NEW STAFF STAFF LEAVING
Steve Boykin - Registrar STAFF PROMOTIONS Birthdays
Rod Del Rio - Sept 1
Nancy Peterson - Sept 5
Kathleen Hayden - Sept 11
Frances Wardell - Sept 22
Melissa Guerra - Sept 24
Monica Cordero - Sept 26
Barbara Waters - 24 years!
Jackie Wilborn - 19 years
Cruz Lopez - 11 years
Stan Eddy - 9 years
Darrah Rippy - 9 years
Bill Chandler - 6 years
Daniel Herrera - 6 years
Kerry Schneidewind - 2 years
Enrollment Services Highlights
Student Financial Services explores options to improve service
and lower costs - Enrollment Services
participates in DISD Intern program -
DES Hosts Houston Community College to demonstrate Imaging System
-
ImagingWorkflow Implemented -
Anniversaries
Transfer and Transition Services
SMU: We Talk Transfer is the mantra of the university's efforts to enhance programs for students transferring to SMU from other colleges and universities. For many years, transfer student initiatives emanated from the Admission staff. The strong, personal relationship the staff developed while assisting student transferring to SMU often continued after matriculation. Transfer Admission staff advise the SMU chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.
As was reported earlier, Nancy Skochdopole was named Director of Transfer and Transition Services to assist with recruiting of transfer students but to primarily facilitate the transfer student's transition to SMU. Part of her efforts are to make the transfer student connect with SMU quickly.
Nancy reports that 60 new transfer students attend Mustang Corral this fall, 20 participated in the Common Readings, and 60 participated as a group in the Opening Convocation. Some of these new transfer students are petitioning for a seat on the Student Senate and planning to request recognition of a transfer student organization.
The Transfer staff is exploring the possibility of developing an honors curriculum for transfer students and, in addition, wishes to found a transfer honor society. The A-LEC will offer programs targeted at academic challenges of transfer students designed to address these issues but also to introduce the students to the services of the center.
VIPs -
Very Important Ponies
Some of our VIPs this month are:
AdvantEdge Implementation Team - Patricia May, Bonnie Smith, Samantha Tellone, Cindy Castro, Deveron Ellison, Charles Harper, and Stephany Coleman worked tirelessly throughout the spring and summer to implement the AdvantEdge Collection Software. Thank you for all your time and effort. Pat Woods
Jackie Wilborn, Mary Compian, and Jean Porter - A big THANK YOU for all of their help with August graduation! Our office (Student Financial Operations) had a small roadblock to cover with [Perkins Loan] Exit Interviews, but these ladies helped make sure this roadblock minimally affected students receiving diplomas. Stephany Coleman
Gretchen Voight and the Opening Convocation Team - the [Mustang] Band was great. I though the whole event was one of our better ones thanks to you and all your helpers. President Turner
Jerrod Harrell - I just want to thank you for looking into and solving the problem that I had encountered with the student fees. Thanks. Georgey in Park N Pony
Walter Jimenez - Thank you very much for taking the time to send both e-mails. People like you are the ones that make a better world. Your family must have done a great job and so have you. You have my respect. Thank you. Happy student
Laura Ries - Congratulations on earning your MBA. I know it took a lot of hard work, and I'm sure it wasn't easy to do while working full-time. John Hall
Frances Wardell - I just want to say THANK YOU. Your are a tremendous asset to the SFS team. We greatly appreciate all of your hard work with the Tech Team in making sure that our processes run smoothly which enable us to perform our daily duties. Stephany Coleman
Jackie Wilborn, Sylvia Wiseman, Mitzie Goff, and Steve Boykin - Rarely do we take the time to just acknowledge how much we appreciate our colleagues across campus whose professionalism, efficiency, and attitude make life so much easier here at SMU. In particular, I want to tell you how much I appreciate the hard work and efforts of all your staff, but note Jackie Wilborn who is such a pleasure to work with in diploma and degree processing, Sylvia Wiseman in academic records, Mitzie Goff, who has come on board and come up to speed so quickly and Steve Boykin who is always willing to go the extra mile to help our with last minute crises. Jim Dees
Charmissa Ajakaiye - Thank you for being so helpful with sorting out my financial aid situation and for taking the time to personally help me through the process. I really appreciate it. I wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for taking care of the scholarship check for Brent. That made the process so much easier to handle and we truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. Happy student and happy family
Mitzie Goff and Veronica
Decena - Congratulations on a successful VA [Veterans Administration] audit.
Tom Tunks An A++ .. Huzzah!! Huzzah!! A sincere note of thanks
to you. Keeping accurate and compliant VA records is one of those critical
but unseen jobs. And, I know that with the new GI Bill that the amount to
work involved in handling veterans issues and the inquiries has skyrocketed.
I appreciate you keeping on top of this and the great job you are doing.
John Hall
Paul Quinn Students Visit SMU
SMU was privileged to be asked by Paul Quinn College President Michael J. Sorrell to have four of the College's best and brightest student attend SMU for the fall term. Dr. Sorrell explained in a letter to Dr. Turner that he wished to have these students "visit" SMU for the fall term while Paul Quinn appealed loss of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Turner asked the Provost's Office to facilitate the matriculation of these students. In five days, four Paul Quinn students were attending their first day at SMU.
Dr. Lori White, Vice President of Student Affairs and Anthony Tillman, Assistant Provost met with the students to welcome them and begin their transition. Information sessions, academic advising, enrollment, and SMU's Opening Convocation filled the day before classes began. The academic advisors worked with each student to find classes which would fit into their degree program at Paul Quinn. The students are expected to return to Paul Quinn for the spring term.
Thank you to all who assisted in this quick effort.
Important Dates
Quotation of the Month
SMU Trivia
Question
Answer Recruit, Retain, Rejoice Those of you who are avid readers of the DES Newsletter know
this column has focused on Recruitment and Retention for the past several
issues. Today it is time to REJOICE! Since the
mid-1990s, the size and quality of the first year class has increased. SMU
also has continually worked to retain our students and invite students to
transfer to SMU. A solid plan was in place that monitored and supported
that growth. But 2008-09 saw the U. S. economy become unstable to the
point that the reliable models for enrollment could not insure success.
Now here is the rejoicing part, SMU began fall 2009 with an entering class
of 1336 and an overall student body of 10912. SMU's total enrollment was
down only .5% from fall 2008. After announcing the incoming
class size to the faculty, Dr. Turner said, "despite as chaotic an enrollment
cycle as I've seen in my 21 years as a university president" and factors such as
more "first-choice" institutions offering enrollment to students on their
waiting list and "second-choice" school enhancing scholarship offering to
attract SMU admits, SMU did well. Turner credits Dean of Admission, Ron
Moss and the Office of Undergraduate Admission with keeping the university on
track with its goals. Without sacrificing either size or quality, SMU's
first year class entered with comparable academic profiles as past years.
In support of the recruitment efforts, the Financial Aid
area, Student Financial Services, and the Registrar's office exerted extra
efforts to assist continuing and new students concerned with costs and
enrollment. Enhancements were implemented in all areas to insure
students could find the help they needed to enroll for this fall.
All of SMU should REJOICE at the success of another new year.
Fall enrollment project
Each term, Student Financial
Services successfully collects an average of 96.6% charges to student accounts.
Even after exhaustive attempts to contact students with outstanding balance and
growing past due fees, the remaining 3.4% often do not begin to address these
balances until a few days before classes begin for the next term. In the
fall, it may be after 9 months, two terms, and 50 attempted contacts from
Student Financial Services staff.
For fall 2009 sixty-eight
students with outstanding balances in excess of $1,000 who had not enrolled
were identified as well as 200 students who did not have balance but had not
enrolled for fall. Telephone calls, e-mails, and letters were sent to
these student encouraging them to contact Enrollment Services for assistance in
a timely manner.
By the last day of
enrollment for fall, 98.2% of outstanding balances were resolved.
October 7
Division Meeting
Oct. 12-13 - Fall Break
Nov. 2 - Spring Enrollment
Begins
Nov. 10 - Last Day to Drop
Nov. 26-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 1
- Last Day to Withdraw
Dec. 9 - Last Day of Instruction
Dec. 10 - Reading
Day
Dec. 11-17 - Examinations
Dec. 18 - Residence Halls Close
Dec. 19 -
Graduation
Dec. 21-25 - University Holiday
Jan. 1 - New Years Holiday
History never looks like
history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and
messy, and it always feels uncomfortable.
John W. Gardner
SMU graduate Herbert Gambrell in his memoir in 1955.
Gambrell referred to the skillful way the SMU founders "planted among the
Dallasites a Desire for a University." When Fort Worth began lobbying for
the Methodist school, "Dallas citizens pledge $300,00" and W. W. Caruth pledged
662 acres in Highland Park.