The Student Advising and Academic Success area within the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success will close at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, for professional development. We will reopen during standard operating hours on Wednesday, October 22.
We encourage our constituents to use our websites or email during this time for answers to common questions and requests.
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.
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 contactDavid Tylicki atdtylicki@smu.edu.
The University Advising Center is pleased to share new staff updates. We congratulate fellow staff on their new titles, and welcome new Academic Advisors to the Hilltop!
Prisna Virasin continues her work as a UAC Manager. She has been an SMU advisor for thirteen years, has taught in the Writing and Reasoning Program, and is an SMU alumna.
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Samia Siddiqui takes on the new title of UAC Manager. She has been at SMU for 8 years. With 25 years of experience in the field of Education, she has served as both a teacher and an advisor, spanning K-12 and college levels. Beyond the office, Samia finds joy in diving into a great read, indulging in binge-worthy shows, and the thrill of thrifting for the best deals and gems. You never know what you’ll find!
Dr. Alicia Mohundro is joining SMU as a Department of Economics and UAC advisor. “Dr. Mo,” as she is known to her students, comes to SMU with years of advising experience from multiple R1 universities. Dr. Mo is known for her approachable demeanor and willingness to help students navigate their academic paths. Her commitment to supporting students on their academic journeys is evident through her focus on meeting students where they are and providing individualized support to help them reach their goals. Her office is located in Umphrey Lee 301, where she offers both walk-in hours and scheduled appointments to assist students with their academic needs. Her email is amohundro@smu.edu and her office number is 214-768-7414.
Katie Lustig joins the University Advising Center after spending Spring 2025 as a Graduate Assistant in SMU’s Division of Student Affairs. Prior to her time on the Hilltop, Katie worked in the education non-profit sector in Washington DC and in K-12 in Pennsylvania. Katie graduated from Duke University in 2021 and is actively pursuing her Master’s in Higher Education at SMU. She loves walking on the Katy Trail, spending time with family and friends, and doing puzzles. Her email is kglustig@smu.edu and her office number is 214-768-7442.
An East Texas native, Amanda Tolbert was a first-generation college graduate who earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Emerging Media and Communication from University of Texas at Dallas, where she also worked as the manager of the Laboratory of Media Psychology. After her time at UTD, Amanda taught undergraduate courses and conducted research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focused on the psychological effects that result from media stereotyping of marginalized communities. Her research contributions can be found in textbooks and peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Information Science and Frontiers in Psychology.
Amanda has now returned to DFW, where she lives with her partner, teenage daughter, and two cats. She is excited to be back home and to begin working with students again! Outside of work, she enjoys watching documentaries, reading, and traveling as often as she can. Her email is atolbert@smu.edu and her office number is 214-768-7441.
Navigating college as a first-generation student takes determination, perseverance, and resilience. For Alexa Saucedo, that journey at SMU was filled with challenges, but also growth, connection, and success.
Through the support of the First-Generation Initiative and her own perseverance, Alexa adapted and learned how to navigate an unfamiliar world while creating new opportunities for herself. Her story shows the power of community and the impact of support and resources that are dedicated to first-gen success.
Summer Forge has officially launched its third summer of support with a cohort of 30 undergraduate students. Designed to accelerate students’ paths to on-time graduation, Summer Forge offers financial, academic, and social resources to help participants thrive.
This summer, invited students received funding for up to 11 semester credit hours across May, Summer I, and/or Summer II terms. To enhance accessibility, room and board were provided for non-local students. Collectively, the Summer 2025 cohort is attempting over 180 credit hours, with most students enrolling in an average of 6 hours that fulfill major, minor, or Common Curriculum requirements.
Summer Forge is a collaboration between the Office of Student Success and Retention, SMU in Four, Student Financial Services, Student Advising, and Academic Skill Development thatreflects the university’s commitment to improving retention and graduation rates. Program Co-Directors Brittaney Wilson, General Education and Academic Appeals Coordinator, and Lisa Miller, Director of the Office of Student Success and Retention, identified eligible students based on key academic criteria and their intent to enroll at SMU in Fall 2025.
