For Parents

Mission Statement

The University Advising Center will guide pre-major students as they navigate through the undergraduate curriculum to maximize their academic experience at Southern Methodist University. The UAC advisors help students to recognize and pursue their passions; challenge students to set realistic and rewarding academic and life goals; and empower students to think and act creatively and independently.

Working Together for Student Success: A Parent’s Role

At Southern Methodist University, we recognize that parents and families play important roles in the academic success of our students. As advisors, we also know that this is a time of transition and changing relationships within your family dynamic. Your child is becoming more independent and making important decisions that will impact his or her future. By keeping the lines of communication open, parents can provide their students with supportive guidance, helping them to successfully navigate this time of self-discovery and intellectual growth.

Parent FAQs

It is our sincere hope that all of our students communicate with their families about their academic progress. If you have concerns or questions, you may contact your son or daughter's academic advisor. Please be aware that federal law prohibits us from discussing specific academic information unless we have obtained explicit permission from the student in the form of a signed release. Without this release, advisors are happy to discuss general university policies and procedures, as well as resources available to SMU students and families; however, we cannot discuss details related to a specific student.

In addition to advising, SMU provides tutoring through the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC). Students are also encouraged to visit the Hegi Family Career Center to explore different career paths, work on their resume, and develop interview skills.

Academic advisors do not have access to students' financial information, so we recommend contacting Financial Aid for any questions about scholarships and other aid packages. For billing questions, please contact the Bursar’s Office.

Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) is located in the A-LEC. This office works closely with students to determine appropriate accommodations and develop techniques that foster achievement in a university setting.

We know that this can be a difficult time for both students and their families. Everyone has invested time and resources into this path and it takes time to accept the loss of goals, plans, and hopes. The good news is that SMU offers a plethora of majors and minors that lead to diverse career opportunities. There is sure to be a course of study that is suitable to the student’s interests, strengths and abilities. What begins as a time of frustration can lead to tremendous growth and self-actualization.

Each year, the Office of the Registrar publishes the undergraduate academic calendar that contains all of the important dates for the academic year.

In most cases, yes, students may transfer credit from other accredited, four-year institutions to SMU. The semester before the student plans to study away from SMU, he or she should complete an Advance Approval of Transfer Credits form, which requires each course to be evaluated and approved by an academic department. Upon completion of the course, the student may be responsible for demonstrating specific Student Learning Outcomes to satisfy University Curriculum components or Common Curriculum Proficiencies & Experiences.