Category: Student Success & Retention

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Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Enhancing student success: A closer look at SMU’s retention alert system.

milticolored image with a the wording Retnetion Alert and Student Success and Retention.

Ensuring the academic success and well-being of undergraduate students is a priority for SMU, and the Office of Student Success and Retention is taking proactive steps to address potential challenges through its innovative Retention Alert system. Faculty, staff, parents, and families are encouraged to utilize this reporting tool to share information about students who may be considering leaving SMU.

What is a Retention Alert?

The Retention Alert system serves as a valuable tool to identify and support students who may be at risk. This reporting form allows faculty, staff, and concerned individuals to communicate their retention concerns about an SMU undergraduate student. By using this tool, reporting personnel can play a crucial role in initiating timely intervention to support students facing academic or personal challenges.

How does it work?

The process is simple and user-friendly. The Retention Alert reporting form prompts the individual reporting to identify the reason for the alert and provide some details to help the SSR team. This information is then utilized by the SSR team, who will make a deliberate effort to connect with the student. This goal is to offer academic personal support services that can contribute to the student’s overall success and retention here on the Hilltop.

Encouraging Collaboration:

One of the key strengths of the Retention Alert system is its emphasis on collaboration. Faculty, staff, and other stakeholders are encouraged to continue working closely with the identified students even after submitting the alert. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic support system for students, addressing both academic and personal challenges that may hinder their progress.

When in Doubt, Report:

If there’s uncertainty about whether a situation should be reported, individuals are encouraged to err on the side of caution and report their concerns to the Caring Community Connection (CCC) program or call 214-768-4564. This proactive approach ensures that no potential issues are overlooked and appropriate support can be provided.

If you have additional questions or concerns, Contact the Office of Student Success and Retention by emailing ssr@smu.edu or calling 214-768-6824.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Reminder: Flex Cards Available to Faculty & Staff for Retention and Student Success

With the Fall ’25 semester buzzing along, the Office of Student Success and Retention is happy to remind our amazing staff and faculty about the SMU Dining flex cards. These cards are designed to enhance your engagement with students beyond the traditional classroom or office setting.

This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with students in a relaxed environment, foster meaningful relationships, and demonstrate your support, particularly for those who may need additional encouragement to stay on track or at SMU.

To get your hands on a flex card:

  1. Contact the Office of Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu or 214-768-6824 to reserve your card.
  2. Pick up your card from the SSR office in Laura Lee Blanton Building, Suite 100 between 8:30 – 5 PM Monday – Friday.
  3. Treat yourself and your student to coffee, tea, lunch, or a snack at any SMU Dining location.
  4. Return the card along with your receipt within 24 hours of checkout to the SSR office.

Don’t miss this chance to make a difference! For any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu. Thank you for your commitment to supporting our students and helping them succeed.

Categories
Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Enhancing student success: A closer look at SMU’s retention alert system

milticolored image with a the wording Retnetion Alert and Student Success and Retention.

Ensuring the academic success and well-being of undergraduate students is a priority for SMU, and the Office of Student Success and Retention is taking proactive steps to address potential challenges through its innovative Retention Alert system. Faculty, staff, parents, and families are encouraged to utilize this reporting tool to share information about students who may be considering leaving SMU.

What is a Retention Alert?

The Retention Alert system serves as a valuable tool to identify and support students who may be at risk. This reporting form allows faculty, staff, and concerned individuals to communicate their retention concerns about an SMU undergraduate student. By using this tool, reporting personnel can play a crucial role in initiating timely intervention to support students facing academic or personal challenges.

How does it work?

The process is simple and user-friendly. The Retention Alert reporting form prompts the individual reporting to identify the reason for the alert and provide some details to help the SSR team. This information is then utilized by the SSR team, who will make a deliberate effort to connect with the student. This goal is to offer academic personal support services that can contribute to the student’s overall success and retention here on the Hilltop.

Encouraging Collaboration:

One of the key strengths of the Retention Alert system is its emphasis on collaboration. Faculty, staff, and other stakeholders are encouraged to continue working closely with the identified students even after submitting the alert. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic support system for students, addressing both academic and personal challenges that may hinder their progress.

When in Doubt, Report:

If there’s uncertainty about whether a situation should be reported, individuals are encouraged to err on the side of caution and report their concerns to the Caring Community Connection (CCC) program or call 214-768-4564. This proactive approach ensures that no potential issues are overlooked and appropriate support can be provided.

