• Click here for summer and fall 2012 applications to SMU-in-Taos.

“No other university has a campus like SMU-in-Taos,” says Mike Adler, professor of archaeology and SMU-in-Taos executive director. “It is special in a number of ways. The place infuses everyone with a sense of calm and beauty. We have carefully preserved the natural beauty of the mountains, a place where students and faculty can work together unencumbered by distractions.”

SMU-in-Taos has offered summer education programs tailored to the region’s unique cultural and natural resources since 1973. In 2009, the campus launched a fall term thanks to new and renovated casitas and other improvements that made the facilities usable in all seasons.

The three summer programs are May 9-27, May 31-June 29, and July 31-August 17. The fall program is Aug. 21 through Dec. 12. Click here for summer and fall course offerings.

Students in the fall program will take 15 to 18 hours of courses that meet core undergraduate requirements in the arts, sciences, business and other disciplines. The fall program is open to students with a minimum 2.70 G.P.A. who have completed a full year at SMU.

The courses place a unique emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on interaction with their subject matter, Adler says. “As I tell our faculty, if you can only talk about it, don’t teach it in Taos. If you can see it, visit it, feel it, or hike it … that is how we teach our classes here.”

Additionally, the faculty and their families live on campus, so “students get to see them as individuals with outside lives, interests and hobbies, and faculty interact with students both in and out of the classroom,” he says.

And the location creates its own educational context. “Taos is a fascinating community of artists, activists, tourists, Native American tribal members and a number of other interesting groups and identities,” Adler says. “The diversity of the community makes for a very interesting mix of attitudes, political leanings and belief systems.”

For most students, a fall term in Taos costs the same as one taken on the main campus. Existing financial aid applies to study at the New Mexico campus, and SMU-in-Taos offers its own scholarships to students.  Learn more at the Taos financial aid site.

Garrett Ruoff, a senior marketing major with a psychology minor, took part in the first SMU-in-Taos fall term in 2009. As one of the University’s Taos Ambassadors – students who engage their peers and share information about SMU’s New Mexico programs – he has helped create new outreach efforts geared toward students, such as open-house events in the Dallas campus’ SMU-in-Taos office.

“I know a little about the mentality of students when they’re looking for classes to participate in, so I thought we should focus on the great classes, campus and environment of Taos,” Ruoff says. “The highlight for me has been the number signing up. We’ve already enrolled between 80 and 90 students for the upcoming summer terms.”

His marketing savvy also has helped him land a job before Commencement. He will begin work with the Coca-Cola Company after he graduates in May 2012.

For Taos Ambassador Lauren Rodgers, a senior psychology major with minors in Spanish and biomedical anthropology, the first fall term at SMU-in-Taos represented a kind of learning experience she already knew she preferred. “I will pick hands-on learning over lectures nine out of 10 times,” she says. “For many of the Taos courses, we went on field trips and really got our hands dirty, literally and figuratively.”

A particular standout, Rodgers says, was a geology course with Associate Professor Neil Tabor that used the mountains surrounding Taos as a living laboratory. “I took that class just to get a science requirement out of the way,” she says. “It turned out to be one of my favorite classes I’ve ever taken, anywhere.”

As in many aspects of life, parents can be great influencers, Ruoff says. His father encouraged him to enroll for that first fall term in Taos “just because he thought it would be a good experience for me.”

And it was, he adds, in more ways than one. “The whole experience taught me to relax and enjoy life more,” he says. “I used to be really stressed and tightly wound, and in New Mexico I had a lot of alone time for the first time in my life. The whole environment at SMU-in-Taos gives you time to think about what you really want from your life and your education. Spending that first sophomore term in Taos and finding a new perspective there really helped me.”

- Kathleen Tibbetts

Founders’ Day recognizes the University’s founding in 1911. Held each year on the third Friday in April, this commemoration is an important part of SMU’s centennial. Join us as we celebrate the University’s achievements and future.

The weekend begins Friday, April 20, with a historic, midday groundbreaking of the new Residential Commons complex, a series of five buildings and a new dining hall. This complex is the cornerstone of a new phase of development along the south side of campus near Mockingbird Lane.

