The University Testing Center will be closed for winter break beginning Friday, December 19th and will reopen on Monday, January 12th.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and restful break, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Category: University Testing Center
After 22 years of service to SMU, Lori Krone, testing manager of the University Testing Center (UTC), has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2026. The search for her successor is underway, with the position officially posted to the SMU Staff Career Portal today, December 1. The UTC aims to welcome a new testing manager by mid-March.
Lori’s connection to SMU runs deep. She is not only an alum, having earned both her undergraduate degree and a Master of Liberal Studies, but also a proud SMU parent and long-serving staff member. Her professional journey at SMU began in May 2004 as testing coordinator for Counseling Services at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center before transitioning to testing manager for the UTC in June 2022.
She helped facilitate the opening of the center to provide accommodated testing services previously managed by the Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) office, later expanding services to include early and makeup testing for student-athletes; credit-by-exam testing (CLEP) for select SMU courses; placement testing for Math, Chemistry, and Second Language courses; and fee-based proctoring for distance learners and professional licensure exams. In January 2025, Lori secured UTC’s recertification as a testing center through 2030 by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) in recognition of adherence to national testing standards and test integrity.
“I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, the unwavering support I’ve received and the lasting friendships I’ve formed. I’m proud of my work with exceptional colleagues to lay a solid foundation for the UTC’s continued growth and impact on SMU students and our broader community,” Lori said.
Lori’s supervisor, Dustin Grabsch, shared the following on the announcement of her retirement: “Lori has led the University Testing Center with the kind of grace and good humor that makes you wonder if she secretly has superpowers, or at least an extra 10 hours in her day. Her work ethic is unmatched, her leadership steady and thoughtful, and her care for students absolutely unwavering. We’ll miss her deeply, but knowing Lori, she’s probably already color-coding her retirement plans with the same precision she brought to the UTC. Lori, thank you for shaping a center, and a community, built on integrity, compassion, and heart.”
The UTC Testing Manager plays a critical role in overseeing the center’s daily operations, including communications with students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders; test scheduling and administration; software and hardware systems; and electronic surveillance protocols.
Please see the job description in the SMU Staff Career Portal for more information, share it with your offices, and post it within your professional networks on or after December 1.
Deadline for submission: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Hiring Points of Contact:
- Lori Krone (lkrone@smu.edu / 214-768-2269)
- Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu / 214-768-4887)
The University Testing Center (UTC) has finalized a contract with Meazure Learning, a global leader in online testing solutions, to deliver high-stakes professional certification and licensure exams. The new offering will serve SMU students and community members seeking industry-recognized credentials for career goals and advancement.
Testing is expected to begin in early 2026 following staff proctor training and compliance certification. The new service complements UTC’s existing portfolio of testing services that includes accommodated testing, student-athlete testing, placement testing, credit-by-exam and proctoring services for SMU students and the local community.
Recertified by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) in 2024 for its commitment to test integrity and security, the UTC joins Measure Learning’s network of more than 1,400 testing centers in 110 countries. For more than 15 years, SMU served as a testing site for Scantron, Inc., before being acquired by Meazure Learning in 2022.
It’s hard to believe this semester is coming to an end! Final exams are around the corner and the UTC will extend its hours to accommodate the schedule.
Testing hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, December 11th through Wednesday, December 17th, including Saturday, December 13th. The testing office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day.
There will be no testing during Reading Day ( Wednesday, December 10th).
DASS students and student-athletes should schedule their testing appointments as soon as possible in the UTC Portal, as space is limited.
Best of luck on your finals, Mustangs, and congratulations to our December graduates!
Categories
Academic Center for Excellence Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Academic Skill Development Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies First-Generation Initiative Honors and Scholars Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention Tutoring University Advising Center University Advising Center University Foundations University Testing Center Writing Center
October is Disability Awareness Month!
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.
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!
The University Testing Center (UTC) has initiated a series of thoughtful improvements to its Varsity testing lab to enhance functionality and comfort for students and test-takers. The first phase of the project involves a revised seating layout that enables greater capacity and efficiency in the space for paper-based testing.
To ensure a secure testing environment, the lab is continuously monitored by 12 overhead cameras that capture full views of 13 workstations, as well as audio surveillance.
Additionally, the UTC plans to schedule the Varsity lab with new paint and carpeting, and to upgrade the student waiting area with improved furniture and natural greenery to create a more welcoming atmosphere, pending budget approval.
The ongoing improvements reflect UTC’s commitment to providing test takers with a secure, efficient, and comfortable testing experience. These efforts were identified and prioritized based on the UTC’s test-taker and instructor feedback survey results from the previous academic year.
Undergraduate Education and Academic Success is an area within the Office of the Provost’s Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, which oversees a wide range of academic support and engagement offices, including:
- Office of Student Success and Retention
- Office of General Education
- University Testing Center
- Committee on Academic Petitions
- Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies
The annual report showcases how UEAS is “On the Move!” with bold, integrated, and optimistic progress. A copy of the annual report is now available for download. Take a look at how our movement is impacting SMU.
Questions, comments, and feedback can be directed to Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu).
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.
The Undergraduate Education and Academic Success area within the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success will close on Wednesday, May 21, for a staff retreat.
We encourage our constituents to use our websites or office self-service portals during this time for answers to common questions and requests.
Units include:
- Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies
- University Testing Center
- Office of General Education
- Office of Student Success and Retention
We will reopen during standard operating hours on Thursday, May 22.