If you have additional questions or concerns, Contact the Office of Student Success and Retention by emailing ssr@smu.edu or calling 214-768-6824.

Categories
Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Reminder: Flex Cards Available to Faculty & Staff for Retention and Student Success

With the Fall ’25 semester buzzing along, the Office of Student Success and Retention is happy to remind our amazing staff and faculty about the SMU Dining flex cards. These cards are designed to enhance your engagement with students beyond the traditional classroom or office setting.

This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with students in a relaxed environment, foster meaningful relationships, and demonstrate your support, particularly for those who may need additional encouragement to stay on track or at SMU.

To get your hands on a flex card:

  1. Contact the Office of Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu or 214-768-6824 to reserve your card.
  2. Pick up your card from the SSR office in Laura Lee Blanton Building, Suite 100 between 8:30 – 5 PM Monday – Friday.
  3. Treat yourself and your student to coffee, tea, lunch, or a snack at any SMU Dining location.
  4. Return the card along with your receipt within 24 hours of checkout to the SSR office.

Don’t miss this chance to make a difference! For any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu. Thank you for your commitment to supporting our students and helping them succeed.

Categories
Student Success & Retention

Fall 2025 Mid-Semester Progress Report Completed.

SMU display

The Office of Student Success and Retention (SSR), in partnership with the SMU Registrar’s Office, has finalized the Mid-Semester Progress Report (MPR) for Fall 2025. As part of SMU’s Early Alert Process, faculty were asked to report grades for students currently earning a C- or below in their courses. 

Faculty Participation Highlights 

This semester’s goal was a 90% faculty participation rate. The final response rate reached 78% across all colleges, schools, and divisions. Notable participation rates include: 

  • Provost/UNIV faculty: 89% 
  • Lyle School of Engineering: 87% 
  • Dedman College: 83% 
  • Cox School of Business: 80% 
  • Simmons School of Education: 71% 
  • Meadows School of the Arts: 61% 

Purpose and Impact 

The Mid-Semester Progress Report is a key component of SMU’s proactive student support strategy. It identifies students who may benefit from additional academic assistance and enables timely outreach. Reports are shared with academic advisors, who receive follow-up emails from SSR encouraging direct contact with students and guidance on available campus resources. Students and authorized individuals also receive MPR-related updates. 

Questions? 

For more information about the Fall 2025 Early Alert Process, please contact Lisa Miller in Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu or lamiller@smu.edu . 

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Student Success & Retention

Early Alert Reports: Supporting student success from day one

Student Mentors

The Office of Student Success and Retention, in collaboration with the SMU Registrar’s Office, recently completed the Early Participation Report (EPR) process for all enrolled undergraduate students. This initiative enables faculty to record student attendance from the first day of classes through October 1, noting whether a student has never attended, has stopped attending, or has shown intermittent attendance. 

With a target of 90% faculty participation, this semester’s EPR achieved an overall response rate of 83% across colleges, schools, and divisions. The Simmons School of Education led with a 92% response rate, followed by Provost/UNIV course faculty at 90%. Other response rates included Dedman College at 87%, Lyle School of Engineering at 81%, and both Cox School of Business and Meadows School of the Arts at 76%. 

The EPR helps identify students who may benefit from additional support, enabling timely outreach and guidance. Reports are shared with academic advisors, accompanied by emails from SSR, prompting advisors to contact students for assistance and information about campus resources. Students and individuals with access to student records also receive EPR-related information. 

Mid-Term Progress Reports 

From October 21 to October 27, the Mid-Term Progress Report (MPR) rosters will be available for faculty to input current grades for students earning a C- or below. As with the EPR, MPRs are shared with academic advisors, along with emails from SSR to facilitate outreach and connect students with campus support services. The goal for MPR participation this fall is a 90% response rate. 

For more information on the Fall 2025 Early Alert Process, contact Lisa Miller in Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu or lamiller@smu.edu  

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Student Success & Retention

Join us for 2024-2025 Exit and Leave of Absence Survey Results Presentation

Exit Survey Presentation flyer

The Office of Student Success and Retention will present their analysis of the AY 2024-2025 Formal Exit and Leave of Absence surveys on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM.  The presentation will be held in the Collins Executive Education Center, Room 200. Please access SMU 360 to RSVP for this important event.   

The exit survey is our student-oriented questionnaire that tracks external attrition, whether Formal Exit or for a Leave of Absence, and supports 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.   

