Category: Student Academic Success Programs

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Student Academic Success Programs

SASP Promotions

After leading the Academic Skill Development for several years, Becca Umobong has been promoted to Director.  Becca’s leadership has led to the expansion of the HDEV courses to include a pilot online offering in summer, HDEV 1110 moving to a 2 credit course, and close collaboration with Simmons as a new department chair has been introduced.  Her team expanded support for our Prelude students by offering semester-long academic counseling.  Becca has assume a greater role within the Associate Provost’s area (SAES) through her communication coordination within all 5 departments.  Her continued work with RLSH to review and perform outreach after the Early Alert Micro Assessment project is one that contributes greatly by identifying at risk students who are at risk for retention.  Congratulations, Becca!

From a Ben Thomas Outstanding Tutor award winner, to a Math grad student, to our Math/CS learning specialist, Jacob Cadena  has been an integral part of the SASP team for quite some time.  After completing his masters’ degree, Jacob continued working with us while also working as a private learning specialist.  I’m excited to announce that Jacob will begin serving as our Asst. Director of the A-LEC/Tutoring Dec. 1.  Jacob will work with both ADSA and A-LEC tutors to gain CRLA certification for our tutor program, work with Adreana in hiring, training and scheduling tutors, and also work closely with other areas of academic support, such as Math help tables and Lyle’s Hart Center in order to promote all services available to students. Congratulations, Jacob!

Please congratulate these valuable staff members.

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

NASPA features SMU’s First-Gen Fest on website

The Center for First-generation Students, an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation, highlighted SMU’s celebration of National First-Gen Day, known as First-Gen Fest.

The Center has been monumental in supporting and advocating for first-generation students. Their mission statement is as follows:

“We provide data, training, and expertise for a growing network of colleges and universities around the country to scale and sustain the important work of serving first-generation students.”

It is an honor to have SMU’s First-Gen Fest highlighted by such a powerful contributor to first-generation student success. We look forward to celebrating with our students today, beginning at 12pm on Dallas Hall Lawn.

Happy National First-Gen Day!

 

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

First-Generation Association to host pre-professional series

First-Generation Association presents: Pre-Professional Series: Medical, Interest in med school or a career in medicine? Join us! November 1st 5-6pm in Hughes Trigg Student Center room 209. Background is medicine based, animated stethoscope, lab coat, medicine bag, syringe etc.

First-Generation Association (FGA) is a student organization for first-generation college students and supporters of first-generation college students. FGA is hosting a pre-professional series for students interested in the pre-med track.

Join them at 5pm on November 1 in Hughes-Trigg Student Center rm. 209 to learn about available resources for pre-med students!

FGA was established during the spring of 2020; Their mission statement is as follows:

First-Gen Association is an educational organization which exists to foster a community of people interested in all aspects of being a first-gen student, or connecting with students who qualify as such; promoting students, creating a community at SMU that welcomes students from different backgrounds, connecting and creating partnerships with other first-gen students in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Students can RSVP via Connect.smu.

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

Show your first-gen pride: First-Gen Fest

An event flyer that states: "SMU's 3rd Annual First Gen Fest. Tuesday, November 8, 12PM-2PM on Dallas Hall Lawn. Show your first-gen pride WITH US! connect with students, faculty, staff, organizations, and campus resources. Free food, t-shirts and more!" Flyer also contains the First-Generation Initiative logo and a Funded by Student Senate logo.

Mark your calendars for First-Gen Fest, SMU’s celebration of National First-Gen Day! First-Generation Initiative will host its third-annual First-Gen Fest on November 8, on Dallas Hall Lawn.

First-Gen Fest is for first-generation students, faculty, staff, and supporters of first-generation students wanting to celebrate their special day with them. Food/drinks will be provided while students have the opportunity to connect with faculty/staff, students, organizations and campus resources!

Faculty, staff and students can RSVP via SMU Connect.

 

Categories
Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Student Academic Success Programs

SASP shares staff change

Student Academic Success Programs (SASP) will say good-bye to our tutor coordinator, Carlos Luis Garcia, at the end of September.  Carlos served our students for five years after his graduation and was a math tutor during his undergraduate career, earning the Ben Thomas Outstanding Tutor Award his senior year.  Carlos heads to Ernst and Young to apply his M.S in Operations Research and Engineering Management degree.  Thank you, Carlos and you will be missed.

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

Yellow September: First-Generation Initiative spotlights suicide prevention month

A picture with Yellow September as the title and resources for crisis and intervention. Resources listed on image are the same as the ones listed in the blog post.

