$20million in student
accounts collected for Fall 2003!
CONGRATULATIONS
John Hall
has an article in the summer issue of the College and University
Journal on how SMU handles students called to active duty in the
military.
Chris Salone appointment to the President's Commission on Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
Laura Del Rio work in two task forces - one on the First Year Experience and one on Residence Hall Living requirements.
Kathy Rowe appointment to President's Commission on the Status of Women.
NEW STAFF
Cameron Clark - SFS - Enrollment Resources
Daniel Herrera - SFS - Enrollment Resources
Jared Potts - Admission - Information Processing
NEW ASSIGNMENTS
June Hagler - Interim Director of FA Operations and Compliance
STAFF
PROMOTIONS
Kathy Rowe
- Director of Operations for Enrollment Services
ANNIVERSARIES
Cathy Smith - 15 yrs!
Jean Porter - 4 years
Mary Eddison - 1 year
Greg Pulte - 1 year
BIRTHDAYS
Summer Kokic
- Nov. 1
Epi Ramirez - Nov. 5
Regina James - Nov. 9
Gil Bacerra - Nov. 15
Steve Boykin - Nov. 20
Cathy Smith - Nov. 22
Luz Roque - Nov. 23
Jackie Wilborn - Nov. 26
Monica Gomez - Nov. 28
Race for the Cure
Breast cancer touches so many lives.
This
fall, Angie Flores (Administrative Cord. in Student Accounts) lost her mother to
this illness. She wanted to remind everyone of the
Race for the Cure on
Saturday, October 18th starting at North Park Mall.
Angie has registration forms in 104. The Susan G. Komen Foundation has
raised millions of dollars to fight this illness. Each contribution makes
the chances for a cure that much closer.
Some
of our VIPs this month are:
Darrah Rippy - Just a quick note to let you
know that once again, Darrah Rippy and Jo Ann Tupper have done a
marvelous job of training and getting the departments up to speed on
ACCESS.SMU. I just ran my SOCL, checked a FERPA declaration, and
ran a degree progress report. No problem. I don't know how
they do it, but neither person ever seems frustrated with all of our
questions, last minute demands, and outright mistakes. (Leslie
Reid - English Department) Donna Rodriquez - I want to commend Donna on
her professionalism dealing with an agitated student today. The
student was extremely angry. She came in yelling at the staff at the front
desk. She then continued to yell at Donna. Donna stood
quietly while the lady vented and then calmly explained that she
empathized with her and understood her situation. Donna assisted
her with using Web Pay to pay her parking ticket. And I think
Donna even convinced her to pay for a parking sticker. All the
while Donna was unflustered and friendly. Way to go Donna!
That is what fabulous customer service is all about. Bimpe Ayanwola - I would like to take this
time to commend one of your employees for outstanding customer service.
I am a graduate of the SMU Law School and have rarely received the kind
of customer services I just received today. Bimpe Ayanwola has
been the most amazing student loan officer who has ever assisted me with
my loans. She has promptly returned all my phone calls and inquiries
when others have waited weeks and in some cases never returned my calls.
She has worked to address all my problems and concerns, and has followed
through on everything with the account services company and others
involved with my loan. Bimpe's efficiency and courtesy is a brilliant
reflection on SMU's commitment to its students. It lets us know
that we are part of the SMU community not only when we are tuition
paying students, but after graduation as well. SMU should be proud
to have such a wonderful employee as Bimpe Ayanwola.
OUTREACH TO DISD
It is Monday morning, early Fall, and I am one of seven SMU staff
making my way through the halls of Gaston Middle School to make a
presentation with the Texas Scholars Program. The school is filled with
young impressionable minds and our goal is to plant a seed of hope and
encouragement in some of these future scholars to begin planning for a
successful educational future.
