Author: Melina Padron

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success

Degree Planner usage rises in Fall 2025

Degree Planner usage rose this fall, with over 3,800 undergraduate students engaging with the tool from August 2025 – October 2025. This comes as a result of the semesterly campaign led by the Office of General Education (OGE), in collaboration with the University Advising Center (UAC).

At the beginning of September, undergraduate students received a To-Do Task on their my.SMU Student Dashboard, in addition to a message through their Message Center asking them to complete their Degree Planner by the university deadline of October 1st. Undeclared students were asked to plan through the semester of their major declaration, and declared students were asked to plan through the semester of their graduation.

The Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) supported students in completing their Degree Planner by:

  • Holding 101 one-on-one appointments with students
  • Hosting four Degree Planner workshops, which resulted in 20 attendees
  • Hosting Success Fest, which resulted in 193 attendees

The UAC also hosted 4 Degree Planner workshops, with a total of 32 attendees.

OGE and UAC will begin their spring Degree Planner campaign at the beginning of February 2026, with Success Fest tentatively scheduled for February 25, 2026, from 12pm-2pm in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Ballroom. We encourage staff and faculty to encourage their students to complete their Degree Planner in preparation for the event.

 

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

Spring 2026 Common Curriculum Reading schedule announced

Common Curriculum Reading students at a community service event
Common Curriculum Reading students at a community service event

The Common Curriculum Reading (CCR) is a pre-approved, co-curricular activity that allows students to join a reading group for a semester to earn their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency and Experience (P&E). This year, students can opt into a track that also allows them to earn their Community Engagement (CE) P&E through a partnership with Engage Dallas.

The book selection for spring 2026 is Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson. In this book, Anderson discusses the ethics behind being generous to one another to improve civic life. He also overviews free and low-cost ways one can be generous and engage with their community.

The Office of General Education (OGE) has finalized the spring 2026 dates for the CCR and is seeking two staff or faculty members to help facilitate the reading sessions. The tentative dates are as follows:

  • February 3
  • February 17
  • March 3
  • March 10
  • March 24
  • April 7
  • April 21

Participating staff/faculty members must read the book and attend all seven reading meetings to guide their small groups through discussions. Those in the division of Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) can also earn comp time for participating in the CCR. Participating facilitators are provided all discussion guides and are not required to proctor or grade assessments.

OGE will begin recruiting students for the spring session before Thanksgiving break. Any students, staff, or faculty who are interested in participating in the CCR can email gened@smu.edu for more information.

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

Success Fest to support students ahead of Degree Planner deadline

The Office of General Education and the University Advising Center will host Success Fest on September 25, 2025, from 1:30pm-3:30pm in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom. Success Fest is an event dedicated to the promotion and completion of Degree Planner before the university deadline of October 1st. 

On September 2nd, students received a To-Do task and message through Message Center on their my.SMU Student Dashboard. These communications prompted undeclared students to complete their Degree Planner up to one semester after major declaration. Declared students were asked to complete their Degree Planner through the semester of their graduation.

Students with a completed Degree Planner can enter Success Fest, where they can enjoy free food, raffles, and games. Students without a completed Degree Planner can still attend the event and receive assistance from an academic advisor to complete their Degree Planner. Students can also take advantage of a major/minor fair at the event, where they’ll have the chance to explore programs such as economics, pre-health, music, psychology, and more. 

Staff and faculty are encouraged to communicate the Degree Planner deadline to their students, and invite them to seek help from a Peer Academic Leader (PAL) in a one-on-one format or their academic advisor. More information about Degree Planner and utilization can be found on OIT’s Student Essentials Webpage.

We hope to see students, staff, and faculty at Success Fest. RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success

Peer Academic Leaders complete fall training, celebrate milestones, and look ahead

The Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) have completed their Fall 2025 training and are ready to support SMU undergraduate students this academic year.

From August 15–19, the PALs joined the Engage Dallas Student Directors and Spiritual Life Mentors for the annual Peer Leader off-site retreat. This experience gave them the opportunity to sharpen leadership skills, strengthen collaboration, and build connections across campus programs. PALs also completed specialized training with Residence Life and Student Housing (August 18–19) and will be welcoming new Mustangs over Welcome Weekend as Stampede Guides.

