Student Experience and Outcomes
In our courses, you will find engaging faculty who create an environment where you are free to learn more about yourself and your peers. Through experiential learning, our courses connect you more deeply to the SMU and greater Dallas communities. Our courses are designed to enrich your collegiate experience, provide you with enriching content regarding your personal, academic and leadership development, and foster an environment where you can build connections with faculty and your classmates.
As a result, our outcomes indicate students who take a University Foundations class in their first year on campus are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and connection on campus, which aids in their persistence and road to graduation.
Tatum Morris
"My UNIV 3303 course felt more like a family than just a class. From the first day, the room radiated an encouraging and comforting energy that I longed for coming to college. Every week, I anticipated the engaging discussions and the incredible people, who quickly became more than just classmates. We studied together in the library, supported each other in organizations, and shared countless laughs in the dining hall. Through our professor’s teaching, I gained a deeper understanding of my own values and identity, while the class presentations offered enriching insights into others' perspectives. My UNIV classmates became some of my best friends, and the lessons from this class are ones I will hold on to forever."
Gracie Doyle
"UNIV 1210 set me up for success at SMU. While the transition from high school to college can be daunting, UNIV 1210 helped teach me fundamental skills that I continue to use in every class. The small class also created a small community within a big school."
Lucy Kieffer
"As a transfer student, UNIV 3305 is exactly what I needed during my first semester at SMU. Although the course is supposed to be for upperclassmen and surrounded by peers, I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much about myself. I felt that our class became a community, and I knew a little something about everyone which I loved so much and made me feel more connected. I loved that it was required for us to volunteer because it was so much fun, I learned about so many amazing organizations and felt part of something bigger- which was something I was searching for. Being a transfer student can sometimes be rough, but in this class, I didn't feel alone because of the community the professor fostered. I felt that through this class I learned so much about myself, my values, and the way I see the world and knowledge that will help me for the rest of my life."