Tag: Civic and Individual Ethics

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Office of General Education University Foundations

Community Engagement and Civic & Individual Ethics-tagged Courses Offered through University Foundations

The Department of University Foundations, in collaboration with the Office of General Education, has saved a limited number of seats for seniors missing their Community Engagement or Civic and Individual Ethics Proficiencies & Experiences.  Here are five course-based options available for students seeking to fulfill their Community Engagement and Civic & Individual Ethics Proficiencies & Experiences.

1 Credit-hour Offering:

UNIV 1103 – Building Bridges: The Ethics of Service – Seats available to all students
Common Curriculum: Community Engagement
Summary: This course introduces students to the ethical complexities of serving others across cultural, socioeconomic, and ideological differences. Through readings, case studies, and 10 hours of community service, students explore how justice, empathy, identity, and power shape meaningful service. UNIV 1103 includes a lecture and field studies component, with off-site service experiences scheduled 3–4 times during the semester.

 

3 Credit-hour Offerings:

 

UNIV 2349 – Improve Your MEIQ: Mustang Emotional Intelligence Seats available to all students

Common Curriculum tags: Civic & Individual Ethics

Summary: This course introduces the field of psychology, with emphasis on how people deal with the problems and challenges of everyday life. Students learn about classical and contemporary theories, recent research, and applications of the science of psychology to everyday situations.

 

UNIV 3305 – Personal Responsibility and Community – Restricted to Graduating Seniors missing both CE and CIE.  All students are eligible for the waitlist.

Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement; Civic & Individual Ethics; Oral Communication
Summary: UNIV 3305 invites students to reflect on their values, beliefs, and identities while examining how these shape their engagement with communities. Through a semester-long community project, reflective journaling, case studies, and cultural immersion experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and ethical service within the Dallas community.

 

UNIV 3306 – Community Partners – Seats available to all students

Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement

Summary: UNIV 3306 connects academic learning with hands-on community engagement in the Dallas area. Through service-learning projects aligned with their academic interests, students apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges while developing skills in critical thinking, communication, cultural competence, and civic responsibility. Working alongside diverse community partners, students deepen their understanding of social justice, ethics, and collaborative approaches to community development.

 

UNIV 3307 – Change Makers: Exploring Social Justice in Civic Leadership – Restricted to Graduating Seniors missing both CE and CIE.  All students eligible for the waitlist.
Common Curriculum tags: Community Engagement; Civic & Individual Ethics; Global Perspectives
Summary: This course explores how identity, power, and community influence civic life in the U.S. and globally. Students study leadership, migration, social movements, and resilience across regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Through community engagement, guest speakers, and site visits, students strengthen skills in ethical reasoning, collaboration, and civic leadership.

These UNIV courses were designed with first-year students, transfer students, and graduating seniors in mind, but they are often open to anyone interested in the topics. The complete list of UNIV courses and their full descriptions can be found in the University course catalog. For more information about the UNIV program visit their website.

 

 

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

Spring 2026 Common Curriculum Reading schedule announced

Common Curriculum Reading students at a community service event
Common Curriculum Reading students at a community service event

The Common Curriculum Reading (CCR) is a pre-approved, co-curricular activity that allows students to join a reading group for a semester to earn their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency and Experience (P&E). This year, students can opt into a track that also allows them to earn their Community Engagement (CE) P&E through a partnership with Engage Dallas.

The book selection for spring 2026 is Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson. In this book, Anderson discusses the ethics behind being generous to one another to improve civic life. He also overviews free and low-cost ways one can be generous and engage with their community.

The Office of General Education (OGE) has finalized the spring 2026 dates for the CCR and is seeking two staff or faculty members to help facilitate the reading sessions. The tentative dates are as follows:

  • February 3
  • February 17
  • March 3
  • March 10
  • March 24
  • April 7
  • April 21

Participating staff/faculty members must read the book and attend all seven reading meetings to guide their small groups through discussions. Those in the division of Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) can also earn comp time for participating in the CCR. Participating facilitators are provided all discussion guides and are not required to proctor or grade assessments.

OGE will begin recruiting students for the spring session before Thanksgiving break. Any students, staff, or faculty who are interested in participating in the CCR can email gened@smu.edu for more information.

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education seeks Common Curriculum Reading facilitator

The Office of General Education is currently seeking one facilitator for the Common Curriculum Reading (CCR) for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester.

The CCR is a pre-approved activity done in the co-curricular that allows students to obtain their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) and Community Engagement Proficiency and Experience (P&E), two Common Curriculum (CC) requirements. Students who join the CCR are required to attend seven reading group meetings, during which they discuss assigned readings with SMU staff/faculty facilitators and complete two assessments.

The book selection for the 2025-2026 academic year is Chris Anderson’s Infectious Generosity. In this book, Anderson examines the ethics of generosity and how society can cultivate a culture of giving rather than one of taking.

