Month: September 2024

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Pathways to Industry

Congratulations Big iDeas Pitch Competition Winners!

Photo of the winners of the Big iDeas Pitch Competition holding large checks.

On Friday, September 27, the Office of Engaged Learning hosted the annual Big iDeas Pitch Competition where 18 SMU inspiring undergraduate entrepreneurs pitched their ideas in 90 seconds to a panel of expert judges.

Our panel included:

  • Ayo Aigbe, Founder and CEO of Hangio
  • Dr. Helmuth Ludwig, Professor of Practice for Strategy and Entrepreneurship at SMU’s Cox School of Business
  • Carlos Martinez, founding partner of Clement Capital Partners LP and Fund Manager for the SMU Impact Lab
  • Dr. Seth Orsborn, Director of the Deason Innovation Gym
  • Josh Taylor, director of the William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at SMU Cox School of Business
  • Morgan Stewart, Director of Programming at SMU Cox Spears Institute for Entrepreneeurial Leadership

We are thrilled to annouce the winners of this year’s competition! These innovative students captured the judges’ attention with their creative ideas:

  • Ryland Adzich, The Creative Destination
  • Yaw Botang, InfoSavvy
  • Zain Dhatwani, Apni Duniya
  • Mason Dierkes, Elusive
  • Isabella Fleet, TIMIO News LLC
  • Bryce Harper, Urban Crusader Technology
  • Kennedy Honors, Sallie’s Halo
  • Jude Lugo, Lecture Logger
  • Emiliano Hernandez Posada, Terra Social Impact
  • Anish Senthilkumar, The Active Mind Initiative
  • Gregory Speed, Speed’s Meats
  • Nrithi Subramanian, Mantra and Co.
  • Ephraim Sun, Fuselink.ai

Thank you to all of the family and friends who attended in support, and a huge thank you to our supporters-the SPEARS Institute, Deason Innovation Gym, SMU Impact Lab, and HI-TIE-for contributing funding to support these student startups.

 

Categories
Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Lab Hopping returns October 10

Lab Hopping October 10 2024 4-6pm

The Office of Engaged Learning is hosting the annual Lab Hopping event on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. This event lets students explore open labs and research groups across campus to see how they can get involved.

Please encourage your students to attend! Whether they’re new to research or looking to gain more experience, Lab Hopping is a great way to connect with faculty and peers engaged in scholarly and creative inquiry.

Maps for self-guided tours will be available online, with printed copies outside Clements Hall, Fondren Science, and in the Scholar’s Den. Students can also enter to win a $100 gift card by participating in the QR scavenger hunt.

For more information, visit smu.edu/labhopping.

If your group would like to participate, please contact Adam Neal at asneal@smu.edu.

Categories
Academic Devleopment of Student-Athletes (ADSA)

August Mustang Champions: Academic and Athletic Excellence

august MC

SMU is proud to highlight four outstanding student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to both their academics and their respective athletic sports. These individuals have not only excelled on the field but have also maintained high standards in the classroom, proving that it is possible to be a well-rounded student and role models for other athletes.  

Kelvontay “Moochie” Dixon (Football):  

Kelvontay “Moochie” Dixon, a senior wide receiver on the Football team, has shown remarkable growth in both his academic and athletic pursuits. His commitment to excellence is evident in his consistent efforts to excel in his coursework, even during the summer months. Moochie’s dedication to his studies, combined with his impressive athletic abilities, makes him a true role model for his peers. 

Avery Bethel (Rowing):  

Avery Bethel, a high-credit senior transfer, has seamlessly transitioned into SMU’s rigorous academic environment. Despite the demanding schedule of a rowing athlete, Avery has managed to maintain a strong academic standing by taking 11 credit hours this summer. Her ability to balance her athletic commitments with her academic pursuits is a testament to her exceptional time management skills and dedication. 

Brooke Frazier (Volleyball):  

Brooke Frazier, is a senior Libero from Woodlands, TX, is another shining example of academic and athletic excellence. Having transferred to SMU from Texas A&M, Brooke has excelled in both her volleyball career and her studies in sports management. Her commitment to her academic goals, combined with her impressive athletic skills, positions her for a successful future. 

