The Office of Student Success and Retention (SSR) partnered with the SMU Office of Information Technology (OIT) to execute the Fall 2025 Don’t Ghost SMU campaign, targeting students who were not enrolled and not on an official leave of absence. A total of 137 “Ghosters” were identified. SSR conducted a two‑touch text outreach followed by phone call attempts to confirm student plans and assess their intent to enroll for Spring 2026. The results of our outreach garnered 18 responses with the following results:
- 3 students re‑enrolled for Spring 2026, including one student as a participant in the SSR Crossing the Finish Line initiative.
- 1 student graduated in Fall 2025 after petitioning a Proficiency & Experience requirement to complete their academics.
- 1 student confirmed they were completing a required internship for the Music Therapy BS degree and will graduate in Spring 2026.
Ten students contacted relayed they were not returning to SMU and were advised to complete the Formal Exit process; three students were contacted by SSR to receive information on returning to SMU and being successful at The Hilltop.
Don’t Ghost SMU is conducted prior to each upcoming semester for students who are not enrolled for one or more than one terms. The SSR team contacts identified students via email and text to inquire about their plans to return to SMU and to encourage them to re‑enroll. Students who choose to return receive individualized support throughout the re‑enrollment process. For additional information about Don’t Ghost SMU or other SSR student initiatives, please contact us at ssr@smu.edu.