The PALs are coming off a record-breaking year, hosting events that engaged over 2,000 students in 2024–2025. Combined with other Office of General Education (OGE) programs, PALs helped OGE achieve the highest undergraduate student attendance in the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success and the second-highest across the entire campus in SMU360 over the same period. This momentum sets the stage for even greater impact in the academic year ahead.

PAL programming kicks off in September, with events and office hours designed to connect students to academic resources and success strategies. Beginning the week of August 25, students can drop by for PALs office hours in Laura Lee Blanton, Suite 338, or schedule 1:1 meetings. These 1:1 meetings are especially helpful in preparing for the October 1 Degree Planner deadline.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to partner with PALs as a resource for supporting students’ academic journeys. Whether it’s attending programs, referring students for peer support, or amplifying PAL initiatives, your collaboration makes a difference.

Stay connected with PALs on SMU 360, email them at peeracademicleaders@smu.edu, or follow along on Instagram @pals_smu.

Together, let’s make 2025–2026 another record-breaking year for student success!

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education seeks Common Curriculum Reading facilitator

The Office of General Education is currently seeking one facilitator for the Common Curriculum Reading (CCR) for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester.

The CCR is a pre-approved activity done in the co-curricular that allows students to obtain their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) and Community Engagement Proficiency and Experience (P&E), two Common Curriculum (CC) requirements. Students who join the CCR are required to attend seven reading group meetings, during which they discuss assigned readings with SMU staff/faculty facilitators and complete two assessments.

The book selection for the 2025-2026 academic year is Chris Anderson’s Infectious Generosity. In this book, Anderson examines the ethics of generosity and how society can cultivate a culture of giving rather than one of taking.

We are seeking one facilitator to lead the afternoon session (4pm-5:30pm). Participating facilitators will commit to the following: 

  • Attending all reading group meetings on the following dates
    • September 16
    • September 30
    • October 14
    • October 28
    • November 11
    • November 18
    • December 2
  • Help guide discussions for their reading group, comprised of 6-10 students. Facilitators are provided with the book and discussion guide in advance.

Facilitators within SAES who complete their commitment will be offered two days of comp time, which they will be responsible for coordinating with their direct supervisor’s approval. Prospective facilitators can learn more about the commitment and sign-up via Qualtrics.

Staff or faculty interested in facilitating or with additional questions about the commitment can email the CCR coordinator, Melina Padron, at melinap@smu.edu.

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education completes the first year of the Common Curriculum Reading and looks toward 2025-2026

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Office of General Education launched the Common Curriculum Reading (CCR). The CCR is a pre-approved activity done in the co-curricular that allows students to obtain their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency and Experience (P&E), a Common Curriculum (CC) requirement.

Students who join the CCR are required to attend seven reading group meetings, during which they discuss assigned readings with SMU staff/faculty facilitators and complete two assessments. This year, students read Meredith Broussard’s Artificial Unintelligence, in which she discusses the ethics of AI and the growing belief that it can solve societal issues.

77 students completed the program in the 2024-2025 academic year and received their CIE P&E. Students provided positive feedback about the program, stating they appreciated the following:

  • That it was a program offered at no cost to students
  • The flexibility of meeting bi-weekly as opposed to weekly
  • Building friendships with peers they wouldn’t have met otherwise

The Office of General Education will continue the CCR in the 2025-2026 academic year. The book selection is Chris Anderson’s Infectious Generosity, which encourages society to engage in their community and discusses the ethics behind being selfless.

The CCR has also built partnerships with the following:

Students can sign-up for the program via Qualtrics. The Office of General Education is also seeking SAES staff or faculty facilitators for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester.

Facilitators who complete their commitment will be offered two days of extra comp time, which they will be responsible for coordinating with their direct supervisor. Prospective facilitators can learn more about the commitment and sign-up via Qualtrics.

The Office of General Education is excited to expand and continue the CCR as we move into the 2025-2025 academic year.

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success

Spring’s Success Fest and Degree Planner completion campaign come to a close

Two students looking at laptop computers

The Office of General Education and the University Advising Center (UAC) have completed their Spring 2025 campaign for Degree Planner completion and Success Fest. Both offices collaborated on Success Fest, an event dedicated to promoting and adopting Degree Planner among undergraduate students.

The Spring 2025 Success Fest occurred on February 26th in Hughes-Trigg Ballroom C. Students were encouraged to complete their Degree Planner before this date to gain entrance into Success Fest, however, students were also able to complete their Degree Planner on the day of the event. In total, 69 students attended the Spring 2025 Success Fest.

