Author: Beryl Hellinghausen

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Student Academic Engagement & Success University Foundations

Course Spotlight: UNIV 3305 – Personal Responsibility and Community

Students and their professor standing around a large wooden desk for a group picture.
Students in the fall 2024 section of UNIV 3305 visiting the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

SMU’s University Foundations Program (UNIV) provides enriching coursework focused on students’ personal, academic and leadership development as they transition to the SMU community. UNIV coursework often satisfies Common Curriculum requirements and prepares students to fully engage in SMU’s intellectually rich community, all while building meaningful connections with faculty and classmates.

UNIV 3305 – Personal Responsibility and Community provides students with the opportunity to think critically about their values, beliefs and identities, and examine how these elements influence the ways in which they serve their communities. Through a semester-long community engagement project, reflective journaling, case studies, and cultural immersion experiences, the course prioritizes experiential learning and immerses students in both the course subject matter and the greater Dallas community. Through this engaging coursework, students satisfy three Common Curriculum Proficiencies and Experiences: community engagement, civic and individual ethics, and oral communication.

During the fall 2024 term, Dr. Abby Pruitt, teaching professor in University Foundations, and her UNIV 3305 students visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library, located on SMU’s campus, and in small groups explored the museum with the guiding concept of what makes a good society. Students sought terms such as justice, freedom, fairness and privacy, found examples of these terms represented in the library, and reflected on how those terms were portrayed. Students were able to apply class readings and discussions to the world beyond the classroom, which made the lessons, reflections and conclusions much more impactful.

UNIV courses are offered with a specific target audience of first-year and transfer students but are often open to all students interested in the course. Students find that UNIV coursework benefits their academic success and deepens their responsible engagement within the SMU and the greater Dallas metroplex communities. A complete list of UNIV courses can be found in the University course catalog and more information about the UNIV program can be found on their website.

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First-Generation Initiative Offices & Programs Student Academic Engagement & Success

SMU joins FirstGen Forward Network boosting support for first-gen students

SMU students at picnic table holding up blue tshirts that have first gen proud in red lettering on them along with the red peruna logo.
SMU students celebrating at First Gen Fest 2023.

The First-Generation Initiative (FGI) at SMU is excited to announce that the University has been accepted as a member of the FirstGen Forward Network. The FirstGen Forward Network is a program, created by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), that is “bringing together higher education leaders from around the country to share data, model innovations, and scale impact to first-generation student support.” By joining this network, SMU will be able to strengthen and enhance the value of resources that support first-generation students on campus.

SMU joined FirstGen Forward Network this summer as a Class of 2024 Network Member and commenced work at the virtual Kickoff Meeting held on June 6, 2024, that welcomed new institutions to the network. The University’s status as a Network Member is the first phase in the three-phased program. To join, SMU had to complete the Readiness and Progress Audit, an evaluation tool that collected institutional data regarding ways the University supports first-generation students, a key piece of the application process. Now accepted, SMU, championed by FGI, will form goals and strategies to complete all three program phases, ensuring that first-generation Mustangs receive the most effective support possible throughout their time on the Hilltop.

FirstGen Forward Network wordmark next to the SMU wordmark
FirstGen Forward Network X SMU

The first goal that FGI will focus on is enhancing first-generation student connections. Their strategy will address the goal in four areas:

  • Increase programmatic efforts and connection opportunities with peers, allies, faculty, campus partners, etc.
  • Increase attendance at FGI signature events.
  • Increase student contact with the FGI office through meetings with FGI staff.
  • Increase First-Generation Association student organization meetings and events.

Chris Meyers, director of the First-Generation Initiative at SMU mentioned that he was comforted by SMU’s acceptance into the FirstGen Forward Network because of the support FGI staff will receive from other professionals in similar positions across the country as they tackle these goals and scale support. “FGI has a lot of campus support at SMU, but this additional connection and resource will take us to the next level in the way we support our first-gen students,” said Meyers of SMU joining the network.

SMU faculty and staff can support the First-Generation Initiative with its goal to scale support for first-generation SMU students. Employees can become first-gen allies by filling out this survey on the FGI website. Keep an eye out for chances to participate in mentoring opportunities and join in the fun at FGI signature events.

The first FGI signature event, the annual “Welcome (Back) Reception,” was held on August 28, 2024, from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Varsity, Hughes-Trigg. This event invites supportive faculty and staff to enjoy refreshments with students as they make valuable connections with SMU employees, fellow students and campus resources.

Keep up with the work that SMU’s First-Generation Initiative is doing by following them on Instagram at @smu1stgen.

Questions? Reach out to 1stgen@smu.edu.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success

Pass/fail declaration deadline moved to deadline to withdraw

Advisor looking through course options with student
Advisor looking through course options with student

New pass/fail declaration deadline for fall 2023 classes is Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) is pleased to announce that the pass/fail declaration deadline, which has typically been aligned with the deadline to drop a course without academic record, has been moved later into the semester to align with the deadline to withdraw from classes and/or the University. As we move into future semesters, we plan on keeping the pass/fail declaration deadline in the later part of the semester. By changing this policy, we hope to provide students with academic continuity alternatives other than simply withdrawing from a course.

The decision to change the date was made after careful examination of student behavior, discussions with faculty, benchmarking of our peer and aspirant schools, and observing the impact of changes to the academic calendar during previous semesters.  The recommendation to change the date was discussed by the faculty and student steering committees associated with SMU in Four, the University Registrar, school records offices, and was formally approved by Academic Policies Committee of Faculty Senate and the Educational Policies Committee.

In light of this new deadline, we ask that faculty whose students wish to switch to a pass/fail grading option, as long as it is before the deadline, give serious consideration to these requests. Completing a course via pass/fail enables students to earn elective credit, helps them stay on track toward a timely graduation, and for some, retain their full-time student status.

For students, we ask that you keep the following criteria in mind when looking to change a class to the pass/fail grading format. You may take one course per term on a pass/fail basis with a maximum total of 12 hours of pass/fail credit counting toward a degree. Your intention to take a course pass/fail must be indicated no later than the published deadline on the academic calendar by completing the Undergraduate Pass/Fail Option Declaration Form available in your school’s Records Office. After the declaration of intent, you may not change back to a letter grade.

We always encourage students to consult their advisers before utilizing the pass/fail option for any course. Not all courses can be taken pass/fail such as courses needed to meet major/minor requirements or those used to meet Common Curriculum requirements. Additionally, SMU schools may have different pass/fail policies for major and minor courses, and an academic advisor will help students navigate these exceptions.  We have created an expanded FAQ on the Registrar’s website to answer as many questions as possible to inform your decision.

Thank you for supporting this academic calendar change. As always, we look to support our students as holistically as possible as they work towards their degrees and believe that this change will make an impactful difference for many of our students and their ability to stay on track to an on-time graduation.

FAQs about pass/fail grading will be posted to SMU’s Office of the Registrar website soon.

With questions or concerns about the new pass/fail declaration deadline, please contact: academicsuccess@smu.edu.