NEW STAFF
Deena Nadig - Undergraduate Admission
Issac Reddic
- Financial Aid STAFF LEAVING
Birthdays
Darrah Rippy - Jan. 5
Shahnaz Khaja - Jan. 23
Jaynell Dalby - Jan. 28
Anniversaries
Lorinda Lamb - 19 years
Monica Cordero - 16 years
Pam Fincher - 15 years
Marc Peterson - 12 years
Shannon Grandberry - 10 years
Melissa Stanford - 3 years
Myriah Garcia - 3 years
Enrollment Services Highlights
Early Action - Monday,
December 17th at 11:15am, the Information Processing staff and Undergraduate
Admission filled the mail with Early Action letters to prospective students.
After considering a record number of completed applications for early action,
2800 prospective students were offered admission to the class of 2011.
Invitation also were sent to admitted students who will be considered for
President's and Hunt Scholarships. On the deadline to accept the
invitation, over 600 emails flooded into the UG Admission mail box with
applications and attachments.
National Clearinghouse Self
Service - December 2010, the second month of Self Service through the
National Clearinghouse, 831 students accessed the system to request various
services. Among other things, 118 enrollment certifications were
generated.
DES en Espanol - although
progress on the website is slow, DES en Espanol has taken a big step forward.
Families are able to request a Spanish speaking staff member in Enrollment Resources (the
DES call center. Both Irma Herrera, Associate Director
and Daniel Herrera (no relation), Enrollment Resources Specialist are native
speakers. Irma reported her first call after the holiday break. She
said, "Speaking to families in their first language project a welcoming
atmosphere and better ensures understanding."
SMU Transfer Student
Receives Scholarship
On December 17, 2010, Nancy Skochdopole,
Director of Transfer and Transition Services, contacted Frank Cusimano to
congratulate him on receiving a $1500 scholarship from the national transfer
honor society, Tau Sigma. Nancy wrote, "we are proud of you, we are also
very happy to have one of SMU's outstanding students recognized on the national
level."
The SMU chapter of Tau Sigma took applications for the scholarship and selected
Frank to compete on the national level for the scholarship. Forty-six
students from across the country were nominated by their chapters for the
scholarship. Nancy was one of the Tau Sigma Advisors to review the
submitted applications. The national organization awarded 31 scholarships
from the nominees totaling $27,750 in awards.
Nancy describes Frank
as a terrific representative of SMU. He transferred to SMU in the fall of
2009 and is working on a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and a
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry.
VIPs -
Very Important Ponies
Some of our VIPs this month are:
Student Financial Operations Team - I just wanted to take a second to brag on the team! Our Title IV [refund] list had 286 accounts on it today. The majority of the list was GCOX disbursements (257 to be exact). After having training this morning, the team was able to complete the entire list this evening [6-8:30pm] . . WOOOHOOO!!! Tomorrow we attach the LAW disbursement. Thanks. Stephany Coleman
Stanley Stubblefield - I'd like to thank the elves [Stan is head elf] who make the Blanton building look and feel so festive during the holidays! Stephanie Dupaul
Enrollment Resources Team - cannot tell you how pleased I was to find out that before asked, you volunteer to help Information Processing with the massive amount of mail during December Early Action. Stephanie, Shannon, and Fernando appreciated your assistance.
Paley Wu - Thank you for doing this [upgrading and switching to a static IP address]. I think it will improve our service significantly and make the computers in the meeting rooms secure.
Charles Harper - I want to give a BIG thank you to Charles Harper. I spent an entire day dealing with a disgruntled parent and Charles made himself available throughout the day to handle all the questions that we needed to ask QuickPay. By the next morning the mom was very pleased with the outcome. Charles there is no way she would have ended up happy without all the help you gave me. I am truly grateful. Thank you so much! Kelly Milazzo
Shannon, Cruz, and Fernando - I just wanted to let everyone know that the first round of international admission packets were mailed this afternoon [December 23]. I want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to Shannon, Cruz, and Fernando for all their help in entering decisions, running the letters and stuffing packets. I would not have been able to do all this by myself and I really appreciate the help. Kellen Lewis
Gretchen Voight and the December Graduatation Team - Gretchen, I just spoke to yet another parent who said that graduation weekend was just wonderful and so well done. Kudos. Cheryl Swift Congratulations one and all! The faculty breakfast and commencement ceremony went very well, reflecting the good, hard work so many had put in. Harold Stanley Congratulations! on another successful graduation. At this time of year when we are counting blessings more than usual, I include the chance to work with you among my own. Thank you for your leadership and follow thru in all that you do, but of course, particularly with academic ceremonies. I am proud and pleased to work with you. John Hall The feeling is reciprocal here. Brad [Carter] and I have always viewed it to be a pleasure and honor to be in service to the university alongside you [John], Gretchen, Cate, Nancy and all of the Academic Ceremonies staff. Tom Tunks Yesterday for graduation I decided to sit in the bleachers at Moody. I really wanted to see what it felt like . . . and I am so glad I did as I got to enjoy the wonderful job that your staff is doing. All the way from organizing crowds to dealing with some "not too nice individuals," they were professional, in an unbelievably cheery fashion. Thanks to you and all those working graduation. What great representatives of SMU. Ellen Jackofsky
Charmissa Ajakaiye - Thank you, Charmissa, for your kind help. You make it pleasant to pay a bill! A Happy Family
Undergraduate Admission
- Congratulations to all! Keep up the great work. Harold Stanley
Congratulations to the entire team! Thanks for an incredible job under
challenging circumstances. My inside sources tells me that there are many
anxious high school students checking their mailboxes daily. John Hall
Important Dates
SMU
– Spring Break – March 12-20
FA
– 60% date for Financial Aid – March 30
RO
– last day to drop a course – April
6
RO
– first day of continuing enrollment for
Summer and Fall 2011 – April 4
SMU
– Good Friday Holiday – Apr 22
SMU
– Last day to withdraw – Apr 25
RO
– last day of instruction – May 3
RO –
Final Examinations – May 4-10
SMU –
Residence Halls officially close
RO –
Baccalaureate – May 13
RO –
Commencement – May 14
USA
– Memorial Day Holiday – May 30
Quotation of the Month
SMU Trivia
Question
Answer
Summer School
gets a close look
It has been four years since the
Division of Enrollment Services was given the challenge to increase enrollment
in summer programs. Since 2006, enrollment has increased. The head
count is up 16% and term credit hours are up 17%.
The Strategic Enrollment Management
Committee chaired by Dr. Harold Stanley will hear a report at its January
meeting. The Summer School staff with the assistance of the University
Registrar's Office has collected and analyzed data on enrollment, course
offerings, and financial assistance. In addition a literature review of
national trends and a survey of current undergraduate students is part of the
information collected.
Each of the three programs that
compose "Summer School," SMU-in-Taos, SMU Abroad, and courses offered on the
main campus have seen changes over the past five years. The Taos campus
has had major renovations, upgrading not only the living space but resources for
teaching and learning. SMU Abroad has expanded its offering to 300
different courses of study. The main campus has marketed summer school
directly to students, their families, and college students in the Dallas
metroplex.
Students participating in summer
school report they like the smaller classes, more contact with faculty, the
compressed time, and focusing on fewer courses. It is the hope to continue
evaluating SMU summer programs to better meet our students needs.
Mark your calendar
February 2, 2011
Jan. 4-13 - J Term
Jan. 17 - Martin Luther
King Holiday
Jan. 18 - first day of instruction
Jan. 24 - last day to enroll
Everything comes to him
who hustles while he waits.
Thomas Edison