Southern Methodist University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Southern Methodist University

Motto	Latin: Veritas liberabit vos
Motto in English	"The truth will set you free"
Type	Private research university
Established	April 17, 1911; 114 years ago (1911-04-17)
Accreditation	SACS
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations	IAMSCU NAICU ORAU URA
Endowment	$2.12 billion (2024)
President	Jay Hartzell
Provost	Rachel Davis Mersey
Academic staff	1,151; 754 full time (fall 2019)
Students	12,116 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates	7,285 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates	4,831 (fall 2024)
Location	University Park , Texas , United States 32°50′19″N 96°46′59″W / 32.83855°N 96.78294°W / 32.83855; -96.78294
Campus	Urban enclave, 234 acres (0.95 km2)
Other campuses	Taos
Newspaper	The Daily Campus
Colors	Red and blue
Nickname	Mustangs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – ACC ECAC
Mascot	Peruna

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university. It is located in University Park, Texas, which is near Dallas. SMU also has a smaller campus in Taos County, New Mexico.

The university was started on April 17, 1911. It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, along with leaders from Dallas. Today, SMU welcomes students of all religions and does not teach one specific faith. It is known for its high level of research activity.

In the fall of 2022, SMU had over 12,000 students. About 7,000 of these were undergraduate students, and 5,000 were studying for advanced degrees. In 2020, the university gave out over 3,800 degrees. This included bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. SMU offers many different programs through its eight schools.

University History

How SMU Started

SMU was officially created on April 17, 1911. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, wanted to build a Methodist school in a big city. They first thought about combining two other colleges in Fort Worth. But after a lot of effort from Dallas leaders, the church decided to build a new school in Dallas instead. Robert Stewart Hyer, who was a president at another university, became SMU's first president.

Constructed in 1915, Dallas Hall is the main building on campus.

The church supported the new university in Dallas. SMU named its first building Dallas Hall to thank the Dallas leaders and citizens. They had promised $300,000 to help build the university. Dallas Hall is still a symbol of the university and is sometimes called "the Hilltop." It was designed to look like a building at the University of Virginia. Dallas Hall opened in 1915 and held the entire university, plus a bank and a barbershop! It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Classes were supposed to start in 1913. However, construction delays meant they did not begin until 1915. Before then, the only part of SMU that was open was a medical college it had taken over from another university.

Robert Stewart Hyer was the first president of Southern Methodist University.

President Hyer chose Harvard crimson and Yale blue as the school colors. He wanted SMU to be seen as a university with high standards, like the famous Ivy League schools. Many streets near the university are named after other well-known universities.

Perkins Chapel is a main worship place for the Perkins School of Theology.

During World War II, SMU was one of many colleges that helped train students for the Navy. This program allowed students to become Navy officers.

Changes and Growth

In 1987, the university's football team faced a serious punishment from the NCAA. This was because of repeated rule-breaking in recruiting players. The punishment was called the "death penalty." It meant the team could not play in 1987 and most of 1988. They were also banned from bowl games and televised sports for two years.

On February 22, 2008, SMU decided to build the George W. Bush Presidential Center on its campus. This center includes a presidential library, a museum, and offices. It was opened on April 25, 2013. Many important people, including five former U.S. Presidents, attended the dedication ceremony.

The library and museum are managed by the National Archives and Records Administration. The university has a say on the board of the policy institute. This project raised over $500 million for the center's construction and future.

Becoming More Independent

Recently, SMU decided to become more independent from the United Methodist Church. This was because of different ideas about certain topics. In November 2019, SMU's board changed its official papers. This change removed the church's control over the university. The university's board now has the final say.

The church filed a lawsuit, saying the university could not make these changes without their approval. But in March 2021, a Dallas County judge ruled in favor of Southern Methodist University.

Plano Campus History

From 1997 to 2020, SMU had a small campus in Plano, Texas. This campus was home to SMU's video game design school, SMU Guildhall, and other graduate programs. In 2019, the university sold the Plano campus. SMU Guildhall and other programs moved to the main Dallas campus in a new building in December 2020.