Beginning at 2 p.m., Inside SMU offers stimulating classes by professors for parents, alumni and friends. That evening, President R. Gerald Turner will present the President’s Briefing, his annual report on the major events and achievements of the previous year and announcement of plans for future progress. Stay tuned for more details.

You can take part in SMU’s Second Century Celebration:

• Order SMU: Unbridled Vision: A stunning new picture book showcases the beauty of campus.
• Leave your mark: Honor your student’s time on the Hilltop in the new SMU Centennial Promenade. With a $100 gift your student or family will be recognized with an etched paver on the Centennial Promenade, to be constructed for the 100th anniversary of SMU’s opening in 2015.
• Visit Centennial Hall: The interactive exhibition is in Hughes-Trigg Student Center.

SMU President R. Gerald Turner, Director of Athletics Steve Orsini, Vice President for Development and External Affairs Brad Cheves and Student Body President Austin Prentice were joined at the event by BIG EAST Commissioner John M. Marinatto, as well as SMU coaches, student-athletes and numerous supporters.

• See a slideshow of the Big East celebration, and watch a video below. 
• Update: SMU lands stellar recruiting class of 20 student athletes.
• SMU sets 2012 football schedule.

SMU accepted the invitation to join the BIG EAST Conference in all sports in December, fulfilling the University’s goal to join a Bowl Championship Series Automatic Qualifier conference, a standard of excellence in college athletics today.

At the celebration Thursday, President Turner said SMU’s move to the BIG EAST presents a great new series of athletic competitions and new opportunities for the University and Dallas area. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to not only sell our University and show the competitiveness of our teams,” he said, “but it also will be good to bring people to Dallas and to take Dallas to the Northeast.”

Commissioner Marinatto said the addition of SMU and four other schools to the BIG EAST represents a significant step toward becoming the NCAA’s “first truly national conference.” Houston and the University of Central Florida also accepted full membership into the BIG EAST, while Boise State and San Diego State will compete as members in the sport of football.

“After a third straight season of appearing in a bowl game, we believe we have seen just the beginning of the resurgence of the SMU football program,” Marinatto said. “Joining the BIG EAST Conference will be a perfect next step toward helping SMU return as a nationally prominent program in the very near future.”

He added that SMU shares the conference goal of making the BIG EAST the best basketball conference in the country. “With great facilities and a talent-rich area such as Dallas, Texas, to recruit from — and now the BIG EAST Conference to play in — I fully expect SMU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs to regularly compete for an NCAA tournament berth in the very near future,” Marinatto said.

Athletics Director Orsini described the move as a huge step for SMU.

“The BIG EAST, under Conference Commissioner Marinatto’s leadership, represents the highest standard of excellence in college athletics today both on and off the field, in courts of competition, for all 17 of our sports and over 430 student athletes,” Orsini said. “SMU is back. We are ready, willing and able to continue our ascent to top 25 in everything we do in the BIG EAST.”

Learn more about the Mustangs’ win in the BBVA Compass Bowl. 

“It was so cool to see paintings that I’ve studied in school, like Velazquez’s Las Meninas,” says Duncan, who is majoring in Spanish and psychology in Dedman College. “And I could understand (almost) everything that our professor was telling us. It was such an awesome feeling to approach a painting and not understand it, then have it explained to me in Spanish and be able to understand what was going on. I felt so accomplished.”

With 148 programs in 50 countries, SMU Abroad is taking students more places than ever before. Students have opportunities for study, internships and service in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Oceania. Summer programs – including Bali, China, Germany, India, Italy, London, Moscow, Oxford and France – are led by SMU faculty and staff.

• The application deadline for summer and fall SMU Abroad programs is Thursday, March 1.

“Students, parents, business leaders and government officials increasingly recognize the value of developing international perspectives and skills,” says Michael Clarke, executive director of the International Center, which oversees education abroad and supports international students and scholars at SMU, among other services.

More than 600 SMU students go abroad each year on SMU-approved programs. For most programs, the cost of spending an academic year or semester abroad is similar to tuition, room and board on the Dallas campus. Students receive academic credit for their courses abroad if they participate in SMU-approved programs and have applied through SMU Abroad.

• Follow students and faculty members abroad on the SMU Adventures blog.
• Learn more from SMU Abroad.

Below, SMU Abroad advisers offer answers to common questions from parents:

When should my student start thinking about education abroad?

