The ALEC would like to announce the recipients of the Ben Thomas Award for Excellence in Tutoring. This years recipients are Lauren Figura and Anh Khoa Nguyen. Congratulations for all your hard work this semester!
Category: Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA)
The ALEC would like to congratulate 10 tutors that have gone through the extra hours of training to become CRLA certified tutors. CRLA is a program designed to ensure tutors have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively support students. SMU has been a CRLA certified school since 2024 and is one of 300 schools in the US to have this international designation.
The tutors that have attained this certification are Abdullah Saifee, Anastasia Shyvilka, Aditi Brahmbhatt, Emmanuel Nworie, Pamela Gonzalez Barrios, Sofia Hueck, Avantika Chapagadikar, Jatin Yadav, Zaid Ghazi, and Faith Bellamy. We look forward to having these tutors use their acquired skills next semester!
March 2025 Mustang Champions
Every year, the Spring symbolizes the Earth’s resilience and focus on continued growth and development for our exemplary student-athletes, who’s dedication to enhancing their individual skills, improve and inspire their teammates/peers, and give back though encourgaing engagegment in the Dallas community. This month, we are celebrating Mustang Champions that have strived to invest in themselves and their future personal development. Stangs are always leading the Charge!
BJ Edwards- Men’s Basketball
BJ Edwards, a senior point guard, has embodied what it means to be a Mustang Champion. A starter for the Men’s Basketball team, BJ has shown commitment to his academics by his ability to communicate and advocate for himself in the classroom; “Watching BJ grow in his academic confidence and accountability has been truly inspiring. He tackles challenges head-on and approaches difficult assignments with a calm willingness. BJ maintains the best quality of a life-long learner, and that is his curiosity. He’s a champion this month and always, stated Samantha LoCoco, ADSA. He is on track to graduate with a degree in Sports Management in the Spring of 2026.
Hedda Kvalvag (Track & Field/ Cross Country)
Meet Hedda, a standout triple jumper and All-ACC honoree. She has made a remarkable impact at SMU, both on and off the field. Originally from Olso, Norway, she has overcome the challenges of adjusting to a new country, culture, and academic system with resilience and grace. A natural leader, Katie Evans, Senior Academic Counselor, added that, “Hedda approaches everything she does with kindness, determination, and a strong sense of purpose. As a dedicated student-athlete, she continues to impress with her growth, resilience, and the way she carries herself both in the classroom and on the track.” She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and is on track to graduate in Spring 2026. She brings energy and enthusiasm to the classroom while inspiring her teammates through her work ethic and integrity. She consistently strives to do the right thing and be her best in everything she takes on, making her a powerful example of what it means to be a Mustang Champion!
Jentry Lamirand (Volleyball)
Jentry, a senior, was the sole captain of SMU’s Volleyball team. In Fall 2024, she made the ACC All-Academic Team. Athletics shared that she participates in Life After Ball and will be leading Team Impact. Jentry will be graduating in May 2025 with her B.B.A in accounting from Cox. Her Senior Academic counselor, Alana Owens, highlights Jentry’s character, “an amazing individual on and off the court. She is an example of a true leader for the young ladies on the volleyball team and a constant support to her peers. She is pursuing a master’s in accounting starting in the Fall”. Jentry will complete her bachelor’s degree in 3 years; we look forward to supporting her throughout graduate school.
Zakye Barker (Football)
Junior transfer, Zakye Barker has made a significantly positive impact since his arrival on the Hilltop this Spring. As a linebacker, he isn’t just making plays; he’s covering the whole field by building connections with teammates, staff, and faculty across campus. Majoring in Psychology, he takes the same approach on or off the field with equal passion, leading by example. Faculty members consistently commend his active participation and engagement in class, noting his diligent approach to notetaking. He serves as a positive influence on his peers. Keyana Smith, ADSA Director, is impressed with Zakye effective communication, timely completion of responsibilities, and shares he is consistently respectful and professional. He is one to watch out for!