Chris Deamon (Men’s Soccer):  

Chris Deamon, a sophomore on the Men’s soccer team, has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic both on and off the field. His dedication to his academics, combined with his relentless pursuit of athletic excellence, has made him a valuable asset to the SMU Men’s soccer program. Chris’s ability to juggle his academic responsibilities with his athletic commitments is a testament to his organizational skills and determination. 

These four student-athletes exemplify the spirit of SMU, where academic achievement and athletic success go hand-in-hand. Be sure to catch these athletes in action this fall, check the athletic schedule here: https://smumustangs.com/calendar 

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders University Advising Center

Join the Office of General Education and the University Advising Center at Success Fest

The Office of General Education and the University Advising Center (UAC) will be hosting their semesterly event, Success Fest, on September 26th from 11:30am-1:30pm in Laura Lee Blanton rooms 108/110.

Success Fest is an event dedicated to promoting usage and adoption of Degree Planner among undergraduate students. The event was first held in Spring 2024, and resulted in 1,938 students using Degree Planner over a month long period.

Students can enter Success Fest by showing proof of a completed Degree Planner or by completing Degree Planner on the spot during the event. The event will have games, raffles, a crafting station, and free food. RSVP’s are encouraged via SMU 360, but walk-ins are welcome.

The deadlines to complete Degree Planner are now on the SMU academic calendar, with an October 1st deadline for the fall semester and March 1st deadline for the spring semester.

Advisors from the UAC and the Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) will be hosting Degree Planner workshops in the coming weeks before the October 1st deadline. Students can also book a 1-1 appointment with a PAL in Blanton suite 338.

Staff and faculty are also welcome to stop by Success Fest, and are encouraged to promote the event to undergraduate students.

Categories
News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship

Big iDeas Pitch Contest is coming up!

The Big iDeas Pitch Contest will be held Friday, September 27 from 10am-1pm during Family Weekend. We encourage all to attend and support SMU enrepreneurs!

Applications to compete in the competition are due Tuesday, September 24 at 11:59pm. Be sure to spread the word! Students can go to smu.edu/bigideas to apply. They can win up to $1000 in seed funds for their startup.

Prior to the event, pitch practices will be co-led by the Spears Institute Team and the Big iDeas team to help students prepare their 90 second pitch:

  • Wednesday, September 25, 2-4pm, Clements Hall Scholars Den G09A
  • Thursday, September 26, 2-4pm, Collins Pistor Board Room
Categories
Academic Devleopment of Student-Athletes (ADSA)

Thank you Dr. Cobb!

The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) would like to thank Dr. Emily Cobb, a valued member of the SMU community for the past 12+ years, and wish her well as she transitions to a position at a different institution. In her new role, Emily will oversee the writing center, tutoring, and supplemental instruction for the undergraduate students at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA).

Emily’s passion and commitment to SMU as well as the success of her student-athletes, has been evident in her involvement on campus and the countless lives she’s touched during her time on the Hilltop. In 2012, Emily started at SMU as an Academic Counselor for the office of Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS). She transitioned to Senior Academic Counselor and then to Director of SAAS. In 2020, Emily earned her Doctorate in Higher Education from SMU and dedicated her research to understanding how collegiate women student-athletes define and achieve academic success. Her dissertation titled “Conceptualization and Strategies of Academic Success Utilized by Collegiate Women Student-Athletes,” reflects her deep passion for academics and athletics.

During her tenure at SMU, Emily was been involved with many different committees, organizations, sports, and departments. Emily was also instrumental in merging ADSA and SAAS in 2021. Emily’s absence will be felt throughout campus considering the many lives she touched during her time on the Hilltop. She was and will continue to be a mentor to many, a friend to all, and a SMU fan through and through.

Emily, you will be missed and we wish you the best in your new role!