Now! The earlier a student begins thinking about going abroad, the easier it will be to work into his or her degree plan. We recommend that students meet with their academic advisers early in their college career to determine which term to go abroad and which program best suits their needs, taking into consideration courses, country and language skills.

But it’s also not too late for juniors and seniors, who can determine with their advisers which degree requirements can be fulfilled abroad. Students receive SMU credits for the courses in our programs, and typically any scholarships and financial aid that would apply to a term on campus also apply to a term abroad.

How do I know whether my student is ready?

A student must have, first and foremost, a genuine interest in experiencing something different. Yes, it helps to know how to manage time and resources – and how to read a map ­– but it’s this desire for new experiences that helps a student handle challenges that may arise.

What are the benefits?

Going abroad not only changes the way students view the world, but also the way they view themselves and their culture at home. Personal growth is a staple of the experience. Education abroad also brings classroom lessons alive, from business courses in Southeast Asia to musical theater in South Africa to European politics in Copenhagen. These experiences make a student’s résumé competitive. More employers in every field are specifically seeking candidates with international skills.

Were they satisfied or disappointed with their grades from the first semester? Are they willing to take responsibility for their successes and their failures or, in case of a less than satisfactory GPA, is everything someone else’s fault or do they hold themselves accountable?

The Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) offers one-on-one counseling, one time or on a regular basis, for students looking to focus – or in some cases refocus – their efforts. First-semester “disasters” do not have to mean a disastrous college career. Call 214-768-3648 for an appointment.

• Read tips for the new term from SMU’s learning and library experts at the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center and Central University Libraries.

Regardless of students’ GPA, most everything said in August still applies:

1. Go to class;
2. Get to know the professors for each class; and
3. Take advantage of the resources on campus (hint: the A-LEC has free tutoring, academic counseling and a writing lab).

Every GPA from the fall can be improved upon with some “sweat equity.”

No cutting class, more time studying, regular visits to the LEC, numerous meetings with an academic counselor, getting to know the faculty teaching a course, making appointments for the Writing Center, more visits to one’s academic adviser, less shopping, less partying, fewer soap operas, more studying ahead, reading all assignments, new study habits, making new friends in class and forming study groups (if endorsed by the faculty), regular meetings with faculty during their office hours, changes in the company one keeps, a strong determination to improve, a genuine commitment to change past behaviors that were barriers to success and a willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful … are all good places to start!

Involvement in the campus community is still important, but should enhance one’s academic pursuits, not detract from them. Student activities, club sports, Greek letter groups, Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports, intramurals, community engagement and leadership, religious organizations, academic clubs and honoraries all have openings in the spring term.

Also, it is not too early for a student to talk with the International Center and their academic adviser about SMU Abroad opportunities this summer or next fall and about summer and fall terms in Taos.

The long winter break gave you as parents family time to enjoy your students, but also time to assess their mental and physical health. There are tremendous resources on campus should you have any concerns. Do not hesitate to call me at 214-768-4797 for referral information or contact any campus resource directly for advice.

Happy New Year!
Deanie

Question for Deanie? Ask Deanie at gkepler@smu.edu or 214-768-4797.

Update: Watch a video of Unity Walk 2012 from SMU News. 

This year’s schedule includes the traditional Day of Service Monday, Jan. 16, with volunteer projects taking place at Children’s Medical Center, Dallas LIFE and the Genesis Women’s Shelter Thrift Store.

The Dream Week kickoff event is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Commons. Featured speakers are Dennis Simon, Political Science, and Rick Halperin, Human Rights Education.

The University’s annual Unity Walk will take place at noon Wednesday, Jan. 18, starting at the Main Quad flagpole. SMU President R. Gerald Turner will offer remarks. That evening at 7:30 p.m., the SMU Women’s Center for Gender and Pride Initiatives will present a screening of Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders in the Hughes-Trigg Forum. The award-winning documentary examines the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi in the 1950s and ’60s from the point of view of the women who lived it and helped lead it.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, the Willson Lecture Series of SMU’s Office of the Chaplain presents Daniel White Hodge speaking on “The Hostile Gospel: Seeking the Theological Sensibilities Within Hip-Hop Culture.” The lecture takes place in the Hughes-Trigg Forum followed by a brown-bag discussion at 11:30 a.m. in Hughes-Trigg Promenades A and B.

