Southern Methodist University (SMU) offers several Employee Affinity Groups (also known as Employee Resource Groups) supported by the Office of Cultural Intelligence to foster community, networking, and professional support among faculty and staff. We encourage you to find you community! We have active Employee Affinity Groups that includes:

• Association of Asian and Pacific American Scholars & Allies (AAPASA): Supports Asian and Pacific Islander employees through academic/cultural collaborations and allyship.
• Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA): Provides community, mentorship, and resources for Black faculty and staff.
• Christian Faculty and Staff Association: Provides fellowship, networking, and spiritual connection for Christian employees on campus.
• Faculty Senate: The primary representative body for SMU faculty, responsible for addressing academic policies, faculty welfare, and institutional governance.
• Hilltop PRIDE (LGBTQ+): Advocates for a culture of respect and to monitor progress toward equality of all persons concerning sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Retired Faculty Association (RFA): Supports retired faculty through member meetings, grants for research, and ongoing connections to the university.
• SMU Staff Association (SMUSA): Open to all staff members, SMUSA fosters a spirit of community through programming, philanthropic events, and the Staff Advocacy Council, which voices staff concerns to administration.
• Somos SMU: The university's Latino faculty and staff association, established to build community and celebrate Hispanic/Latino heritage.

If you are an SMU employee and would like to join, get involved, or inquire about starting a new affinity group, you can fill out our interest form and we will connect you!

If you are a current SMU Employee Affinity Group representative and would like to inquire about funding, please complete our funding request form.