Leading up to the event, on February 3rd, 2025, all undergraduate students received a To-Do message on their my.SMU Student Dashboard that prompted them to complete their Degree Planner by the university deadline of March 1st. Email communications also went out to students, encouraging them to seek help from their Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) or academic advisors to assist them in completing their Degree Planner. These efforts included and resulted in:

  • Four Degree Planner Workshops hosted by the PALs
  • Six Degree Planner Workshops hosted by the UAC
  • 32 appointments scheduled with the PALs

By March 1st, there were 2,497 students that completed their Degree Planner.

A new aspect to the initiative this year was a second promotional campaign that was run from March 3rd – 10th to target students who did not complete their Degree Planner by the spring academic calendar deadline. These efforts included and resulted in:

  • A second To-Do message was posted on students’ my.SMU Student Dashboards who had not completed their Degree Planner
  • Two additional Degree Planner Workshops hosted by the UAC
  • 20 additional appointments scheduled with PALs

In total, the utilization initiative resulted in 3,100 total undergraduate students completing their Degree Planner.

Students who completed their plans, were surveyed about their Degree Planner user experience while students who did not complete a plan were asked about potential barriers. These responses will be analyzed to make improvements to future marketing campaigns and vendor improvement requests.

Success Fest and the Degree Planner completion campaign will return in the Fall 2025 semester, but students can still complete their Degree Planner by utilizing OIT’s Degree Planner website or scheduling an appointment with their PAL.

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education is recruiting Peer Academic Leaders for the 2025-2026 academic year

The Office of General Education has begun recruiting Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) for the 2025-2026 academic year. The PALs are a diverse group of undergraduate students with a goal to help students better understand the Common Curriculum, utilize academic resources, connect with their community, and navigate academic challenges.

This is a paid student worker role, averaging 5-9 weekly work hours. Students can also earn their Community Engagement and Oral Communications Proficiency & Experience. Students hired for the position will also receive an $800 housing credit for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Students can apply for the PALs role through the Peer Leader Recruitment Qualtrics form. Staff and faculty can also nominate a student they think would be a good fit for the role.

Once a student applies, they will be contacted to schedule their first-round interview. From there, students will be invited for a final interview with the PALs supervisor, Melina Padron.

The deadline to nominate a Peer Leader will be February 10th. The Peer Leader application will close February 12th. Please contact Melina Padron, the PALs supervisor, at melinap@smu.edu with any questions or concerns.

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success University Advising Center

Peer Academic Leaders and University Advising Center prepare for Success Fest

The Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) and University Advising Center (UAC) have started preparing for the Spring 2025 Success Fest, which will take place on February 26th from 11:30am-1:30pm in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, Ballroom C. Success Fest is an event dedicated to the promotion and adoption of Degree Planner.

As stated on the university’s academic calendar, undergraduate students are required to update and complete their Degree Planner before the March 1st deadline.

Students can expect a To-Do message on their my.SMU Student Dashboard that will prompt them to complete their Degree Planner. Undeclared students will be asked to plan through the semester after their major declaration, and declared students will be asked to plan to the semester of their graduation.

Students will also receive a message through the Message Center with more information about the Degree Planner deadline, Success Fest, and upcoming Degree Planner workshops offered by the PALs and UAC.

Students, staff, and faculty can refer to the Office of General Education’s SMU 360 event page for details about the February Degree Planner workshops. Alternatively, staff and faculty can request a PALs Degree Planner workshop on a date and time that is more convenient. 

Students who show proof of a completed Degree Planner can enter Success Fest, however, students can also complete their Degree Planner on the day of the event. RSVPs to Success Fest are encouraged via SMU 360, but walk-ins are welcome.

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Office of General Education Peer Academic Leaders Student Academic Engagement & Success

Peer Academic Leaders complete programming for Fall 2024

The Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) have completed their programs and events for the Fall 2024 semester. The PALs are a diverse group of undergraduate students who dedicate their time to helping their peers succeed academically.

Under the direction of the Office of General Education and in collaboration with Residence Life and Student Housing, the PALs plan and execute engaging programming on campus and in their assigned Residential Commons.

Some highlights from the semester include:

The Office of General Education is proud of the continued success of the PALs program. Students are encouraged to keep up with PALs events through SMU 360 or by following them on Instagram (@pals_smu). Faculty and staff are encouraged to promote PALs one-on-one appointments to students as well.