It’s National Suicide Prevention Week/Month, also known as Yellow September. The First-Generation Initiative would like to highlight campus and national mental health resources.

If you are looking for a sign, this is it. You matter. Your life matters. If you need support or someone you know needs support, resources are available.

SMU Mental Health Resources:

  • SMU Counseling Crisis Intervention: 214-768-2277, select Option 2
    • Speak to an on-call counselor 24/7
  • SMU Counseling Services Continued Care Support: 214-768-2277
    • All SMU students are eligible to receive free services at the counseling center, regardless of insurance

National Resources:

  • Suicide Crisis Center: 214-828-1000
  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
  • Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, press Option 1
  • Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
    • The Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer-support service for trans and questioning individuals in crisis. All operators are trans-identified.
  • Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
    • The only national 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ young people under 25
  • TrevorText: Text START to 678678
    • A free, confidential service in which LGBTQ young people can text a trained Trevor counselor for support and crisis intervention.
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
    • Crisis-intervention hotline that conducts conversations exclusively by text message 24 hours a day.
Categories
First-Generation Initiative Hilltop Scholars Mustang Scholars Rotunda Scholars University Honors Program

AT&T Data Science Scholars lunch and learn on September 21

A flyer with the title "AT&T Data Science Scholars Lunch & Learn". The lunch and learn is on Wednesday, September 21 at noon in Hughes-Trigg Student Center Chambers.

The First-Generation Initiative is excited to spotlight the AT&T Data Science Scholars program at an upcoming Lunch and Learn. The AT&T Data Science Scholars program is an eight-week program followed by an eight-week paid internship!

To learn more about this amazing opportunity, join the First-Generation Initiative for lunch and learn on September 21 at noon in Hughes-Trigg Student Center Chamber (lower level). All scholars and honors programs are welcome to join. RSVP on Connect.SMU to save your seat.

The program is actively recruiting students who are:

  • Current juniors (graduating December 2023 or after)
  • Seniors on accelerated pathways
  • Graduating seniors who will be immediately entering a graduate program
  • Current graduate students

Questions about the AT&T Data Science Scholars program can be directed to Terry Teague (tlteague@mail.smu.edu). Questions concerning the lunch and learn event can be directed to 1stgen@smu.edu.

Categories
First-Generation Initiative Mustang Scholars

Cesar Quezada joins SMU as the inaugural director of Mustang Scholars and the First-Generation Initiative

Student Academic Engagement & Success (SAES) is excited to announce Cesar Quezada as the inaugural director of Mustang Scholars and the First-Generation Initiative effective August 29.

Quezada brings his experience with first-generation students, cohort-based mentorship programs, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and undocumented students to the Hilltop. He is a first-generation college student and DACA recipient originally from Durango, Mexico who earned a degree in psychology from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  In his previous roles, he has been the associate director of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division at Creighton University and assistant director for the Multicultural Center at the University of North Texas.

When asked about what he is most excited about, Quezada remarked “I am very excited to get to campus and begin working with everyone in order to start to impact students as soon as possible. The opportunity to get to work with Dr. Grabsch, the Mustang Scholars, and the large group of first-generation students is what has led me to take this opportunity.”

Quezada’s platform as a higher education professional gives him the advantage to incorporate both the student perspectives and needs into this overall work which includes teaching others what they can do in order to help and better serve first-generation student communities at their institutions. Since his undergraduate years, he has also been a part of various professional associations where he has presented at state and national conferences, among them the NatDC’s Diversity in Leadership Conference, NCORE, Excelencia in Education, and participating in Men of Color Consortiums hosted by Project Males out of the University of Texas at Austin. He also has received national recognition for his work from Excelencia in Education.

Please join us in welcoming Cesar Quezada to the SAES team!

 

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

First-Generation Initiative to host Welcome (Back) Reception

First-Generation Initiative was established in 2019 to support first-generation college students on campus. The initiative will host its first-annual reception on August 25 in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Varsity.

The Welcome (Back) Reception is for new and returning first-generation college students and supporting faculty/staff. Food and drinks will be provided while students are given opportunities to make connections and learn about resources.

Faculty, staff and first-generation students can RSVP via SMU Connect.

Categories
First-Generation Initiative

First-Generation Initiative publishes refreshed and expanded website

The First-Generation Initiative (FGI) published a refreshed website (smu.edu/firstgen) for the SMU community on August 13. Just in time for the new academic year, the refresh expanded web-based resources and new features including:

Faculty and staff are encoruaged to direct students to the first-generation initiative via smu.edu/firstgen. Feedback and recommendations of additional resources/scholarships are welcome; please email firstgen@smu.edu.