Department Chairs, School Records Offices, Directors of Undergraduate Studies, and SMU in Four School Implementation Team Members:
As part of SMU in Four, we are implementing a new tool to assist undergraduate students on the Common Curriculum in planning their path to timely graduation. You have been identified as a key stakeholder in the implementation of the new HighPoint Degree Planner tool available to students and advisors on November 29, 2022. A tentative timeline of this new tool’s rollout to campus is:
- October 5: Request to academic departments to begin degree plan validation
- October 24: Introduction video released to campus
- October 31 – December 9: Campus training for advising staff
- November 4: Degree Plan validation by academic departments complete
- November 7-11: Updates to degree plans from departmental feedback
- November 29: Security enabled for students and advisors
- November 29 – December 15: Communication and training for students
As part of the HighPoint Degree Planner rollout, each academic department’s degree plan(s) must be verified for accuracy so that the plan fulfills all graduation requirements. SMU in Four School Implementation Teams are included in this communication to support verification efforts by academic departments.
To review the process and to complete the degree plan validation, we are holding five, identical Degree Planner Overview sessions between October 11 – October 13 to give each academic department and/or college designee(s) instructions on how to complete this task. You and/or a designee need only sign up for one time. Overview sessions are scheduled for the following days/times:
- October 11 at 3:00pm
- October 12 at 11:00am
- October 12 at 3:30pm
- October 13 at 11:00am
- October 13 at 2:30pm
Register for a Highpoint Degree Planner Overview Session.
In advance of the Degree Planner Overview Sessions, security will be automatically granted to the department chair, school records office staff, and DUS (where applicable). If others need to be granted security, please email Weston Simmons (westons@smu.edu) to have security established. Security will be given to any staff who need to review the Degree Plan.
If you need further assistance after the overview session, you will be able to schedule individual meetings or come to a Degree Planner Drop-In sessions between October 17 – November 4 so that you can get your questions answered or receive one-on-one assistance with completing verification. Request a Highpoint Degree Planner Drop-In Session.
Please note that anyone with knowledge with your department’s academic plans is welcome to attend the session. Please forward this email; however, we will only be communicating reminders to the named audience on this email. For security, individual meeting information or for additional information about the HighPoint Degree Plan validation effort, contact Susan Flanagin (sflanagin@smu.edu) or Weston Simmons (westons@smu.edu).
Thank you for your investment in this process,
Dustin
SMU in 4 Co-Chair
—
Dustin K. Grabsch, PhD
Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success
he/him/his
O: 214-768-4887
dgrabsch@smu.edu
Student Academic Engagement & Success
Office of the Provost
SMU
6185 Airline Road
Dallas, TX 75205