Categories
Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Student Academic Success Programs Writing Center

Writing Center announces new scheduling platform WCOnline

SMU writing center has a new scheduling platform smuwriting.mywconline.com

We are excited to announce that The Writing Center will be adopting WCOnline as our new scheduling platform starting in Fall 2024. This innovative tool is designed to streamline the scheduling process for students, faculty, and staff, making it easier than ever to manage appointments and resources. WCOnline offers an intuitive design that simplifies the scheduling process, allowing users to easily book appointments with just a few clicks. With features like reminder emails and a waitlist for services, we believe that the implementation of WCOnline will greatly enhance our scheduling capabilities and improve the overall experience for everyone needing to visit the Writing Center. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lydia Allen (lrallen@smu.edu) or Shon Phillips (shonphillips@smu.edu).

smuwriting.mywconline.com

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Student Academic Engagement & Success

Undergraduate Pre-Approved Activities and Student Workshops

The Office of General Education would like to share pre-approved activities that students can use to fulfill their Common Curriculum Proficiency & Experience requirements outside the classroom and the Fall 2024 student workshops schedule.   

All students on the Common Curriculum must complete each of the graduation requirements, Proficiencies & Experiences, in addition to the General Education  Foundation and Breadth requirements. However, unlike Foundations and Breadth requirements, students can use either coursework or activities to fulfill these requirements.  

For more information about pre-approved activities and organizations visit the individual  Proficiency & Experience pages to review graduation requirements, come by the Office of General Education in LL Blanton Suite 338, or schedule a meeting with Brittaney Wilson.  

 

The Office of General Education is offering three Fall 2024 Student Workshops. The workshops will be tailored to the needs of attendees and will cover topics including academic petitions, advising, degree planners, and more! 

Identical workshops are offered: 

Visit SMU360 to RSVP 

Categories
SMU in Four

Encourage undergraduate students to complete their my.SMU Degree Planner by October 1

Students study before Spring Finals at the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, Tuesday, May 6, 2021 on the SMU Campus.

On Friday, September 13 pre-major and declared major students received a task and message in my.smu that asked them to complete a path in Degree Planner by October 1st. (This deadline is also listed on SMU’s academic calendar.) Declared major students complete their path when they plan through the semester of their graduation.

This task was applied to everyone, regardless of Degree Planner completion, and will be removed on October 1st, also regardless of completion. Although there is no consequence for students who do not complete Degree Planner, this requirement is a semesterly expectation for all students and advisors.

Please encourage your students to work on a Degree Planner path. When students complete their Degree Planner, the academic advisor job becomes easier in a couple of ways: students will have the start of a plan for course enrollment, and departments will see a clearer picture of course demand for future semesters. The tool only becomes increasingly useful as more students and advisors participate…

Over the next two weeks, students can seek help with Degree Planner in numerous ways:

SMU installed an update to the Degree Planner software on Thursday, September 12, that should have fixed the technical issues students may have encountered over the summer. If you see issues, technical or otherwise, please use the Degree Planner Issues/Requests Tracker. If students have problems, they should contact the Help Desk.

Finally, Success Fest on September 26th will offer free food, raffles, and games for all students who have completed their Degree Planner… If they still have work to do, advisors will be there to help them finish. Look for more promotion of Success Fest over the next two weeks, and help us get the word out…

Thanks for all of your help, and if you have any questions, let me know.

Josh Beaty

Advising Pillar, SMU in Four

jbeaty@smu.edu

Categories
Student Academic Engagement & Success University Testing Center

You’re Invited: SAES-initiated research about U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities

Join us for a research talk on the Characteristics of U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities conducted by division members.

Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success employees Brittaney Wilson (Office of General Education), Jay Guillory (Office of Student Success and Retention), Melina Padron (Office of General Education), and Dr. Dustin Grabsch (Undergraduate Education and Academic Success) conducted the original, empirical research to benefit SMU’s University Testing Center.

Research Talk: U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities

Texana Room, Fondren Library

Monday, October 7 from 2:30 – 4:00pm

RSVPs encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.

We will share implications for practice and researcher reflections. We will also outline opportunities and discuss how these results and findings will be used at SMU.