This week, SMU also recalls Dr. King’s speech to a standing-room-only crowd in McFarlin Auditorium on March 17, 1966. SMU News offers these related links:

• An audio file of Dr. King’s speech at SMU
• A download Dr. King’s speech for your iPod
• A Daily Campus account of the speech
• A page of speech excerpts

> More information from SMU News

She adds that one high-achieving senior recommends getting one assignment ahead of the syllabus. “That way, you will always know what’s coming up next in class, allowing you to take better notes, clarify confusing points and more easily master the material,” she says.

Here are more tips from Feldman for students as they begin the spring term:

• Go to every class. Arrive on time. Sit in front.
• Complete reading or homework assignments before class so you are fully prepared to learn.
• Go to each professor’s office hours to get acquainted and to ask for advice on how to excel in the course.
• After each class, edit and review your notes.
• Every week, review all reading and notes in your hardest course or two.

A-LEC offers workshops throughout the term to support students, including on textbook study reading, taking notes and preparing for the first round of tests and test anxiety. Find the workshop schedule here.

A-LEC also offers free drop-in tutoring Sundays through Fridays. Find the spring 2012 tutor schedule here.

Also at A-LEC, the Writing Center’s English faculty offer help with any paper in any course. Call 214-768-4253 for a half-hour appointment Mondays through Fridays.

And remember: Ask a Librarian

Before students begin writing their papers, librarians at SMU’s Central University Libraries can help them refine their topics and efficiently find the best resources, allowing more time for refining papers, says Rebecca Graff, research librarian and instruction coordinator.

“When your students mention the words ‘research paper,’ tell them to ‘Ask a Librarian,’” she says. As part of the “Ask a Librarian” service, librarians are available through instant-messaging, phone, e-mail and at the libraries’ reference desks. Students also may schedule consultations for larger research projects.

“Our librarians also offer a range of resources organized by subject in our Research Guides,” Graff says.

In addition, Fondren Library Center is open 24 hours, five days a week; on Fridays and Saturdays, the library closes at 11:55 p.m. and reopens at 9 a.m. the next morning. This provides students with a place to study, as well as computers and a range of electronic and print resources. SMU IDs are required at night.

The game was the SMU football team‘s third bowl game in three years, tying the school record for consecutive bowls, and its 14th bowl appearance overall. The win marked the 100th collegiate win for Head Coach June Jones.

SMU now leads the series with Pitt at 3-2-1 all-time, with the 1983 Cotton Bowl their previous meeting. The two schools faced off four times between 1938 and 1948.

Follow fans, the Spirit Squad and Peruna in Birmingham on the SMU Bowl Bound blog.

Update: Watch a video of Carl Sewell’s address to the 2011 December graduates.

Carl Sewell

“SMU is your university,” Sewell told the graduates and their families and friends gathered in SMU’s Moody Coliseum. “You have been a part of the greatest academic growth in the history of this university … and it clearly is on the path to becoming a great university.”

Sewell, past chair of the SMU Board of Trustees, is chairman of Sewell Automotive Companies, a national leader in the automotive industry and an innovator in establishing customer service standards. He shared his service philosophy and practices in the best-selling book Customers for Life, which has sold more than 1 million copies in 17 languages.

He offered four major pieces of advice for the graduates:

• Find a mentor
• Think about what you read and how much you read. Make the reading of a serious book something you do at least once every six months.
• Decide how good you want to be, and how much time you want to devote to it.
• Learn from failures. Sewell mentioned his long history of working with GM, and how he has learned from that company’s failures.

Among his many commitments to SMU, Sewell serves as one of five co-chairs of The Second Century Campaign, the University’s largest and most successful fundraising effort. He also is co-chair of The Second Century Celebration Organizing Committee, 2011-15. His support of the President’s Scholars program, the University’s highest merit award, has resulted in record numbers of students receiving the scholarships. He also supports SMU athletics and student career services, among other areas.

Sewell has been recognized with SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Cox School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award. He earned his Bachelor’s degrees in banking and finance, as well as in economics, from the University. Read more about Carl Sewell

• See a slideshow from December Graduation 2011.
• Graduation photos and DVDs.