Author: Melina Padron

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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.

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education seeks students and facilitators for Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading

The Office of General Education is seeking students to join the Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading and staff or faculty members to participate as facilitators.

The Common Curriculum Reading is a co-curricular, pre-approved activity that allows students to obtain a Proficiency & Experience credit by joining a reading group, engaging in discussions led by SMU staff and faculty, and interacting with students from various majors. The program requires students to attend eight meetings throughout the semester and complete mid- and end-of-semester assessments.

In Fall 2024, students read Artificial Unintelligence by Meredith Broussard. This book discusses the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the growing belief that AI will solve all of society’s problems. However, Broussard argues that there are certain ethical issues that AI can’t address. 33 students completed the program this fall and obtained their Civic and Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency & Experience.

Staff or faculty who are interested in serving as facilitators in Spring 2025 are required to read Artificial Unintelligence and attend eight reading group meetings throughout the semester. The meetings take place from 4pm-5:30pm on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Facilitators also have the ability to earn extra compensation pending they meet the commitment requirements.

Students missing their CIE Proficiency & Experience are encouraged to sign up for the program via Qualtrics. Priority consideration is given to undergraduate juniors and seniors who have not obtained their CIE Proficiency & Experience, but the program is open to all students.

For more information about joining the Common Curriculum Reading as a student or facilitator, please contact the program coordinators Melina Padron (mpadron@smu.edu) or Jay Guillory (jguillory@smu.edu).

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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 wrap up Success Fest

Students will receive a flyer with Degree Planner requirements and deadlines

The Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) and the University Advising Center (UAC) concluded Success Fest on September 26th. Success Fest is an event dedicated to the adoption and use of Degree Planner among undergraduate students.

In the weeks leading up to Success Fest, the UAC hosted 3 Degree Planner workshops with a total of 27 attendees. The PALs hosted 4 Degree Planner workshops with a total of 55 attendees. The PALs also offered 1-1 appointments in Blanton Suite 338, and helped 60 students complete their Degree Planner.

These efforts proved successful as there was a significant increase in the use of Degree Planner from September 13th until September 26th. Some data points include:

  • 1,321 pre-major students completing their Degree Planner leading up to major declaration
  • 1,263 declared students completing their Degree Planner leading up to graduation
  • 2,584 total students utilizing Degree Planner

The PALs and UAC will host Success Fest again in Spring 2025 on February 27th, encouraging students to complete and update their Degree Planner before the March 1st deadline.

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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.

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Join the Offices of General Education and Student Success & Retention at our suite warming

The Office of General Education and Student Success and Retention will host our Sweets and Suite Warming Gathering on Wednesday, August 14th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Blanton Suites 100 and 338. This is a come-and-go event.

The Office of General Education was previously housed in Blanton Suite 100 but has moved to Blanton Suite 338. Student Success and Retention, which operated out of the Perkins Administration Building, has moved to Blanton Suite 100.

Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to come tour our new office locations and enjoy sweets from Nothing Bundt Cakes and J.D’s Chippery.

We look forward to welcoming you!

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education begins recruiting students for the Common Curriculum Reading

The Office of General Education has begun recruiting undergraduate students for this Fall’s Common Curriculum Reading – a revised version of the Common Reading.

The Common Curriculum Reading is open to all SMU undergraduate students, but will target juniors and seniors who have not completed their Civics & Individual Ethics Proficiency and Experience. Students who opt-in to the program will engage in 8 reading group meetings and discussions with their peers and program facilitators. The facilitators represent various areas across campus, including:

The book selection for Fall 2024 is “Artificial Unintelligence” by Meredith Broussard. Broussard discusses the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern society, and the public’s belief that AI can solve all the world’s problems. However, Broussard argues that there are social and ethical issues that AI can’t resolve.

Staff and faculty are encouraged to promote the program to their undergraduate students. Students who are interested in this co-curricular activity should complete the Qualtrics sign-up survey.

The Office of General Education is excited about this unique reading experience, and looks forward to the program’s first meeting on September 10th, 2024.

 

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

Peer Academic Leaders wrap up their first year of General Education programming

This year, the Office of General Education relaunched the Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) program during the 2024 Academic Year.

The PALs are a diverse group of undergraduate students who aim to help their peers better understand the Common Curriculum, utilize academic resources, and navigate academic challenges. They are also inserted into the Residential Commons (RCs) and facilitate monthly programming meant to build a sense of community in the RC.

The PALs had a very successful first year with many highlights, such as:

The Office of General Education is proud of the PALs’ success this year and looks forward to seeing their continued impact in the 24-25 academic year.

Students, staff, and faculty can stay up to date with the PALs events and programming on SMU 360 and the PALs website.