Categories
Academic Center for Excellence Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Academic Skill Development Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies First-Generation Initiative Office of General Education Offices & Programs Peer Academic Leaders 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
SMU Launches MeSpace: A Sensory-Friendly Workspace for All
Alexa Taylor, Director of Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS), invites you to experience MeSpace, an adaptable study space thoughtfully designed to support focus, sensory needs, and overall student well-being:
“In response to growing demands for inclusive and flexible campus environments, SMU, through a collaboration with the DASS office, Hughes-Trigg Student Center, and SMU Libraries, is testing out MeSpace, a plug-and-play, sensory-friendly study space – just in time for Autism Acceptance Month.
Designed for both Neurodiverse and Neurotypical students, MeSpace offers a space to enhance focus, reduce distractions, and manage sensory exposure, creating an ideal environment for studying and collaboration.
We invite SMU students, faculty, staff and guests to experience this innovative, sensory-friendly space at two convenient locations on campus:
- Hamon Arts Library, First Floor
- Hughes-Trigg Student Center, First and Second Floor
The exhibit will be open for 6 weeks, now through the end of the spring term, providing an opportunity to experience the future of sensory-friendly strategies on campus.
On April 16, we will be hosting a Pop-Up Demo from 1-2 p.m., and immediately following the Pop-Up, we encourage all interested stakeholders to attend a roundtable discussion in the H-T Chamber from 2-3 p.m. We welcome your feedback to help us explore future collaborations with MeSpace.”
The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) appreciates the faculty’s participation and cooperation in supporting our Faculty Feedback Requests. The second round of Faculty Feedback will be sent out on Monday, April 7th and will include all student-athletes. Faculty with current student-athletes enrolled in their courses will receive these feedback requests directly from ADSA@smu.edu. A sample of this email can be viewed below:
Faculty Feedback Request #2 Timeline:
April 7: Teamworks Feedback Request opens
April 21: Teamworks Second Feedback reporting period closes
Please note: This authentication process is a temporary measure for Spring 2025 only. ADSA is working with campus OIT to implement Single Sign-On (SSO) for Teamworks access this summer. We understand this adds an extra step, but it is necessary to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the feedback process while we transition to SSO.
For detailed guidance and visual demonstrations of this update, please consult our faculty member grade check help center guide:
https://help.teamworks.com/academics/s/article/Access-and-Complete-a-Grade-Check
Your feedback is incredibly valuable and has a significant positive impact on our student-athlete’s academic outcomes. Thank you to our supportive faculty for your continued partnership in assisting with student-athlete success. Through this collaborative process, ADSA aims to ensure that the student-athletes finish the semester strongly!
The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) would like to highlight the hard work of our employees and the work that they do daily to positively impact the student- athlete’s lives that they work with. We are thrilled to highlight three staff promotions and announce a new Academic Counselor. ADSA and the student-athletes appreciate all of their contributions!
Lexi Williams – Academic Counselor
Lexi Williams, recently transitioned from a Literacy Specialist to Academic Counselor. She continues to expand her impact in ADSA. Lexi came to the Hilltop in Summer 2024 from Georgia Tech, where she was an Athletic Academic Advisor for various teams including Women’s basketball, Women’s tennis, and Softball. Lexi embraces the opportunity to work with different teams and individuals. For Lexi, the most rewarding part of her role is witnessing the development and personal growth of the student-athletes she supports. Her adaptability and genuine care make her a tremendous asset to our team and we are excited to watch her grow!
Leeann Oland – Office Manager
For 14 remarkable years, Leeann Oland has been a cornerstone of the ADSA department. In her elevated position, Leeann will continue to oversee several programs, student workers, while elevating her operational and fiscal responsibilities. She approaches her role with a warm smile, greeting every student-athlete with enthusiasm and a commitment to building meaningful relationships. Leeann is an invaluable part of our ADSA and SMU community. We celebrate her incredible tenure and consistency she brings to the ADSA every single day.
Desmond Grayson – Senior Academic Counselor
Desmond first joined SMU in 2023, as an Academic Counselor working with Football and Equestrian. In 2025, he was promoted to Senior Academic Counselor, serving the same teams. In this elevated position, Desmond is also taking on additional ADSA specific programming oversight. His commitment to fostering academic and personal growth ensures that every student-athlete he works with feels supported along their journey at SMU. Desmond’s work embodies the spirit of teamwork and excellence.
