Category: Student Success & Retention

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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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Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Reminder to faculty and staff – SMU Dining flex cards are available to support student success

Reminder to our amazing faculty and staff! The Office of Student Success and Retention has SMU Dining flex cards available, 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. Reach out to 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.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Join the Addressing Equity: Transfer Student Success and Retention DCII Research Cluster as we read Discredited

Join the Addressing Equity: Transfer Student Success and Retention Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute (DCII) Research Cluster as we read Discredited.

This research cluster addresses equity issues to support transfer student success and retention at SMU. Its focused research and collaborative approach on the Hilltop make these efforts significant.

Join us for our book club preceding the SMU Transfer Summit scheduled for February 14, 2025. In Discredited, education scholars Lauren Schudde and Huriya Jabbar illuminate the successes and failures of the systems that support student transfer among postsecondary institutions. Summarizing the key challenges of various transfer pathways, Schudde and Jabbar show how the current decentralized, bureaucracy-ridden, and often confusing process undermines equity and access in higher education.

To sign up, email Kate Bell-Miller (kebell@smu.edu) and Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu) and pick up your book from the Transfer & Veteran’s Center located in Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building, Suite 100, on or before November 22.

Upon sign-up, you will receive Outlook calendar invites to the three book club meetings outlined in the flyer above. We look forward to learning with you this year.

 

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Academic Devleopment of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Honors and Scholars Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention University Advising Center

The Rose Bowl Game Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship

k. Jackson

An exciting scholarship opportunity from the Rose Bowl for all undergraduate students attending ACC schools. Introducing The Rose Bowl Game Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship!

This scholarship provides a $10k scholarship toward a postgraduate degree to one undergraduate student from a FBS school. The scholarship also includes a Rose Bowl Game experience. This year’s scholarship is open to undergraduate students who are in their final year of course study (with an intended graduation date on or before June 2025). The application and additional information on the qualifying criteria can be found online at www.rosebowlgame.com/scholarship/. The application period closes on October 25, 2024. 

Eligibility Requirements:  

  • Students from universities that are a part of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) are eligible for the scholarship. These students must be in their final year of course study and have consistently demonstrated exceptional achievement in academics and civic service throughout their collegiate career. Specifically, a nominee must: 
  • Honorably represent an institution that is eligible to play in the 2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game, exhibiting excellence in academics and civic service while displaying strong character and leadership skills. 
  • Plan to enroll in graduate or professional school within eighteen (18) months of graduation. 
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of the application. 
  • Express an interest to pursue a career in the sports industry, specific to journalism, media relations, event operations, team operations, or marketing. 
  • Have an expected graduation from an undergraduate program in December 2024 or will graduate by June of 2025.

Any questions? Email the Selection Committee – Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship scholarship@rosebowlgame.org. 

 

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

Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center services offered remotely on Friday, September 6

Due to the Friday, September 6th football game in Ford Stadium, the Loyd Center will require early security checks and lockdown. Therefore, all services offered in the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) will be offered as virtual options only. All staff will be remote that day. Tutoring is canceled for the day, but all other services will operate as scheduled. Please check with the individual staff member for the specific modality (ZOOM or TEAMS). Services include the Writing Center, DASS services, and academic counseling. Pony Up and beat BYU!

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Academic Center for Excellence Academic Devleopment of Student-Athletes (ADSA) 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

You’re invited to DASSapalooza on Thursday, August 29

The Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) Office is inviting all DASS students, new and returning, to visit our office on the first Thursday afternoon of classes.

We’ll have great food, presentations on different topics like the benefits of coaching, a student’s perspective from our Graduate Assistant, answers to questions about how to share accommodation letters with faculty, and a demonstration for returning students on how to submit their Semester Requests.

Faculty and staff are also invited to see our physical space, ask questions about implementing accommodations, and just grab a bite to eat. All DASS staff will be available.

In addition, we need help naming our new DASS mascot. Add your suggestion on the voting board for the otter on our new “Accessibility For All” stickers.

Come see us and say hello!

Location: Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) Room 202R, which is located on the 2nd floor of the Loyd All-Sports Center

Call us with any questions: 214-768-1470Cartoon otter, the mascot of DASS

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Academic Skill Development Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention

Summer Forge successfully ends their second year

Summer Forge, an academic support program at SMU, provides invited undergraduate students with financial, academic, and social support to accelerate their path to on-time graduation. This year’s cohort included 29 students, who completed courses during May Term and Summer Term to fulfill a major, minor or Common Curriculum requirement. This year’s cohort attempted over 167 credit hours during the summer, with 97% of the coursework being completed successfully. 

Summer Forge participants completed check-ins throughout the summer with Jay Guillory, Student Success & Retention, and Brittaney Wilson, Office of General Education.  Additionally, students received academic coaching in partnership with the Academic Skill Development team. Of the 29 students in the Summer 2024 cohort: 76% of students reported using the ALEC for tutoring, and 17% reported receiving support from the Writing Center. 

Here is what some students had to say about their time in the Summer Forge: 

“The Summer Forge Program allowed me to catch up on my courses without the financial worry. The program provided support to help students succeed in the accelerated course of their choice. “– Grace B. 

 

“Summer Forge is beneficial, as it provides students with an Academic Advisor/Counselor, access to various resources, and free treats along the way as they catch up with students.” – Muskaan B. 

 

“I was able to catch up on credits I lost over the past few semesters, which helped me deal with the stress of not graduating on time.” -Iyanna C. 

Summer Forge is a collaboration between the Office of Student Success and Retention, Office of Academic Skill Development, SMU in Four, Office of Student Financial Services, and Student Academic Success Programs. 

For more information, visit www.smu.edu/summerforge. 

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention

Join the Offices of General Education and Student Success & Retention at our suite warming

The Office of General Education and Student Success and Retention will host our Sweets and Suite Warming Gathering on Wednesday, August 14th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Blanton Suites 100 and 338. This is a come-and-go event.

The Office of General Education was previously housed in Blanton Suite 100 but has moved to Blanton Suite 338. Student Success and Retention, which operated out of the Perkins Administration Building, has moved to Blanton Suite 100.

Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to come tour our new office locations and enjoy sweets from Nothing Bundt Cakes and J.D’s Chippery.

We look forward to welcoming you!