Mustang Charge

SMU will uniquely prepare every student to think critically, lead ethically and contribute to a changing world. Academic pathways will sit at the intersection of intellectual depth and real-world practice, grounded in a strong liberal arts and professional foundation, the energy of Dallas and a global network of accomplished alumni. Through close student-faculty relationships, signature interdisciplinary experiences and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies, we will ensure every learner receives an education that is rigorous, experiential, relevant, globally minded and distinctly SMU.

SMU will expand its ability to conduct world-class research that will elevate departments and faculty to national recognition and make ambitious, high-impact research a defining feature of the University. The research enterprise will be driven by outstanding scholarship and creative activity across every discipline – foundational work that advances fields, interdisciplinary work that bridges them and publicly engaged research that shapes policy, practice, industry and communities. This work will be conducted by top research faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students at local, national and global scales, translating discovery into innovation, entrepreneurship and impact.

SMU will harness the power of athletics and its broad impact, uplifting the whole University: winning championships, driving academic excellence and research, investing fully in student-athletes and becoming the top destination to launch careers in sports. Athletics will be a unifying experience that brings the Mustang community together with a shared sense of pride and spirit. It will be one of the most powerful platforms for strengthening the University’s brand and national profile, attracting top talent and establishing SMU as essential to the future of collegiate athletics.

SMU will reimagine what it feels like to learn, work and belong at our University. We will define the undergraduate and graduate student experience, personalize support for each student, empower faculty and staff, elevate the campus environment and deepen alumni, community and corporate partnerships – all working toward cultivating a strong, shared Mustang identity and signature experiences for students that are unique to SMU and Dallas.

SMU will cultivate principled leaders through a University-wide effort, targeted curriculum and cocurricular experiences, all grounded in our University’s ethos and supported by a coordinated, campuswide commitment to character development, open inquiry and wide-ranging discourse across differences. Every member of the SMU community will develop the judgment to act with principle and moral courage, carrying that foundation guided by core virtues while on campus and long after they leave. They will be trusted in moments of consequence, able to mobilize others around a shared goal and driven by civic responsibility.