Month: March 2023

Offices & Programs University Advising Center

University Advising Center – New Academic Advisor Vivian Fowler

Post author By Jacob Trevino
Post date March 31, 2023
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The University Advising Center is pleased to share that Vivian Fowler has joined the UAC as our newest Academic Advisor!

Vivian is an SMU alum, having received her Bachelor’s degree here in Physical Education. She attended SMU during the death penalty days! After moving to Alabama with her husband, she received a Master’s in Nutrition from Alabama A&M and a PhD in Kinesiology from The University of Alabama. She has taught physical education in K-12, high school biology, and was an assistant professor in HPER at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. She has also coached women’s volleyball, basketball, track and golf at the middle and high school levels. Vivian has three children, two cats and a dog, Gus. She recently spent 3 1/2 years in Lima, Peru- returning to Dallas August of 2021. She enjoys playing golf, practicing her Spanish, and spending time with her family.

Vivian will carry a generalist caseload of advisees, but her specialty areas will include: UHP Pre-Health students, liaison to W. Golf, Rowing, Tennis, and advisor to the Prelude students. She will also be our liaison to the Hilltop Scholars Program.

Her email is vfowler@smu.edu. Please join us in welcoming Vivian back to SMU!

Tags Academic Advising, Advising, new staff, SMU UAC, UAC

Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success

Big iDeas is Back!

Pitch to win $5,000 at the Big iDeas Business Plan Competition. Applications are open now! Apply at smu.edu/bigideas.

University Testing Center

University Testing Center closed for Good Friday

Post author By Lauren Horton
Post date March 28, 2023
No Comments on University Testing Center closed for Good Friday

Following University policy, the University Testing Center will be closed on Good Friday, April 7th. We will resume regular hours on Monday, April 10th. Visit smu.edu/testing for more details.

Tags accommodated testing, certified testing center, first year, first-gen, students with disabilities testing, testing

Office of General Education SMU in Four

LAI seats held for select undergraduate students to assist with CC student progress this fall

Post author By Dustin Grabsch
Post date March 27, 2023
No Comments on LAI seats held for select undergraduate students to assist with CC student progress this fall

Dedman professor, Kate Engel, lectures a Digital History class, Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in the Fondren Library on the SMU Campus.

Thanks to the Department of World Languages & Literature and the Department of English, the Office of General Education was able to hold seats in Literary Analysis and Interpretation (LAI)-tagged courses for fall 2023.

317 students who have not satisfied this general education requirement were admitted in fall 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2022. Due to concerns for student progress through the Common Curriculum (CC) by these admit cohorts in particular, this one-time initiative hopes to assist more students in accessing LAI-tagged courses to complete the requirement.

The email below will be sent to students later today, March 27.

Questions or concerns can be directed to the Office of General Education via email at theccmail@smu.edu.

—

To: LAI Students (n = 317)

From: General Education

Title: Hey Mustang, we’ve held a seat this Fall for you to complete your CC Literary Analysis and Interpretation requirement

March 27, 2023

Dear Mustang –

The Office of General Education wants to inform you that we saved you a seat this Fall in a Literary Analysis and Interpretation (LAI)-tagged course.

As of March 21, your Degree Progress Report (DPR) indicated you had not satisfied your LAI requirement. As you approach graduation, sometimes registering for the necessary courses is more challenging, so we wanted to help you fulfill this Common Curriculum (CC) requirement.

We have held a limited number of seats for LAI-tagged courses this Fall for you. The catch? They are only available during continuing student enrollment, and after this time, the held seats will be released. The following courses have held seats for you:

World Languages Department

WL 2330 – Spanish Civilization

WL 3326 – Introduction to French Cinema

WL 2333 – Italian American Cinema

WL 3371 – Latam Through Film

WL 3381 – GrecoRoman World in Lit & Film

WL 3383 – Latin American Women Writers

English Department

ENGL 1320 – Cultures of Medieval Chivalry

ENGL 1330 – The World of Shakespeare

ENGL 2311 – Poetry

ENGL 2312 – Fiction

ENGL 2313 – Drama

ENGL 2318 – Intro To Digital Literature

ENGL 3320 – Topics in Medieval Literature

ENGL 3347 – Topics in Am Lit in Age of Rev

ENGL 3355 – Transatlantic Encounters III

ENGL 3362 – African-American Literature

ENGL 3363 – Chicana/Chicano Literature

Can’t fit in an LAI course this Fall? Consider SMU Intersessions or plan to complete it in the spring.

Special thanks to the Department of World Languages & Literature and the Department of English for working with us to hold seats.

We know enrollment can be stressful, and registering for classes you need to graduate may add to this. We hope these saved seats can help you fulfill your general education requirements.

Sincerely,

Dustin K. Grabsch, PhD
Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success

Tags Fall 2023 enrollment, LAI, Literary Analysis, SMU enrollment

Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

It’s Research & Innovation Week!

Post author By Adam Neal
Post date March 19, 2023
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Research & Innovation Week March 20-25 2023

It’s Research & Innovation Week!