An education initiative, Texas Scholars Program is strongly
supported by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce and works to send business
professionals into eighth grade classrooms to explain why taking the
right courses during secondary education is an important building block
for the future. My topic was dreaming and challenging yourself beyond
what you think you can really do. The students were attentive and
intrigued by the difference only two years can make in their potential
earning capacity. While the focus is to enhance the students’
experience, being a part of the program satisfies my personal desire to
make a difference and help improve the quality of life for Texans.
The program’s philosophy is to support students who pass
academically challenging courses rather than focusing on students who
achieve higher grades in less edifying classes. The difference can be
significant in the quality of lives and all society. The Texas Scholars
Program provides an education to prepare students to enter a technical
school, a community college, a university or the work force.
State Specific Facts—Texas: As part of a national survey1 of the fiscal and policy
choices that were made by state government from 19862 to
2000, Justice Policy Institute reports the following findings from
Texas: In 1986, Texas spent $3.069 billion general fund dollars on higher
education and $590 million on corrections. By 2000, Texas spent $4.512
billion on higher education and $2.629 billion on corrections. While
Texas’ general fund expenditures for higher education rose by $1.443
million during this time period, its general fund expenditures for
prisons increased by $2.039 billion. In Texas, 67% of all state spending
on higher education comes from the general fund.
·
Texas increased general fund spending on higher education by 47%,
but corrections spending grew by 346%. Put another way, Texas spending
on corrections grew at 7 times the rate of spending on higher education
during the period.
It is inspiring to see SMU committed to the success of the
Texas Scholars program and the children in the Dallas Independent School
District. Just imagine if the state of Texas increased funding for
educational programs instead of building more prisons. Thanks to
Mark Gomez, Anna Gomez and Irma Herrera from DES for their time and
support! Special thanks goes out to Jerry Alexander of the Hegi Family
Career Development Center for his dedicated efforts in recruiting
volunteers from SMU as a part of SMU’s involvement with the Dallas
Chamber of Commerce.
Footnotes
[1] All fiscal figures are from the National Association for State
Budget Officers State Expenditure Reports, 1985; 2000, and all dollar
amounts are adjusted for inflation. Since national and standardized
reports of state spending were used, there may be some
by Mary Beard
[2] As some states did not publish fiscal data for 1985, we used the
next available year for those states.
[3] All Higher Education statistics are from “Losing Ground: A National
Status Report on the Affordability of Higher Education,” by The National
Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
November
Division
Meeting
November 5
8:30am Blanton Meeting Rooms!
Division
Highlights
Important Dates
Mnthly Statements
Due -
Oct. 17
Manual SF Holds
placed -
Oct. 20
Month End - Oct. 31
Blanton Dedication - Oct 31
Thanksgiving - Nov 27, 28
End of Term - Dec 3
Final Exams - Dec 6-12
UG Pymt Due Date - Dec
15
Winter Break - Dec. 22-26
Football
Schedule - Go Ponies
Boise St. - Oct 18
at Tulsa -
Oct 25
Fresno St. - Nov 1
at Louisiana Tech - Nov 8
Rice
- Nov 15
TCU - Nov 29
Movin' on Up!
Enrollment Services will mover to Blanton Oct 23-27
we will close for
service at 11am on Thursday, October 23 and open for service on Monday,
October 27th at 9am.
Quotation of the Month
"Without geography, you're nowhere."
Jimmy Buffett
SMU
Trivia
When is the formal dedication of the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services
Building?
Answer:
October 31, 2003 at 11am
Who is invited?
Answer:
This is an all-university event, please come to share the excitement and
to thank the Blanton family for this wonderful gift.
Electronic Mail Template
SMU Marketing and Design has created several templates that can be used by Enrollment Services in communicating with the SMU community. Two of the templates will be used to communicate official university business. The E-lerts will be used strategically so that when received students, faculty, or staff will know this is something to which they should pay particular attention. The E-notes template will be used for informational purposes. The E-notes may contain several messages in an effort to cut down on the number of "bulk" e-mails the Division sends.
An introductory E-note was sent to all students showing the E-lert template in order to explain how it will be used. Enrollment Services will begin to implement the Electronic Templates after the 1st of November.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT