Bill Chandler - Business Systems Analyst

Transfer students trade-in their t-shirts from former school for an SMU t-shirt.

SMU Welcomes new Transfer Students

Shirt says, "I have arrived."

Lisa Webb, Dean of Student Life, Ashley Stone, Assistant Director of New Student Orientation, Nancy Skochdopole, Director of Transfer and Transition Services, and Abbi Pfister, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission/Transfer Students

Our very own Marc and Jan Peterson were recognized as honorary SMU Letterman [people] at the Letterman's BBQ the Friday night before the UAB football game.  Both Alumni of SMU, the Petersons are what the sign on the first floor says, "True Mustangs bleed Red and Blue."  Marc and Jan have been active Mustangs and supporters of all athletic teams since their days in Oklahoma.   Sponsoring Oklahoma recruiting events at their home, they welcomed any SMU student who needed a smiling face or a good meal.  Each Thanksgiving, Marc and Jan host the SMU Women's Basketball team at their home for dinner.  Give Marc and Jan a Pony high five when you see them.  They deserve it and more.

A member of the 1995 SMU Women's Soccer team, Courtney [Linex] Barrett and her teammates were honored at The Annual Letterman's Reunion.  The 1995 Women's Soccer team compiled a 23-1 record, SWC Championship, and No. 3 final ranking in the ISSA poll in the best season in program history.  Courtney received her Bachelor's degree from SMU in December 2009 and works in the office of the University Bursar.  After leaving SMU in the mid 1990s, Courtney played professional soccer in South America.  Pony Up for the 1995 SMU Women's Soccer Team and Courtney!

Undergraduate Admission hit the road at the end of August with many new faces.  Under the leadership of Interim Dean Stephanie Dupaul, Admission's sights are on the top tier of U. S. Colleges and Universities.  With the assistance of Royall & Company, staff will focus on academically gifted students and an expanded pool of high achieving, diverse students.  The Provost and the Board set high expectations for the years prior to the university's centennial. 

Question
What was Dallas College?

Answer

Dallas College was the name of the Division of Extension Courses begun at SMU in 1922. 

The name was adopted in 1934, evolved into the Evening college then Evening Studies and dissolved into the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human development.  The College was located in downtown Dallas at Akard in the Easterwood Building.  It offered SMU degree programs in evening -- primarily business.  Unlike evening courses today, Dallas College produced thousands of hours of credit.

For the second year in a row, Dr. Bertice Berry spoke to the entering new students attending Mustang Corral.  Her delivery uses humor to illustrate an insightful message - seek your purpose.  Dr. Berry explains that purpose is not your job, it is your calling.  Of course, it is wonderful if your job incorporates your purpose.  She goes on to say, "Walk with purpose and collide with destiny."  Sharing her personal story, she tells that once a high school teacher looked beyond her attitude and saw her potential, Dr. Berry began to find her purpose through "miraculous accidents."

Student asked Dr. Berry how to find one's purpose?  Was one's purpose pre-destined or discovered? 

Dr. Bertice Berry (center) with students at Mustang Corral

Reverend Steven Rankin, Chaplain to the University, gave insight into finding one's "passion" or purpose in his sermon "Passion for God:  Who Knew?" at Perkins Chapel on September 5th.  He said that one's passion is an "abiding interest."  Something around which one organizes ones life.  If one's purpose or passion is to innovate, the person may discover he or she looks to improve anything and everything. 

Both Berry and Rankin shared that examining "why me, why now" can begin to uncover one's purpose.  What motivates me to do what I do?  What is the thread that runs through my life?  What is my vision and plan for my life?

Learn more about Dr. Berry at http://www.berticeberry.com/ and join Rev. Rankin at University Worship at 11am on Sundays at the Perkins Chapel.   

On August 22, 2010, SMU began its 95th year.  As we count down to the centennial, history comes into focus.  The most academically gifted first year class joined the SMU community in one of the largest entering classes.  One thousand four hundred and eighty-six first year students and 285 undergraduate transfers were welcomed at the Opening Convocation in McFarlin Auditorium.  New students passed through Dallas Hall and filled the 1,200 seats on the floor in McFarlin.  Even in over 110 degree heat, students eagerly participated in the traditional Rotunda Passage.

Not only is the entering class, larger and smarter, it is more diverse.  Twenty-six percent of the first year class report ethnicity other than white.  Three hundred twenty-one of the first year class are SMU legacies and forty-five percent are from Texas.  Thirty-one new Hunt Scholar were selected and forty-six President's scholars.  

As exciting for the SMU community was the announcement in the US News and World Report ranking SMU 56th among national universities, a jump of 12 spots from 2009.