To request a presentation of exit survey data, or specific data related to your university unit, please email Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu. 

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October is Disability Awareness Month!

Disability Awareness Month events. Image text duplicated in body text.

Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) invites you to recognize and celebrate Disability Awareness Month at these on- and off-campus events.

Students for New Learning (SNL), SMU’s chartered organization for neurodivergent students, hosts 2 meetings this month. The first, on October 7, in Hughes Trigg Student Center, rooms 226 & 227, is a collaboration with SMU’s tabletop gaming club, Board Together. At the second meeting, October 28 at 5 p.m. in the A-LEC, SNL leaders and members will discuss how to choose the right courses and build the best spring schedule for you! RSVP for these events on SMU360.

In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10, University Academic Engagement and Success (UAES) staff are invited to take a break, step outside, and enjoy a walk in nature. This event is a chance to recharge, connect with colleagues, and reflect on the importance of caring for our own well-being while supporting our students. Details will be shared with those who register through SMU360.

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Presents Hopeville – Monday, October 14 at 5 p.m. in Frances Anne Moody Hall at SMU. Join IDA Dallas for the screening of a powerful documentary that explores the root causes of America’s literacy crisis and highlights evidence-based solutions grounded in the Science of Reading. Hopeville is a call to action for parents, educators, leaders, and community members to advocate for effective reading instruction. RSVP at Eventbrite.

On October 18, the Dallas Zoo is hosting the White Cane Day Walk, a “walk on the wild side” for people who are blind or visually impaired. Register to walk or support a walker.

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Office of General Education SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention University Advising Center University Testing Center

Community and Support: DASS Launches a Peer Mentor Program

Portrait of Lindsay Templeton, DASS Peer Mentor

Starting at a new university can be exciting and overwhelming. To help ease that transition, Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) is developing a Peer Mentor Program. This pilot initiative pairs new DASS students with fellow Mustangs with disabilities who understand both the opportunities and challenges of life at SMU.

DASS peer mentors provide personal, academic, and social guidance. They help new students navigate campus, balance the demands of college life, stay motivated, and problem-solve challenges. Mentors also connect students to key campus resources, share strategies for navigating SMU systems (including DASS!), and, perhaps most importantly, help build a strong sense of campus community and support.

As our Lead Peer Mentor Lindsay Templeton explains:

“College is tough, particularly when you’re not a traditional student. I think the things that help you succeed most are learning how to advocate for yourself and building a support network. When I started at SMU, all the different demands and expectations felt heavy and isolating. It took me time to learn how to speak up for myself and find people who made everything feel a little easier. My hope is that I can help other students get over those hurdles more quickly than I did and for them to know they have someone cheering them on.”

If you or a student you know would like more information or, better yet, to join the DASS Peer Mentor Program pilot as a mentor or a mentee, please contact David Tylicki at dtylicki@smu.edu.

Together, we can help every Mustang start strong!

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Student Success & Retention

Office of Student Success and Retention Welcomes Dylynne Dodson as Student Success Professional!

Welcome image

Dylynne Dodson has been named the Student Success Professional in the Office of Student Success and Retention, effective September 8. Dylynne should be familiar to many on the Hilltop, having served as a Residential Community Director at SMU for three years. Dylynne has a master’s in education from Western Carolina University and received a BA in Writing from TCU.

Dylynne Dodson

As the Student Success Professional, Dylynne will help undergraduate students navigate campus resources and resolve issues as part of a coordinated effort to improve students’ experience and persist to graduation. She will provide mentorship and daily academic success coaching to students to support their academic pursuits. Dylynne will also assist with many efforts in partnership with student affairs, student financial services, academic affairs, and other campus areas.

With nearly ten years of working in university housing at the student, graduate, and professional levels, Dylynne has been passionate about building relationships from the very start. Being supported by RAs, professional housing staff, and professors during her own undergraduate career made all the difference, and she continually strives to provide similar level of care and support for students to help them thrive.

Dylynne’s firsthand knowledge of SMU students and the campus will allow her to support students and connect them to the wide variety of resources across the campus community. As a high achiever with high expectations of herself (much like SMU students), Dylynne looks forward to doing what she loves most: supporting students through the good and the bad and helping them develop into their favorite version of themselves.

Please join us in congratulating Dylynne Dodson (ddodson@smu.edu) on her new adventure at SMU!