Category: Offices & Programs

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

Office of General Education staff honored with national awards

The Office of General Education has two staff members who were honored with national awards during the fall semester.Brittaney Wilson, General Education and Academic Appeals Coordinator, was selected as a 30 under 40 Sawubona Class Recipient with the American College Personnel Association’s (ACPA) Pan African Network (PAN) within the Coalition on Multicultural Affairs.

This award honors 30 individuals of African heritage in higher education who embody the network’s core values. “Sawubona,” a Zulu greeting, means “I/We see you.” Brittaney will be recognized in the Campus Partnership and Collaboration category at the PAN Open Business meeting in February during the ACPA 25 convention in Long Beach.Melina Padron, Senior Advisor in General Education, was bestowed the NASPA’s NOW Professional Recognition, which recognizes the exceptional contributions of new professionals and graduate students within NASPA. Each year, participants are selected based on NASPA Pillars, Integrity, Inclusion, Innovation, and Inquiry, as well as a fifth category of Impact.

Melina was awarded under the Inquiry area based on her efforts on two original empirical research articles related to university academic testing within the United States.

Congratulations to Brittaney and Melina for their phenomenal contributions to campus partnerships at SMU, which led to these national recognitions.

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Academic Devleopment of Student-Athletes (ADSA)

Thankful for these November Mustang Champions

MCNov

SMU is thankful for these Mustangs that lead the charge in academics, athletics, and improving their community during the holiday season!  

Emily Little (Cross Country and Track & Field) 

Emily is a dynamic and dedicated student-athlete who has made significant contributions to her team and the university in the Fall semester. Her active participation in both on-track and off-track activities demonstrates her commitment to achieving excellence. During the Life After Ball (LAB) programming, she was highly engaged, offering valuable insights and actively participating in discussions. Her strong character and leadership qualities are evident in her interactions with teammates and coaches. Her athletic accomplishments, including earning All-ACC honors at the ACC Cross Country Championships, highlight her exceptional talent and dedication to her sport. As a recent transfer to SMU, she is eager to apply her knowledge and skills to her Master’s in Sport Management program. 

Izzy Krantzcke (Women’s Swim & Dive) 

Izzy is a dedicated leader and active participant in the SMU and Dallas community. Izzy was a nominee by SAS (Student-Athlete Success), as she consistently ranks at the top of the Athletic Service Leaderboard, demonstrating her commitment to volunteering and giving back to the Dallas community. Her enthusiastic participation in LAB and DEIB initiatives fosters a positive and inclusive environment at SMU.  She has been excelling in the classroom as an academic weapon, most notably within her Health Management courses. Izzy is a rising star, as a sophomore, with a bright future! 

Keldric Luster (Football)  

 Several ADSA staff members have acknowledged sophomore Keldric’s positive attitude. He has been nominated as a Mustang Champion because of his dedication to both academics and athletics. Keldric employs the same learning strategies he uses as a quarterback to master classroom content. The ADSA staff looks forward to seeing his hard work pay off in the coming semesters, and Keldric is optimistic that it will. The ADSA staff also appreciates his encouragement of his teammates, both on and off the field.  

Vikas Deo (Men’s Tennis)  

 Vikas, a DFW Native from Carrollton, joined the Hilltop Fall 2024 after a stint at Wake Forest.  The Computer Science major is specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialization.  Vikas quickly became a regular presence in the ADSA while building connections with student-athletes across all sports. Dr. Teiana Jones, Senior Director of ADSA and Assistant A.D. for Academics, appreciates his positive spirit and perseverance. She believes that these qualities will continue to grow throughout his time at SMU.  

We will be back next month to highlight another four student-athletes which will be the last four student-athletes of 2024! 

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Student Academic Engagement & Success University Testing Center

Happy Holidays from the University Testing Center

The University Testing Center will be closed for winter break beginning Monday, December 18th and will reopen on Monday, January 13th.

Best wishes for an enjoyable and restful break, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

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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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Academic Center for Excellence Academic Skill Development Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies First-Generation Initiative Offices & Programs SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention Tutoring University Advising Center University Foundations University Testing Center Writing Center

Update to Student Academic Success Programs websites

Two SMU students working at a laptop

Student Academic Success Programs websites will move to new website addresses on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. These include the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center, Tutoring, the Writing Center, Academic Skills Development, and Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies. Student Academic Engagement and Success webmasters will work to ensure uninterrupted access to the information you need from our sites. If you find any problems, please email Lydia Allen at lrallen@smu.edu. Note that the University will be closed Monday, December 23, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Happening today! Join us for 2023 – 2024 Exit and Leave of Absence Survey Results presentation

SMU students enjoy carnival style games on day three of Perunapalooza, Wednesday, September 9, 2020 on the Main Quadrangle of the SMU Campus.

The Exit and Leave of Absence Surveys are our student-oriented questionnaire that tracks external attrition, whether formal exit or for a Leave of Absence, and supports the SMU in identifying key drivers of student satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and attrition. Student Success and Retention facilitates the collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings to the campus community.

Lisa Miller, Director of Student Success and Retention, and Jay Guillory, Success Coach from the Office of Student Success and Retention, present results from the 2023 – 2024 exit and leave of absence survey results.

Monday, December 16th

10:00 – 11:00 AM

112 Junkins Building

If you haven’t RSVPs, that’s okay; walk-ins are welcome. Student Success and Retention can also provide analysis relevant to your division, area, or office. Learn more about this service offering.

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Student Success & Retention

Join us for 2023 – 2024 Exit and Leave of Absence Survey Results presentation

SMU students enjoy carnival style games on day three of Perunapalooza, Wednesday, September 9, 2020 on the Main Quadrangle of the SMU Campus.

The Exit and Leave of Absence Surveys are our student-oriented questionnaire that tracks external attrition, whether formal exit or for a Leave of Absence, and supports the SMU in identifying key drivers of student satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and attrition. Student Success and Retention facilitates the collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings to the campus community.

Lisa Miller, Director of Student Success and Retention, and Jay Guillory, Success Coach from the Office of Student Success and Retention, present results from the 2023 – 2024 exit and leave of absence survey results.

Monday, December 16th

10:00 – 11:00 AM

112 Junkins Building

RSVPs are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Student Success and Retention can also provide analysis relevant to your division, area, or office. Learn more about this service offering.

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SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success

SMU in Four published year-three progress report and presentation

The SMU in Four team releases the year-three progress report on SMU’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

Updates are provided on early-alert mechanisms, undergraduate academic advising, technology enhancements, and gateway and introductory courses. Student retention, graduation rates, and goals for year three of the five-year initiative are also shared.

Download the SMU in Four Year 3 Progress Report.

In October, a copy of the year-three progress presentation was shared with the SMU community and is also available online. Questions regarding the report or presentation may be directed to smuinfour@smu.edu.

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Office of Engaged Learning Pathways to Industry Student Academic Engagement & Success

Unveiling new possibilities: Fall highlights from Pathways to Business and Industry

Alisha Bailey talking with students at tabling event

SMU Pathways to Business and Industry (PBI) is an exciting initiative dedicated to supporting undergraduates as they navigate their academic journeys and prepare for careers in business and industry. By fostering aspirations and providing resources, PBI equips students with the tools they need to succeed both during their time at SMU and beyond.

This fall, PBI collaborated with key partners, including the Hegi Family Career Center, University Advising Center, and Peer Academic Leaders (PAL), to organize a diverse selection of events. These 15 sessions spanned various academic disciplines, featuring contributions from departments such as Journalism, History, and Operations Research Engineering Management.

One of the highlights of the fall term was the Pathways to Business and Industry Current Student and Alumni Panel. The panel brought together current students—Daniyal Saleem ’27, Oliver Xu ’26, and Bianey Rojas ’27—representing majors like Data Science and Management Science & Economics. Alumni speaker Sean MacKenzie ’23, an Economics graduate now working at JP Morgan, offered valuable insights into transitioning from college to a professional career.

As we look ahead to the spring semester, PBI is gearing up to deliver a lineup of unique workshops, social events, and targeted programs. Students are encouraged to explore the calendar of events and register on SMU 360 to take full advantage of these opportunities.

Additionally, this spring, our dedicated PBI Peer Academic Leader (PAL), Tiffany Nguyen, will be hosting office hours to provide mentorship and tailored advice to current PBI scholars and students interested in joining the program. She will also lead Spring Degree Planner Workshop and the Stepping Blocks Digital Career Counselor Sessions, equipping students with practical tools to navigate their academic and career journeys. Meetings with Tiffany can be easily scheduled through SMU 360.

If you know any first-year, second-year, or transfer undergraduate students eager to explore careers in business and industry—even those without a business degree—please encourage them to join PBI by signing up at smu.edu/pbi.

For more information about the PBI initiative, feel free to reach out to Alisha Bailey at pbi@smu.edu. Pony Up!