Connect Mentorship Program

The Connect Mentorship Program offers several opportunities over the span of 6 days.

Residential Commons Early Move-in and Connect Check-in: Friday, August 16
As part of the Connect Institute, participating students will move into their Residential Commons early on Friday, August 16 (if applicable). Residence Life and Student Housing (RLSH) will communicate full move-in details during the summer as the date approaches. 

Family Orientation and Reception: Saturday, August 17
An optional family orientation session and a following reception will occur on Saturday, August 17. During the orientation, family members will get to hear from key SMU administrators and staff to learn more about the Connect Mentorship Program. Those administrators and staff will stick around for the reception so you can meet them and ask questions. More details will be communicated by the Social Change and Intercultural Engagement (SCIE) office as the date approaches. 

Connect Institute: Sunday, August 18 - Wednesday, August 21
The Connect Institute is an extended orientation program to SMU which occurs before classes start. See the next box below to learn more details. 

The Connect Institute is an extended orientation to SMU. During the Institute, you will interact with other new students, as well as returning students serving as mentors. You will learn about campus resources that will help you to succeed. The Connect Institute will feature leadership development and goal-setting workshops, dinners, and receptions with SMU faculty, staff, and alumni. Students who participate in the Connect Institute have the opportunity to move in early to campus.

Incoming students are matched over the summer with an upper-level student. You will hear from your mentor before arriving on campus. Mentors will be a resource and guide during your first year at SMU.  

Fall Admits (August 2024): Click on the application located above. 

Spring Admits (January 2025): Applications will open in October for students admitted for Spring 2025. 

As Connect is a year-long program, we ask our students to stay engaged with the program throughout their first year at SMU. Here are a few tangible outcomes that you can expect as a result of participating in Connect:

• Early move-in to Residential Commons (if applicable)
• Peer mentoring by an upper-level SMU Student
• Leadership development opportunities
• Cohort experience with other incoming students
• Access to key SMU resources, services, and information regarding opportunities on and off campus
• Developing relationships with upper-level students, as well as the SCIE staff and other SMU faculty, staff, and administrators

In order to participate in Connect, here is what we need from you:

• Complete the Connect Mentorship Program Mentee application above
• Move-in early (if applicable to your living situation)
• Attend the Connect Institute 
• Attend Cohort Engagement Programs throughout the duration of the academic year
• Meet with your Connect mentor at a minimum of once a month
• Establish goals with your mentor and assess the progress of goals with them each time you meet
• Utilize the Social Change and Intercultural Engagement (SCIE) office and other department resources as necessary

Any current undergraduate SMU student can apply to become a mentor for the upcoming year. Applications are still open on SMU 360.

For more information or questions about applying, please reach out to Brandon Kitchin at bkitchin@smu.edu