SMU Aware

SMU is working diligently to respond to the needs of our community during this extended weather event. We will update this site regularly to ensure you have the latest information.

On the right panel, you can view all communications that our campus community received through SMU Aware and other sources about the recent cold snap and its impact to our campus community. Specific information for each audience is available in the tabs below. During this fast-moving event, we appreciate your patience as we update this page.

The campus operators will remain open this weekend to assist with any questions you may have (214-768-2000).

Please understand that many SMU employees were also impacted from power outages, etc., or are currently working on assisting the campus community. Response times may be delayed as a result.

On campus residents:

Please review all messages coming from your Residential Community Director (RCD) and reach out to them or Resident Assistant about concerns in housing.

Students who live in on-campus housing affected by the storm can view the status of their building here. 

Academic Concerns:

SMU faculty have been advised to be flexible with assignments and exams. While the University is closed and no instruction is taking place, students are not expected to complete assignments. If a student is concerned about their workload, they should first consult with the faculty member. If a reasonable solution is not found, students are encouraged to reach out to the Department Chair.

On Campus Dining:

Dining is currently available only at Arnold Dining Commons from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Umphrey Lee is closed for repair but expected to reopen on Wednesday, February 24.

Boil Water Notice:

A boil water notice instituted for University Park residents, including SMU, was lifted Monday morning. 

Before drinking or using tap water again, please make sure to flush lines for 3 to 5 minutes.

Here are some other guidelines to follow before using water to brush teeth or prepare food.
• Faucets: Run for several minutes to flush any old water from the pipes.
• Water filtration systems: Replace the filter.
• Ice makers – Throw out old ice as well as the first batch of ice made after that.
• Dishwashers: Run the dishwasher through one cycle to flush out any old water.
  

Health Services

The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center is open with limited services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Please follow all standard procedures listed at smu.edu/studentaffairs/DrBobSmithHealthCenter

Postal Service

The SMU Post Office is open and operating under normal operations. 

Off Campus Students

Students living off campus are welcome to use open campus buildings and on campus dining.
If you are without power, water, internet etc, please reach out to your utility service provider. The latest news is that the rolling power outages are lessening which should alleviate some of the challenges. However, many throughout the metroplex remain without key services. Several churches and rec centers have been opening their doors to assist. Please look for the nearest location for your safety.

 

These are extraordinary times for our campus community. We have employees from all departments working on various ways to support our Mustangs . Here is information for your student about campus life during this time.

  • On-campus residents are encouraged to reach out to their Residential Community Director (RCD) or Resident Assistant (RA) for assistance with any housing needs.
  • Food service is available from the Arnold Dining Hall as our crews work to get the other facilities back in operation.
  • Health services are available from the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center.
  • SMU faculty have been asked to be flexible with assignments and exams. While the University is closed and instruction is not taking place, students are not expected to complete assignments. If a student is concerned about their workload, they should first consult with the faculty member. If a reasonable solution is not found, students are encouraged to reach out to the Department Chair or email academicsuccess@smu.edu.
  • The campus operators will remain open to assist with any questions you may have (214-768-2000). Although they may not have the information readily available, they will work on locating the appropriate individuals for response. We will also update this website so that other parents/families might benefit from the answers as well. Please understand that many of our employees are also impacted from power outages etc or are currently working on assisting the campus community. Response times may be delayed as a result.
  • If you haven’t been receiving updates from the University in your email, it is likely because your student has not enabled SMU to do so.
    • Encourage your student to update their FERPA disclosure on the my.SMU portal and include your email in their contact.

Answers to some frequently asked questions we've received can be viewed here.

 

You have shown remarkable resilience through an incredibly challenging and fast-moving weather situation. Our top concerns are about making sure your return to campus is safe and that you are aware of the latest campus updates and developments. Here’s where we stand:

Staff:

University Opening:

  • We are resuming operations with virtual-only classes on Monday.
  • Some buildings sustained damage related to the weather so if you work in one of those buildings, you will be notified by your building manager. They’ll explain what to do. If you don’t hear from your building manager, your workspace was not impacted and is ready to be occupied on Monday.
  • View email to staff from Human Resources here.

Faculty: