Category: Office of General Education

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Office of General Education

Approved meeting minutes from the Council on General Education on November 7, 2025

The Council on General Education met on November 7, 2025. The meeting minutes for October 17, 2025, were approved at this meeting. Below is the agenda, and the meeting minutes have now been posted on the General Education website.

  1. Approval of the Agenda for November 7, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  2. Approval of Minutes for October 17, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  3. New Course & Experience Proposals (Peter)
    1. ANTH 3345 (Introduction to Ethnographic Methods)-SBS
    2. SOCI 2377 (Introduction to Markets and Culture)- SBS
    3. ANTH 3326 (Regulating Reproduction: Morality, Politics, and (In)justice)-PREI
    4. MUAS 1111 (Healing Through Song: Introduction to Therapeutic Music Entertainment)- PREX-CE
    5. PERB 2213 (World Rhythms and Cultures I)-PREX-CE
    6. ARHS 3308 (Seven Wonders of the World) – PREX-CIE
    7. CEE 1301 (Environment and Technology: Ecology and Ethics) – PREX-CIE
    8. CS 3377 (Ethical Issues in Computing) – PREX-CIE
    9. APSM 4380 (Technology and Sport) – TAS
    10. HIST 3308 (Technologies and Our Societies) – TAS
    11. APSM 4311 (Principles of Exercise is Medicine) – PREX-QA
    12. WL 3341/HRTS 3341 (Failure of Humanity in Rwanda) – LAI
    13. UNIV 3308 (Advanced Trial Advocacy) – LAI, PREX-OC
    14. UHP 3304 (Great Books) – LAI, PREX-W
    15. ALEC – PREX-OC (Activity)
    16. ARHS 1305 (Introduction to African Arts) – CA
    17. ARHS 3308 (Seven Wonders of the World) – HC, PREX-GPS
    18. WL 3382 (Texas-Mexico Borderlands) – PREX-GPS
    19. MDVL 3351 (The Pilgrimage: Medieval) – PREX-GPS
    20. SOCI 3345 (Chinese Markets and Culture) – PREX-GPS
    21. MUHI 1302 (Intro to Music in World Societies) – PREX-GPS
  4. Office Updates
    1. Updated Course Proposal Templates (Dustin)

Please contact the Office of General Education for questions or proposal development support.

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Office of General Education

Approved meeting minutes from the Council on General Education on October 17, 2025

The Council on General Education met on October 17, 2025. The meeting minutes for September 26, 2025, were approved at this meeting. Below is the agenda, and the meeting minutes have now been posted on the General Education website.

  1. Approval of the Agenda for October 17, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  2. Approval of Minutes for September 26, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  3. Rubric Updates (Dayna)
    1. Academic Writing (AW)
    2. Historical Contexts (HC)
    3. Philosophical, Religious, and Ethical Inquiry (PREI)
  4. Ethics Tool Project (Dustin)
    1. Course Outreach List
  5. Simple Syllabi SACSCOC Outreach (Dustin)
    1. Summary Table
    2. Course Outreach List
  6. Office Updates (Dustin)
    1. Place-Based Community-Based Symposium
      1. Registration deadline-10/24
    2. Transfer Summit- Save the Date 2/13/2025
    3. CC Assessment Calendar Cycle
      1. Tags being reviewed 2025-2026
        1. Exploring Science (ES)
        2. Global Perspectives (GPS)
        3. Human Diversity (HD)
        4. Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
        5. Technological Advances and Society (TAS)
      2. Rater Sign-up
    4. Tag Removal Course
      1. PLSC 3347-PREX-HD
        1. Effective Spring 2026
    5. Transfer Credit Evaluation Process Update
      1. GT forms
  7. Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Mersey
    1. 1:15 pm – 1:30 pm

Please contact the Office of General Education for questions or proposal development support.

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Office of General Education University Foundations

Community Engagement and Civic & Individual Ethics-tagged Courses Offered through University Foundations

The Department of University Foundations, in collaboration with the Office of General Education, has saved a limited number of seats for seniors missing their Community Engagement or Civic and Individual Ethics Proficiencies & Experiences.  Here are five course-based options available for students seeking to fulfill their Community Engagement and Civic & Individual Ethics Proficiencies & Experiences.

1 Credit-hour Offering:

UNIV 1103 – Building Bridges: The Ethics of Service – Seats available to all students
Common Curriculum: Community Engagement
Summary: This course introduces students to the ethical complexities of serving others across cultural, socioeconomic, and ideological differences. Through readings, case studies, and 10 hours of community service, students explore how justice, empathy, identity, and power shape meaningful service. UNIV 1103 includes a lecture and field studies component, with off-site service experiences scheduled 3–4 times during the semester.

 

3 Credit-hour Offerings:

 

UNIV 2349 – Improve Your MEIQ: Mustang Emotional Intelligence Seats available to all students

Common Curriculum tags: Civic & Individual Ethics

Summary: This course introduces the field of psychology, with emphasis on how people deal with the problems and challenges of everyday life. Students learn about classical and contemporary theories, recent research, and applications of the science of psychology to everyday situations.

 

UNIV 3305 – Personal Responsibility and Community – Restricted to Graduating Seniors missing both CE and CIE.  All students are eligible for the waitlist.

Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement; Civic & Individual Ethics; Oral Communication
Summary: UNIV 3305 invites students to reflect on their values, beliefs, and identities while examining how these shape their engagement with communities. Through a semester-long community project, reflective journaling, case studies, and cultural immersion experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and ethical service within the Dallas community.

 

UNIV 3306 – Community Partners – Seats available to all students

Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement

Summary: UNIV 3306 connects academic learning with hands-on community engagement in the Dallas area. Through service-learning projects aligned with their academic interests, students apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges while developing skills in critical thinking, communication, cultural competence, and civic responsibility. Working alongside diverse community partners, students deepen their understanding of social justice, ethics, and collaborative approaches to community development.

 

UNIV 3307 – Change Makers: Exploring Social Justice in Civic Leadership – Restricted to Graduating Seniors missing both CE and CIE.  All students eligible for the waitlist.
Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement; Civic & Individual Ethics; Global Perspectives
Summary: This course explores how identity, power, and community influence civic life in the U.S. and globally. Students study leadership, migration, social movements, and resilience across regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Through community engagement, guest speakers, and site visits, students strengthen skills in ethical reasoning, collaboration, and civic leadership.

These UNIV courses were designed with first-year students, transfer students, and graduating seniors in mind, but they are often open to anyone interested in the topics. The complete list of UNIV courses and their full descriptions can be found in the University course catalog. For more information about the UNIV program visit their website.

 

 

Categories
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

Celebrating Melina Padron and her next adventure

SMU Balloons on Dallas Lawn

Since joining the Office of General Education in July 2023 as Senior Advisor, Melina Padron has made a transformative impact on the undergraduate academic experience at SMU. With energy, vision, and a commitment to student success, Melina has led initiatives that strengthened support for students navigating the Common Curriculum and deepened our academic engagement culture across campus.

During her time with our office, Melina:

  • Rebooted the Peer Academic Leader (PALs) program, broadening its reach and improving training to ensure students received informed, peer-centered support within the Residential Commons.
  • Launched the Common Curriculum Reading Program, pairing students with curated readings to spark shared intellectual experiences and conversation.
  • Supported advisor and student adoption of Degree Planner, helping streamline pathways to degree progress and empowering students to take clear ownership of their academic journey.
  • Led several faculty working groups on the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS), resulting in clearer course alignment and improved credit transfer outcomes for transfer students.
  • Contributed to several research projects involving academic testing centers and testing irregularities, informing SMU practices for academic testing.

Melina also shared her work widely with the campus community through blog features and updates (which I know she loved!). Her posts often highlighted how thoughtful supervision, advising, and shared academic experiences enriched student belonging and success at SMU.

As Melina transitions out of the Office of General Education, we want to express our deep appreciation for her leadership, partnership, and care. Her last day in OGE will be November 28.

However, we are thrilled that Melina is not going far! She will be joining the Division of Student Affairs as the Assistant Director of Signature Academic Experiences in Residence Life and Student Housing, where she will continue to support meaningful, high-impact learning experiences for students—this time embedded directly in the heart of our residential communities.

Join Us in Celebrating Melina!

We invite colleagues, partners, and friends to a come-and-go reception honoring Melina:

Monday, December 1, 2025
Noon – 1:00 PM
Laura Lee Blanton 112

Please join us in congratulating Melina on her next adventure on the Hilltop! We are so grateful for the impact she has made and excited to see the work she will continue to lead at SMU.

Categories
Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

Join the DCII Community-Engaged Teaching & Learning Research Cluster Book Club and Research Study

Join the Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Learning Research Cluster of the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute (DCII) as we explore community engagement in higher education through a faculty and staff book club and an accompanying research study.

Faculty and Staff Book Club

Join us for our book club, which will center on two core texts:

  • Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope by bell hooks and
  • Educating for Citizenship and Social Justice: Practices for Community Engagement at Research Universities, edited by Tania D. Mitchell and Krista M. Soria.

Together, these works invite meaningful conversations about systemic inequities, ethical university-community partnerships, and how teaching and learning can foster civic responsibility and social change.

All faculty and staff are welcome to join. Books will be provided and can be picked up from the Office of General Education, Laura Lee Blanton Building, Suite 338. Participants will receive the four-meeting reading schedule upon registration. The first meeting will take place on November 17, from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.

Register Now

Call for Research Participants

We also invite faculty, staff, and students to participate in a research study exploring experiences, opportunities, and challenges related to community-engaged teaching, learning, and research at SMU.

Your insights, shared through a confidential 45–60 minute interview, will help shape a deeper understanding of how institutional culture and values influence community engagement at SMU. Interviews will occur in November 2025.

Sign Up Now

If you have questions about the DCII Community-Engaged Teaching & Learning Research Cluster, please contact Dr. Dustin Grabsch at dgrabsch@smu.edu.

SMU IRB# 25-106

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Office of General Education

Approved meeting minutes from the Council on General Education on September 26, 2025

SMU display

The Council on General Education met on September, 26, 2025. The meeting minutes for September 5, 2025, were approved at this meeting. Below is the agenda, and the meeting minutes have now been posted on the General Education website.

  1. Approval of the Agenda for September 26, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  2. Approval of Minutes for September 5, 2025, Council on General Education meeting.
  3. Course & Experience Proposals
    1. Revised Proposals
      1. HIST 1333 (Ethical and Political Thought in Ancient China)-HC, PREX-CIE, PREX-GPS
    2. New Proposals
      1. FILM 3335 (Film Exhibition and Distribution) – TAS
      2. UNIV 2302 (Mixed Media Technology Applications)-TAS
      3. HIST 2316 (Flight Culture in Global History)-TAS
      4. ANTH 4325 (Introduction to Comparative Osteology)-PREX-QA
      5. UHP 3301 (Cities in Mind: Dublin)- LAI & PREX-W
      6. UHP 3304 (Great Books)- LAI & PREX-W
      7. FILM 1301 (Art of Film & Media)- LAI
      8. ARHS 3313 (Pompeii: Art and Life in a Roman City)- CA
      9. UNIV 3307 (Change Makers: Exploring Social Justice in Civic Leadership)- PREX-GPS
      10. HIST 2316 (Flight Culture in Global History)- PREX-GPS
      11. UNIV 3307 (Change Makers: Exploring Social Justice in Civic Leadership)- PREX-CE & PREX-CIE
      12. UNIV 1103 (Building Bridges: The Ethics of Service)- PREX-CE
      13. Alternative Breaks- PREX-CIE (Activity)
      14. Fraternity & Sorority Life Greek Council Leadership-PREX-CE (Activity)
  1. Office Updates
    1. Writing Board: Triauna Carey (Chair)
    2. SAES Blog Newsletter (blog.smu.edu/saes)
    3. Common Curriculum Assessment Design Assistant

Please contact the Office of General Education for questions or proposal development support.

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Office of General Education

Last Chance! Registration closes Oct 24 for the Place-based Community Engagement Symposium

The 4th Annual Engage Dallas Place-Based Community Engagement Symposium is taking place on November 5–6, and we’d love for you to be there! Registration is free and open to all through the button below.

We can’t wait to gather with community leaders, educators, students, and neighbors from across DFW for two days of meaningful learning and engagement.

RSVP Today!

The RSVP deadline is October 24, 2025, so don’t miss this community-based professional development opportunity.

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Office of General Education

Reminder: #1Day4Dallas Residential Commons Fall Day of Service scheduled for October 25

Come join the Office of General Education at Engage Dallas’ fall day of service called #1Day4Dallas. 

On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, Engage Dallas is hosting our 5th annual day of service, where students, faculty, and staff can serve alongside our community partners.

Students can earn 4 hours of direct service towards their Common Curriculum Community Engagement Proficiency and Experience graduation requirement. The day will also include meals, transportation, and giveaways!

Register here to join us for this fall day of service. Please share this opportunity with your students!