emergency situations, please visit the SMU Aware website. Thank you for your understanding and support in this important safety effort.