STAR STAFF

Dewayne Espinosa - Enrollment Resources Team, Student Financial Services

Jim Bryan - Recruitment and Retention Team, Undergraduate Admission Area

Norman Lieber - Registration Team, Registrar's Area

December Commencement Saturday, December 15, 2001 commencement ceremonies were held in McFarlin Auditorium for 523 SMU students.  The graduate ceremony was at 5:00p.m. and the undergraduate ceremony was at 7:30p.m.  Ross Murfin was the address speaker at each ceremony. The graduates, their families and friends all seemed to be in great spirits.

Hats off to the Registrar’s staff who did a wonderful job making sure everything ran smoothly that night!  Their time and effort contributed greatly to the success of the ceremonies. 

June Hagle, facilitator at SWASFA Boot Camp for New Professionals

Thomas Frazier, Financial Aid Counselor

You are encouraged to come to the Leadership Area to fill out a card exposing a situation you observed.  One important note -- items should be for a specific act of good customer service -- not that a staff member always gives excellent customer service.  We hope our baseline is good customer service.

Sarah Hunt saw a student was having trouble completing her Loans By Web.  She help the student through the process.  Sarah is always gracious and professional.

Sherry Reinwald never says, "it's not my job."  She went out of her way to assist me when I needed help.

Rod Jackson continues to be in contact with the families he recruits.  They often call him with billing questions.  He comes to my office to have me explain the situation and he will call the family back.  I have offered to make the call but he always calls the family himself.

Jackie Nicholas always is willing to answer questions for me.  Her pleasant personality makes me feel comfortable approaching her.

Kelly McMillan, what can I say, she brings a smile and good humor to every task.  I was on a committee with her.  She freely shared her innovative ideas and volunteered her own time to make the activity a big success.

Delaine Ringel offered her assistance when I was with a student.  She overheard our conversation and knew that the student did not understand.  Delaine asked if she could help and explained it in a way the student understood.

Connie Buczynski always goes above and beyond to help the customer.  Just the other day she ran all over the building to find the person that a customer needed.

Norm Lieber was enrolling a nervous readmit.  He kept reassuring her, that even though it was taking a little time, that everything was okay.  He called faculty to obtain confirmation on a class.  The young woman left saying, "everyone has been so nice." 

Don"t make people "fish" for complements -- Tattle on your co-workers.

Student Employment
The office of Student Employment is a liaison and information facilitator for DES and the University.  One of the most important responsibilities of Mary Beard, Student Employment Coordinator, is providing both federal work study eligible and non-work study eligible students information about jobs on campus and community service jobs off campus.  Her office maintains the updates of current job openings in the Monstertrak.com database.  

Mary's role also extends into the larger Dallas community as a representative for SMU with Dallas non-profit agencies.  Mary endorses the FWS program's Reading, Math, and mentoring components.

Mary has two wonderful support staff -- Jamie Kennedy and Marianella Fuentas.  Mary, Jamie, and Marianella can be found in 100 PAB.

For more information on some of Student Employments outreach click - New Beginnings DISD Middle School Evening Program

Division Highlights

Saturday Tours - Feb. 2,9,16,23, March 2,16, April 6

January 21-25 - Area Community College Fairs
Early Feb-Early March - Transfer Admission Decisions
April 1 - Deadline to Transfer for Summer 2002
May 15 - Deadline for Transfer Scholarships
June 1 - Deadline to Transfer for Fall 2002

Financial Aid
January 1 - first day to file FAFSA for 02-03.
January 15 - letters to continuing undergraduate merit scholars notification of gpa requirements
Both student and parent can apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov to use e-signature for FAFSA
February 1 - priority deadline for filing FAFSA 02-03
March 15 - first FA packages for Fall 2002 First Year Undergraduates
April 1 - first day student can see FA aid advisor for summer 2002
April 15 - first FA packages for Fall 2002 continuation undergraduate students

New Customer Service Hours for DES 

Beginning February 15 - hours that offices will be open to see students will be 9am to 4pm.  Hours will be extended during peak times.

May Commencement

Go ahead and mark your calendars now for May Commencement 2002 which will be held Saturday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Moody Coliseum.  If you are interested in volunteering at any of the academic ceremonies please contact Erin O’Neil at 8-2037 or eoneil@mail.smu.edu.