Today, on March 22, Mustangs around the world are united in a one-day giving challenge to shape the future of SMU academic programs, arts, diversity and inclusion, athletics, research, scholarship, and more. SMU Giving Day is supported by our Champions who encourage their network to donate to the cause/causes that matter most to them.
Residence Life & Student Housing is actively seeking donors to advance the Residential Commons Peer Leader Program. The program will provide opportunities for SMU juniors and seniors to serve as leaders in their residential communities and liaisons to campus departments. The five peer leader roles and supporting offices include:
• Engage Dallas Student Directors, Engage Dallas
• Honors Mentors, University Honors Program
• Peer Academic Leaders, University Advising Center
• Peer Chaplains, Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life
• Student Wellness Champions, Dr. Bob Smith Health Center
Our vision for the Peer Leader Program is to expand the training program to allow
student leaders to receive formal certification as an international peer mentor (levels 1, 2, 3). Gifts would support an expanded training experience for approximately 120 students across the five peer leader programs and within the 11 Residential Commons. Currently training has been condensed to two days and functions independently by program. This re-imagined training would provide synergy for the five programs to collaborate on a unified five- to seven-day training experience. Gifts would also fund meal plans for students during training and help SMU fund the initial application fee for the College Reading and Learning Association’s International Peer Mentor Program.
Donors have the potential to take the peer leader program to the next level and, with 8 hours remaining in Giving Day, Champions like you can still help us recognize and amplify student leadership on the Hilltop and beyond.