Join us for events showcasing student work, along with a faculty panel and keynote by Taylor Shead, CEO and founder of STEMuli Studios. Details below.

We’d also like to quickly highlight the Engaged Learning Fellows presenting on Tuesday’s Undergraduate Poster Session:

Sophia Achar, NWSL Expansion
Siphosami Dongozi, An ethnographic study of the effects of Zimbabwean and colonial patriarchal patterns on women’ rights.
Lior Kremer, Synthesis and Modification of Maleimides to Control Properties of Degradable Adhesive Networks
Ayden Machajewski, SMU Guildhall Capstone Recording Sessions
Sayumi Mahawanniarachchi, Addictive Health Risk Behaviors of Undergraduate Students
Raiya Shah, Children’s Literature as a Health Education Tool
Dylan Tietje-Mckinney, Using Copper Nanoclusters to Induce Cytotoxicity in Cancer Cells

Research & Innovation Week 2023 Events

Keynote Talk: Taylor Shead

Taylor Shead, CEO and founder of STEMuli Studios.
Monday March 20, 6:00pm
Hughes Trigg Auditorium

Taylor Shead

Undergraduate Poster Session

Tuesday March 21, 2023, 2-5 PM
Hughes-Trigg Ballroom

Graduate Poster Session

Wednesday March 22, 2023, 2-5 PM
Hughes-Trigg Ballroom

Faculty Panel: Graduate Education and the Future of Research in North Texas

Thursday March 23, 2023, 3:30 PM
Hughes-Trigg Auditorium

Featuring:

Stephen Arrowsmith, Associate Professor and Hamilton Chair in Earth Sciences, SMU
Dinesh Bhatia, Professor of Electrical Engineering, UT Dallas
Annie Ginty, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University
Ramon Lopez, Professor of Physics, UT Arlington
Floyd Wormley, Associate Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, TCU

Office of General Education SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success

SMU in Four announces final Degree Planner raffle winners

Post author By Brittaney Wilson
Post date March 16, 2023
No Comments on SMU in Four announces final Degree Planner raffle winners

Let’s give a big round of applause to all 758 students who completed Degree Planner before the final raffle deadline!

For your Degree Planner to be considered complete: 

As a declared major, you must have completed your degree plan for all declared degree programs and CC requirements. 
As a pre-major, you must have completed your degree plan for all CC requirements (Foundations, Breadths, Proficiencies & Experiences).

  Fifty winners were randomly selected to receive prizes courtesy of SMU in Four:

*Amazon Gift Card*  *($25 value)*	*Target Gift Card*  *($25 value)*	*Starbucks Gift Card*  *($25 value)*	*Visa Gift Card*  *($25 value)*	*SMU Flex Dollars* *($25 value)*	*SMU Swag Bag*  *($50 value)*
Skyler H.	Michael G.	Breanna S.	Aaliyah A.	Grace B.	Steven B.
Sarah B.	Spencer B.	Maya C.	Ria D.	Humberto O.	Daniele D.
Mirana E.	Sofia G.	Jack G.	Arin J.	Eden C.	Annabelle L.
Jack L.	Karen L.	Anna M.	Mason M.	Lily L.	Lucy M.
Regina N.	Abby R.	Riley T.	Carina K.	Ava S.
Alexander B.	Katie F.	Emma G.	Gracie H.	Tulsi L.
Karis P.	Megan R.	De’Anna W.	Jaena Z.
Oscar C.	Braden C.	Ella D.	Savannah H.
Alexa L.	Matthew M.	Lily S.	Jess S.
Natalya T.	Owen T.	Sydney B.	Remonda H.

Winners can come and pick up their prizes from the Office of General Education, Laura Lee Blanton Suite 100, from Monday, March 20th– Monday, March 27th. 

 All Common Curriculum (CC) undergraduate students must complete Degree Planner by March 20.   

 Visit smu.edu/degreeplanner for help getting started.  

Tags Academic Advising, Academic Advisors, Advising, cc, Common Curriculum, Degree Planner, general education, highpoint, Proficiencies and Experiences, SAES, smu in four

Office of General Education

Approved meeting minutes from the Council on General Education on March 10, 2023

Post author By Lisa Cordoba
Post date March 13, 2023
No Comments on Approved meeting minutes from the Council on General Education on March 10, 2023

The Council on General Education met on March 10, 2023. The meeting minutes for January 27, 2023 were approved at this meeting. Below is the agenda, and the meeting minutes have now been posted on the General Education website.

Approval of Agenda for the March 10, 2023 Council on General Education meeting.
Approval of Minutes for the January 27, 2023 Council on General Education meeting.
Course Proposals
1. Previously Reviewed & Revised
  1. DANC 3363-ES
2. New Proposals
  1. ANTH 3370-ES
  2. ARHS 1305-CA
  3. ARHS 3321-CA
  4. ARHS 3347-CA
  5. ARHS 3390-CA
  6. RELI 3386-LAI
  7. ENGL 1362-LAI
  8. EMIS 2375-TAS and PREX/CIE
  9. ANTH 3314-PREX/HD
  10. FILM 3305-PREX/OC and PREX/QA
  11. RUSS 3341- PREX/CIE and PREX/HD
  12. WL 3323- PREX/HD

Activity Proposals
1. VITA-PREX/CE and PREX/HD
2. Engage Dallas-PREX/CIE and PREX/OC (for student director and area coordinator peer leaders)
3. Mustang PEP Talk-PREX/CIE and PREX/OC
Office of General Education Updates

Please contact the Office of General Education for questions or proposal development support.

Tags cc, CoGE, Common Curriculum, Council on General Education, meeting minutes

Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

201 Common Curriculum student records updated due to AP credit

Post author By Dustin Grabsch
Post date March 8, 2023
No Comments on 201 Common Curriculum student records updated due to AP credit

On February 15, the Office of General Education (OGE) shared details of the new automation, which awards Advanced Placement (AP) credit for specific Common Curriculum graduation requirements.

With the assistance of the Registrar’s Office, OGE audited student records to determine eligible CC students (AP scores of 4 or 5) who would satisfy Civics & Individual Ethics (CIE) and/or Quantitative Applications (QA).

OGE updated 201 student records as a result of the audit. Specifically, 74 students satisfied the CIE graduation requirement and 192 satisfied the QA requirement. Students were notified on March 8, 2023, concerning these DPR updates. Copies of the student communications are below.

Future SMU students will automatically receive this credit, as it is now established in their Catalog.

—

To: QA updated students with AP credit (n = 192)

From: Office of General Education (gened@smu.edu)

Title: Congratulations! Your Quantitative Applications graduation requirement has been satisfied with AP credit

March 8, 2023

Dear Student –

The Office of General Education wants to inform you that your Quantitative Applications (QA) Proficiency & Experience graduation requirement has been satisfied with your Advanced Placement (AP) credit.

Following an administrative review of your external test credit, you were identified as a student with an AP score of 4 or 5 that could satisfy the Quantitative Applications requirement. Therefore, your QA requirement is now satisfied due to the new automation for AP credit.

Should you have an issue with your DPR, please get in touch with your academic advisor, who may submit a DPR Issue request on your behalf.

We hope this is welcomed news since you are one step closer to completing your graduation requirements!

Sincerely,

Dustin K. Grabsch, PhD
Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success

—

To: CIE updated students with AP credit (n = 74)

From: Office of General Education (gened@smu.edu)

Title: Congratulations! Your Civics & Individual Ethics graduation requirement has been satisfied with AP credit

March 8, 2023

Dear Student –

The Office of General Education wants to inform you that your Civics & Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency & Experience graduation requirement has been satisfied with your Advanced Placement (AP) credit.

Following an administrative review of your external test credit, you were identified as a student with an AP score of 4 or 5 that could satisfy the Civics & Individual Ethics) requirement. Therefore, your CIE requirement is now satisfied due to the new automation for AP credit.

Should you have an issue with your Degree Progress Report (DPR), please get in touch with your academic advisor, who may submit a DPR Issue request on your behalf.

We hope you welcome this news since you are one step closer to completing your graduation requirements!

Sincerely,

Dustin K. Grabsch, PhD
Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success

Tags Advanced Placement, AP, automation, CIE, Graduation Requirements, QA, SMU, smu in four

University Testing Center

Bring life, and nature, into the University Testing Center this SMU Giving Day

Post author By Dustin Grabsch
Post date March 5, 2023
No Comments on Bring life, and nature, into the University Testing Center this SMU Giving Day

Opened for less than one academic year, the University Testing Center seeks to bring life and nature into the center this SMU Giving Day.

Our mission is to provide a secure and professional testing center, as well as one that is inviting, comfortable, and supports the emotional well-being of our students and community clients. In our first few months, we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors about our facility in the Clements Hall basement.

Adding live foliage at our entrance would create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere in the testing labs.

Example of low-light wall-mounted plants. Similar products could be placed above entrance lockers to create a relaxing testing environment.

Test anxiety is real. It’s a top psychological issue on college campuses far and wide and right here at home on the SMU campus. Nature and plants are proven by social psychologists to reduce stress and calm people.

At the UTC, we support academic and mental health needs for the most favorable outcomes possible. Can you help us reach our $4,000 goal of bringing more life into the center? Learn more and join us on March 7 for SMU Giving Day.

Tags center, March 7, nature, relax, SMU Giving Day, test, test anxiety, testing

Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Research & Innovation Week, March 20-25

Post author By Adam Neal
Post date March 5, 2023
No Comments on Research & Innovation Week, March 20-25

Research & Innovation Week, a collaboration between the Moody School and the Office of Engaged Learning, returns March 20-25. This is the week right after Spring Break!

Sign-up reminder

sign-ups for the Undergraduate Poster Session are due on Friday, March 10. Please encourage your students to sign up!

Workshop reminder

OEL is hosting a drop-in workshop to work on poster designs and practice elevator pitches. Scholars’ Den, 3-5pm on Wed & Thurs March 8 & 9.

Hannah Green recently interviewed last year’s poster winners Faith Fang and Melanie Wright. Read her article with tips from the winners.