To foster community among participants, Summer Forge hosted a June Social at Another Round, where students connected over mini golf, pickleball, and more.
Special thanks to Becca Umobong from Academic Skill Development for leading a powerful Academic Skills Workshop to help students build a foundation for summer academic success. In addition to the workshop, students are receiving one-on-one academic counseling sessions provided by Sarah Cartwright, Gracy Herrera, Chris Meyers, Makenzie Moriarty, and Rebecca Umobong. Students are also encouraged to visit the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) for tutoring across a wide range of course topics.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the advisors who recommended students and supported outreach efforts—your partnership is invaluable to this program’s success.
The academic year may be over, but we’re still here, weekdays from 8:00 to 4:00!
Student-athletes and students with DASS-approved accommodations can schedule tests for summer courses in the UTC Portal. Or, if you’re interested in CLEP testing for select academic courses, we can help with that, too. Visit our website for more information or contact us at universitytestingcenter@smu.edu and we’ll be happy to assist.
As we continue to enhance the undergraduate advising experience for our students, we would like to share important updates regarding advising procedures for current and new students in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development.
SMU in Four recently sent an advising update to all faculty and staff, stating that any student who declares a major before June 1, 2025 will continue to be advised under the current advising structure. Continuing students will receive communication in August regarding how to access advisor information through my.SMU. However, all Simmons majors who declare after June 1, 2025 will transition to professional advising through the University Advising Center (UAC).
Samia Siddiqui will become a full-time staff member of the UAC, with primary responsibilities in advising. Samia has played an integral role within Simmons, and her knowledge and expertise in the majors will be invaluable during this transition. The Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success is currently in the process of hiring a degree counselor to coordinate all Simmons records functions, including athletic certification, graduation certification, petitions, repeat rosters, and more.
Here is what you can expect from these changes:
Professional advisors will support students with:
Approving Abroad Proposed Plans of Study
Assist students with completing petitions
Awareness about departmental events
Declaring majors and minors
Fulfilling Common Curriculum requirements
Guiding students toward on-time (4 year) graduation
Semester and Intersessions scheduling (including support for double majors and major/minor combinations)
Faculty will continue to mentor students in:
Internship and experiential learning opportunities
Curriculum guidance and sequencing within majors and minors
Concentrations and specializations within academic programs
Career exploration and industry-specific advice
Together, faculty and advisors will form a co-curricular partnership to support student success throughout their academic journey on the Hilltop. Your role will remain integral to student success.
More information about this process will be shared soon. Departments will be meeting with advising staff over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition and continued support for our students.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to student success.
"Championship Series Qualifier 2025" - Reads the most recently earned, green trophy in the center.
SMU’s undergraduate Mock Trial Team recently returned from their regional tournament at the University of Oklahoma, where — for the first time in program history — they qualified two teams for the National Qualifying Tournament. Next, they will compete in Memphis with the hope of sending SMU’s first-ever team to the National Championship!
The following message was sent to all faculty and staff on April 22, 2025 regarding SMU’s transition to professional advising.
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Dear Faculty and Staff,
As part of our ongoing commitment to student success, SMU is transitioning to a professional academic advising model for all undergraduate students. This shift, recommended in SMU in Four, our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), was outlined in the Year-Three Progress Report (2023–2024) as a key strategy to enhance retention and timely degree completion.
The professional advising experience will be phased in based on a student’s major declaration date or term of matriculation to SMU:
Continuing undergraduate students who declared their major before June 1, 2025 will experience no changes in their academic advising through graduation.
Undergraduate students declaring a major after June 1, 2025, and all students admitted for Fall 2025 and beyond will transition to the new professional advising structure. Both pre- and declared majors will be advised by:
More school-specific details on this transition will be shared with school faculty and staff in late April. We will also launch a new landing page at smu.edu/advising to direct students, faculty, and staff to the correct professional advising unit. Remember, undergraduate students can look up their assigned advisor on their my.SMU Student Dashboard. We appreciate your partnership in ensuring a smooth implementation that benefits both students and the SMU community.
Thank you for your continued dedication to student success.
Best,
Dustin K. Grabsch, Ph.D.
Co-Director, SMU in Four
Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success
