Join the SMU in Four team as we share year-three progress on SMU’s Quality Enhancement Plan.
Updates will be provided on early-alert mechanisms, undergraduate academic advising, technology enhancements, and gateway & introductory courses. Plus, informal student retention and graduation numbers will be shared along with goals for year four of the five-year initiative.
Thursday | October 17, 2024
3 – 4:30 p.m.
Moody Hall Auditorium
Walk-ins welcome, RSVPs encouraged
The Office of General Education and the Office of Student Success and Retention will be moving on July 29 and 30. Both offices will close during this time.
The Office of General Education will move from Suite 100 within the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building (6185 Airline Road) upstairs to Suite 338.
The Office of Student Success and Retention will move from Suite 301 of the Perkins Administration Building to Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building (6185 Airline Road) to Suite 102.
Our departmental emails, phone, and booking links will remain the same, but we look forward to welcoming you to our new spaces on August 1, 2024. Please update any websites and printed materials that may have included our former physical locations.
Undergraduate Education and Academic Success is an area within the Office of the Provost’s Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, which oversees a wide range of academic support and engagement office units.
Our 2023 – 2024 offices and initiatives included:
A copy of the annual report is now available for download.
Questions, comments, and feedback can be directed to Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu).
The Undergraduate Education and Academic Success area within the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success will close on Monday, July 1, for a staff retreat.
We encourage our constituents to use our websites or office self-service portals during this time for answers to common questions and requests.
Units include:
We will reopen during standard operating hours on Tuesday, July 2.
Join the Office of General Education at Engage Dallas’ 4th annual fall day of service, #1Day4Dallas!
The Residential Commons fall service day, known as #1Day4Dallas, is an annual tradition in which every Residential Commons participates in service around their community-identified need on the same day.
Each Residential Commons will have a goal of meeting the needed number of students to serve in the same geographic location at various non-profit organizations and community agencies (the same organizations the Residential Commons work with for monthly programs).
Save the date for Saturday, October 12, from 8 AM – 3 PM. Learn more at smu.edu/engagedallas.
| The Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, within the Office of the Provost, has summer hours of operation that begin Monday, June 3, and are in effect through Friday, August 23. | |
| Offices with adjusted summer hours of operations:
Academic Development of Student-Athletes M-Th: 8 AM to 5 PM F: 8 AM to 4 PM Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Sun: 5 PM – 8 PM MTWTh: 8:30 AM – 8 PM F: 8:30 AM – 5 PM Sun-Th: 5 PM – 8 PM By appointment, email Lydia Allen or Shon Phillips M-F: 8 – 4PM Traditional Monday – Friday operations from 8:30 am – 5pm:
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| We will be closed for University Holidays scheduled for:
Memorial Day Monday, May 27 Independence Day Thursday, July 4 |
At SMU, a few courses require placement tests for students to enroll. Placement testing determines a student’s current level of skills and knowledge, ensuring that they have the best chance for success.
On May 1, enrollment in MATH 1309, MATH 1337, and CHEM 1303 requires either:
Students with previous credit in MATH 1309, MATH 1337, or CHEM 1303 (whether AP, transfer, or SMU) will be able to enroll in these courses without taking the placement test. Although effective on May 1st, this requirement only applies to Fall 2024, not Summer 2024 classes.
Students who pass the placement exam will be put into a my.SMU Student Group that allows them to enroll.
These tests can be found within a Placement Test Canvas Course; students can enroll themselves in this course, but they should start with the University Testing Center’s website (smu.edu/placementtests) for the link and further information. This new course will also host the language placement exams, so continuing students no longer need to contact the World Languages and Literatures department before taking the exam.
Students are given a maximum of two attempts on each exam. If they encounter technical difficulties, they should contact the University Testing Center (universitytestingcenter@smu.edu).
Students are told within the Canvas course that these permissions to enroll will be granted within 24 hours of finishing the test, although they can see their scores immediately.
Pre-majors with questions about their test or placement can contact the University Advising Center (advising@smu.edu); declared majors can reach out to the University Testing Center (universitytestingcenter@smu.edu).
The Office of Faculty Success within the Office of the Provost announced a call for applications for a new Provost Faculty Fellow to join the current cohort. The open position will focus on the following priority area:
Undergraduate Academic Success Fellow. As we move into Year 4 of the Quality Enhancement Plan (SMU-in-Four), we will begin to implement several recommended solutions from the Early Alert and Advising Pillars. The Provost Faculty Fellow in this role will assist in conversations with academic departments about the best way to implement 2 of these recommendations: 1) building an academic alert system using information in Canvas; and 2) implementing professional advising across the five undergraduate schools. During the fall term, the Fellow will be part of a small group who will meet with each academic department to gather critical feedback. In the spring, the Fellow will support this group in development the plan to implement recommended changes. Prior experience as a faculty advisor or as a director of undergraduate studies would be advantageous in this role, but not a necessary criteria. Previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply.
All full-time faculty members can apply—with priority for either instructional (professional/teaching track) faculty or tenured faculty who have interest and/or experience in the area above. The priority deadline for consideration is Friday, May 17th. A full application should include both a CV and a cover letter that describes your interest a) in the priority area and b) in the professional development opportunities associated with the Fellow role. Applications and questions can be sent to facultysuccess@smu.edu.
For a complete description of the role of Provost Faculty Fellow, please see AY24-25 Provost Faculty Fellow Call for Applicants.
Lisa Miller is already known on the Hilltop, currently serving as assistant director and degree counselor in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Academic Services since 2011. She will begin as Director of the Office of Student Success and Retention effective May 22. 
Lisa Miller has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Before her time at SMU, Lisa worked professionally in operations at the New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and in academic services at the University of Central Florida and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
As Director of the Office of Student Success and Retention, Lisa will:
When asked what she is most excited about, Lisa shared, “Excited to join Student Success and Retention! I believe communication is the key to understanding and learning what students, staff and faculty can use to help all achieve their goals. Keeping the lines of communication open, identifying and understanding others opinions, and working closely with different offices on behalf of students creates successful graduates and contributing members of society. SMU is one of those special places where this philosophy really works–everyone is committed to our students to obtain their very best outcomes possible.”
When not at work, Lisa enjoys traveling, going to Broadway shows, listening to music from the ’70s, and watching Marvel superheroes.
Please join us in congratulating Lisa Miller (lamiller@smu.edu) on her new adventure on the Hilltop!
SMU in Four Early Alert Pillar is facilitating three focus groups this week to discuss student experiences related to early alert tools.
Students will be asked to share their experiences related to Early Progress Reports, Midterm Progress Reports, and the Mid-Semester Check-in survey, to name a few. All undergraduate students are invited to participate.
Please help us recruit students to participate by forwarding to interested students. Lunch is provided for in-person attendees, but online participants are possible
Questions about the focus groups can be directed to the SMU in Four email at smuinfour@smu.edu.