Category: Student Academic Success Programs

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First-Generation Initiative

Expanding our first-generation college student Book & Support Fund

Image contains a screen shot of the First Generation Book & Support Fund on the SMU Giving Day Website, and the date March 7, on the screenshot.

Materials required for classes are expensive. Many SMU first-generation students work multiple jobs to pay for class materials such as laptops, textbooks, and school supplies.

To support our students, the First-Generation Initiative (FGI) created a Book & Support Fund in the fall of 2022 to help first-year and transfer first-generation students obtain school supplies.

During 2022-2023, the FGI provided funds totaling $5,018 to 23 students for class materials. Students return materials to a lending library managed by FGI after the term. Therefore, other first-generation college students can use the resource in future semesters.

Help us expand this critical program, the Book & Support Fund, on March 7 via SMU Giving Day. This resource is invaluable to the FGI and our first-generation students. We look forward to raising funds to continue supporting student success on the Hilltop.

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Rotunda Scholars Student Academic Success Programs

Rotunda Scholar Kirk Ogunrinde selected for The Institute for Responsible Citizenship

Rotunda Scholar Kirk Ogunrinde selected for The Institute for Responsible Citizenship.

Read more from a recent Instagram post highlighting this achievement.

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Office of General Education SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs University Advising Center University Honors Program

Undergraduate students incentivized to complete Degree Planner

Yesterday, SMU in Four sent email communications to undergraduate students on the Common Curriculum regarding Degree Planner from smuinfour@smu.edu. Student communications were staggered – with tailored communications being sent to declared major students and pre-major students.  

Copies of the communication is below. 

January 18, 2023 

Dear Students – 

Use the new Degree Planner tool, located on your my.SMU Student Dashboard, to plan your path to graduation! This new tool will help you plan not only your upcoming semester, but all courses you will take throughout your college career.    

All undergraduate students on the Common Curriculum (CC) are required to complete Degree Planner by 03/20/2023. [Declared Majors] As a declared major you will complete your degree plan for all declared degree programs and CC requirements prior to Fall 2023 enrollment to avoid enrollment delays. [Pre-Majors] As a pre-major you will complete your degree plan for all CC requirements (Foundations, Breadths, Proficiencies & Experiences) prior to Fall 2023 enrollment to avoid enrollment delays.  

Complete it early for a chance to win some fantastic prizes! The sooner you complete your degree plan, the more raffles you are entered into. Raffle prizes include $25-50 Starbucks, Amazon, Uber, and Visa gift cards. You can also win SMU swag such as baseball caps, sweatshirts, hoodies, and more! Students who complete Degree Planner by 11:59pm on:  

  • January 27 (Friday) will be entered in three raffles.  
  • February 10 (Friday) will be entered in two raffles.  
  • March 10 (Friday) will be entered in one raffle.  

Visit smu.edu/degreeplanner for help getting started or watch the student dashboard video below

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Faculty and staff communications regarding Degree Planner were sent on Friday, January 13th. As promised, Records Offices and advisors will receive email templates to use to encourage student completion in the following weeks. 

Faculty and staff advisors who have the most students complete Degree Planner by the priority deadline of March 20, 2023 will win a $100 Amazon gift card. 

Any questions, comments, and/or concerns can be directed to SMU in Four. 

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First-Generation Initiative

Apply now: Book & Tech Fund

Geometric background with a stack of blue books. Text reads: "Book & Tech Fund Applications Now Open. first-generation 1st year or transfer students may apply. Deadline: 1/25/23".

Need funds for book and tech supplies? First-Generation Initiative’s Book and Tech Fund is open now!

The Book and Tech Fund is intended to support first-generation first-year and first-generation transfer students obtain college supplies.

Funds are limited and applications are processed upon submission order. Be sure to apply ASAP!

Applications close on Wednesday, January 25th.

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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.

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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!

 

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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.