We are seeking one facilitator to lead the afternoon session (4pm-5:30pm). Participating facilitators will commit to the following: 

  • Attending all reading group meetings on the following dates
    • September 16
    • September 30
    • October 14
    • October 28
    • November 11
    • November 18
    • December 2
  • Help guide discussions for their reading group, comprised of 6-10 students. Facilitators are provided with the book and discussion guide in advance.

Facilitators within SAES who complete their commitment will be offered two days of comp time, which they will be responsible for coordinating with their direct supervisor’s approval. Prospective facilitators can learn more about the commitment and sign-up via Qualtrics.

Staff or faculty interested in facilitating or with additional questions about the commitment can email the CCR coordinator, Melina Padron, at melinap@smu.edu.

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Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education completes the first year of the Common Curriculum Reading and looks toward 2025-2026

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Office of General Education launched the Common Curriculum Reading (CCR). The CCR is a pre-approved activity done in the co-curricular that allows students to obtain their Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency and Experience (P&E), a Common Curriculum (CC) requirement.

Students who join the CCR are required to attend seven reading group meetings, during which they discuss assigned readings with SMU staff/faculty facilitators and complete two assessments. This year, students read Meredith Broussard’s Artificial Unintelligence, in which she discusses the ethics of AI and the growing belief that it can solve societal issues.

77 students completed the program in the 2024-2025 academic year and received their CIE P&E. Students provided positive feedback about the program, stating they appreciated the following:

  • That it was a program offered at no cost to students
  • The flexibility of meeting bi-weekly as opposed to weekly
  • Building friendships with peers they wouldn’t have met otherwise

The Office of General Education will continue the CCR in the 2025-2026 academic year. The book selection is Chris Anderson’s Infectious Generosity, which encourages society to engage in their community and discusses the ethics behind being selfless.

The CCR has also built partnerships with the following:

Students can sign-up for the program via Qualtrics. The Office of General Education is also seeking SAES staff or faculty facilitators for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester.

Facilitators who complete their commitment will be offered two days of extra comp time, which they will be responsible for coordinating with their direct supervisor. Prospective facilitators can learn more about the commitment and sign-up via Qualtrics.

The Office of General Education is excited to expand and continue the CCR as we move into the 2025-2025 academic year.

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Office of General Education

The Office of General Education facilitators for Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading

The Office of General Education is seeking facilitators for the Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading program. This exciting opportunity is open to anyone eager to engage in meaningful discussions about thought-provoking texts.

Participants will explore this book, which discusses the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing belief that AI will solve all of society’s problems. However, Broussard argues that there are certain ethical issues that AI can’t address. In Fall 2024, thirty-three students completed the program and obtained their Civic and Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency & Experience. Both students and facilitators will play key roles in fostering a collaborative learning environment. Join a community dedicated to enriching the SMU experience through dialogue and reflection.

Staff or faculty interested in serving as facilitators for Spring 2025 must-read Artificial Unintelligence and attend eight reading group meetings throughout the semester. Meetings are scheduled from 4:00pm to 5:30pm on select Wednesdays dates. Facilitators can also earn extra compensation provided they fulfill the commitment requirements.

Applications are due Friday, January 17th, 2025.

For more details and to apply, email Jay Guillory (jguillory@smu.edu)

Categories
Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of General Education seeks students and facilitators for Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading

The Office of General Education is seeking students to join the Spring 2025 Common Curriculum Reading and staff or faculty members to participate as facilitators.

The Common Curriculum Reading is a co-curricular, pre-approved activity that allows students to obtain a Proficiency & Experience credit by joining a reading group, engaging in discussions led by SMU staff and faculty, and interacting with students from various majors. The program requires students to attend eight meetings throughout the semester and complete mid- and end-of-semester assessments.

In Fall 2024, students read Artificial Unintelligence by Meredith Broussard. This book discusses the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the growing belief that AI will solve all of society’s problems. However, Broussard argues that there are certain ethical issues that AI can’t address. 33 students completed the program this fall and obtained their Civic and Individual Ethics (CIE) Proficiency & Experience.

Staff or faculty who are interested in serving as facilitators in Spring 2025 are required to read Artificial Unintelligence and attend eight reading group meetings throughout the semester. The meetings take place from 4pm-5:30pm on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Facilitators also have the ability to earn extra compensation pending they meet the commitment requirements.

Students missing their CIE Proficiency & Experience are encouraged to sign up for the program via Qualtrics. Priority consideration is given to undergraduate juniors and seniors who have not obtained their CIE Proficiency & Experience, but the program is open to all students.

For more information about joining the Common Curriculum Reading as a student or facilitator, please contact the program coordinators Melina Padron (mpadron@smu.edu) or Jay Guillory (jguillory@smu.edu).