Author: Shun Colter

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15 Students Return from Leave, 12 Readmitted for Spring 2025 semester

Group of students

The Return from Leave of Absence (RLOA) initiative, launched by the Office of Student Success on October 23, 2024, aimed to welcome back Mustangs on leave last term and inform them about Spring semester enrollment updates.

Shun Colter, Assistant Director, and Saahil Mathews, Program Coordinator from the Office of Student Success and Retention co-directed this initiative.

The total number of students that originally indicated a return for Spring ‘25 was 38 undergraduate students. Currently, there are 15 students enrolled for the Spring ‘25 semester. 6 students extended their leave of absence to return at a later semester.

A total of 15 former students were readmitted (RADM), with 12 of them enrolling for the Spring ’25 semester.

To start off the campaign, emails were sent in October, introducing Shun Colter, Assistant Director, and providing information about helpful resources at SMU. This information was sent to the students personal and SMU email addresses. Second, postcards were designed and sent to the students’ mailing and home addresses.

The final outreach was conducted in January ’25, reminding students that their home at the Hilltop misses them. The communication also provided information for their School of Record and Academic Advisor/Degree Counselor to address any enrollment questions.

If you have any questions or want to know more details about the RLOA campaign, you can email us at ssr@smu.edu.

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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 Student Success & Retention

Crossing the Finish Line cohort continues to thrive in Spring 2024

classof2024

The Office of Student Success and Retention (SSR) is committed to providing support and resources to help students overcome challenges and achieve their goals on the Hilltop.  

Crossing the Finish Line is a program that assists SMU students with completing their degrees. The Office of Student Success and Retention works collaboratively with University Decision Support, academic advisors, and School Records Offices to identify undergraduate students who have left SMU and were close to graduation based on credit hours but did not attend another university. The purpose of Crossing the Finish Line is to use re-engagement efforts to support those students in graduating within the four to six-year timeframe. 

SSR invited a select number of students to participate in the Spring 2024 cohort, and 4 out of 15 invited students decided to return to SMU, or students currently attending SMU utilized this initiative to complete their degree.  

Dr. Sheri Kunovich, Associate Provost for Student Academic Engagement and Success, Dr. Dustin Grabsch, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Success, and Shun Colter, Assistant Director of SSR worked together to identify eligible students who meet the requirements for Crossing the Finish Line. This criteria includes a GPA of 1.8 or above, in good standing with the University, and residing in the Dallas area. 

Crossing the Finish Line, is one of the Student Success initiatives led by SSR, such as Summer Forge, that support and empower students to succeed from their first day through graduation.  

Please contact Shun Colter for more information about Crossing the Finish Line.