Kelsey Smith – Senior Academic Counselor
Kelsey recently promoted from Academic Counselor to Senior Academic Counselor in January. She has quickly embraced her new role as with enthusiasm and a drive to connect with her new teams. Previously, she worked with Men’s & Women’s Soccer, and Rowing. As a Senior Counselor, she will work with Football, Men’s Tennis, Men’s Golf, and oversee other internal ADSA programming. She had this to say about the future, “I’m really looking forward to getting to know even more student-athletes and getting to support them through their academic career at SMU. It’s been so fun attending practices and games to learn more about my new teams and their culture”.
Congratulations to Lexi, Leeann, Desmond, and Kelsey!
The ADSA is enthused to celebrate the academic successes of 46 remarkable student-athletes, who made the Fall 2024 SMU Honor Roll! This is a true testament to their commitment, perseverance, and drive for success.
To make the Honor Roll the following must be met:
- Appointment determined by percentile rank based on cumulative SMU GPA
- Must be degree seeking students; non-degree students are not eligible.
- Completion of at least 12 hours of courses with grades A through D- for the term (Engineering co-op students are eligible based on successfully completing the co-op program for the term.) (Courses that are excluded from the undergraduate program (i.e. 4+1 students) are included in determining honor roll eligibility.)
- No incomplete grades, in any prior coursework, at time selection process is run
- For students with majors in separate schools a percentile rank is determined separately for each school with the highest percentile rank applying.
- The Honor Roll is issued at the end of the Fall and Spring regular terms. The scholastic data for the Honor Roll is determined 3 weeks after the last day of final examinations for the term. Scholastic changes received after this cut-off are not included in the determination of the Honor Roll for the term. Scholastic data is based on enrollments through the end of the Honor Roll regular term and does not include any scholastic data for short terms that immediately follow the regular term.
Supporting these dual pursuits is our dedicated Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) program. Our department is designed to help student-athletes succeed and balance their academic and athletic pursuits. Our program combines tailored resources with a supportive environment. It’s not just about achieving grades—it’s about instilling values like discipline, resilience, and teamwork that extend far beyond the classroom or the field. To our student-athletes: congratulations on an exceptional semester!
The Return from Leave of Absence (RLOA) initiative, launched by the Office of Student Success on October 23, 2024, aimed to welcome back Mustangs on leave last term and inform them about Spring semester enrollment updates.
Shun Colter, Assistant Director, and Saahil Mathews, Program Coordinator from the Office of Student Success and Retention co-directed this initiative.
The total number of students that originally indicated a return for Spring ‘25 was 38 undergraduate students. Currently, there are 15 students enrolled for the Spring ‘25 semester. 6 students extended their leave of absence to return at a later semester.
A total of 15 former students were readmitted (RADM), with 12 of them enrolling for the Spring ’25 semester.
To start off the campaign, emails were sent in October, introducing Shun Colter, Assistant Director, and providing information about helpful resources at SMU. This information was sent to the students personal and SMU email addresses. Second, postcards were designed and sent to the students’ mailing and home addresses.
The final outreach was conducted in January ’25, reminding students that their home at the Hilltop misses them. The communication also provided information for their School of Record and Academic Advisor/Degree Counselor to address any enrollment questions.
If you have any questions or want to know more details about the RLOA campaign, you can email us at ssr@smu.edu.
Categories
Academic Center for Excellence Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Academic Skill Development Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies First-Generation Initiative Hilltop Scholars Honors and Scholars Mentorship Mustang Scholars National Fellowships National Fellowships Office of Engaged Learning Office of General Education Pathways to Industry President’s Scholars Rotunda Scholars SMU in Four Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs Student Success & Retention Tutoring University Advising Center University Foundations University Honors Program University Testing Center Writing Center
All SAES offices to close February 11 from 2 – 3:30 pm for division meeting
The Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success will gather for our semesterly division meeting on Tuesday, February 11.
To permit full participation by all division employees, we will temporarily close all offices from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
We will return to normal business operations thereafter. Thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience in advance. If you have any questions, please email academicsuccess@smu.edu.
The University Testing Center will end testing at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th so that UTC staff may attend a Student Academic Engagement and Success division meeting.
We will reopen with standard operating hours on Wednesday, February 12th at 8:00 a.m.
Please visit the UTC website or email universitytestingcenter@smu.edu for questions and requests.