How SMU Works

University Schools

SMU has eight schools that offer different degrees. Each school has a dean who leads it. All undergraduate students start in the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences before choosing their main subject.

The schools are:

• Cox School of Business
• Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
• Dedman School of Law
• Lyle School of Engineering
• Meadows School of the Arts
• Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies
• Perkins School of Theology
• Simmons School of Education and Human Development

Money and Funding

The Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building.

SMU has a large amount of money saved up, called an endowment. In 2019, it was $1.664 billion. This made it one of the largest endowments among universities in the United States and Canada. In 2021, the university's endowment went over $2 billion for the first time.

In 2016, SMU announced that it had raised $1.15 billion through a special fundraising effort. This was the largest fundraising campaign ever for a school in North Texas. It also made SMU one of only 34 private universities in the U.S. to raise $1 billion or more.

SMU Campuses

Main Campus in Texas

The main campus is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

The main campus of Southern Methodist University is mostly in University Park, Texas. It also reaches into parts of Dallas and Highland Park. The campus covers 234 acres and is located near US Route 75. Dallas Hall is the central building and the main office for the Dedman College.

The campus is built around Bishop Boulevard, a long, tree-lined road. This road is also where students gather for "Boulevarding," which is like a big outdoor party before sports games. In 2016, Condé Nast Traveler magazine called SMU the most beautiful campus in America. The George W. Bush Presidential Center is also on the east side of this campus.

Taos Campus in New Mexico

Since 1973, SMU has owned a 423-acre campus near Taos, New Mexico. This campus is at a place called Fort Burgwin. Students can take classes here between semesters and during the summer. In the winter, students can take wellness classes that involve winter sports. Some courses use the natural environment around the campus, like a class on plants offered in the summer.

Academics and Learning

How to Get In

For students who started in Fall 2020, over 14,000 applied to SMU. About 7,300 (52.7%) were accepted, and 1,531 chose to enroll. The average SAT score for enrolled students was 1,343, and the average ACT score was 30.6.

Honors Program

New undergraduate students can be invited to join the University Honors Program (UHP). Usually, students who are in the top 10% of their incoming class get an invitation. Students who don't get an invitation can apply later if they have good grades. The UHP offers special honors courses. Students in the program also complete a final project or experience before they graduate.

University Rankings

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked SMU tied for 91st among national universities. Its highest ranking was 56th in 2011 and 2017.

The Princeton Review ranked SMU Guildhall as the No. 4 "Graduate Program for Game Design" in the world in 2020. This program has often been in the top 10 since 2010, even reaching No. 1 in 2017 and 2018.

In 2016, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Cox School's undergraduate business program No. 21 in the nation. It also ranked No. 5 for salaries after graduation.

In 2015, Forbes named SMU 14th among America's Most Entrepreneurial Universities. In 2014, USA Today ranked SMU as the number 1 music college in the United States.

Research and Learning Centers

SMU has many centers and institutes for research and learning. Some of these include:

• AT&T Center for Virtualization
• Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom
• Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility
• The Brierley Institute for Customer Engagement
• Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security
• Southwestern Graduate School of Banking
• Temerlin Advertising Institute
• John Goodwin Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs
• SMU Guildhall: This program offers a Master's degree in Digital Game Development. It is known for teaching all four main parts of game development: Art, Design, Production, and Programming.
• SMU DataArts: National Center for Arts Research
• William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies
• O’Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute

Libraries and Museums

Libraries

Fondren Library

SMU has several libraries for students and researchers:

• Business Information Center (BIC): This is the business school library.
• Bridwell Library: This library has one of the best collections for studying theology in the U.S.
• Central University Libraries: This is the largest library system at SMU. It includes Fondren Library Center, Hamon Arts Library, DeGolyer Library, and others.
• CUL Digital Collections: These collections allow people worldwide to access texts, videos, and images online.
• DeGolyer Library: This library holds special collections on humanities, business history, and science history. It has strong collections on the American West and Texas.
• Fondren Library Center: This is the largest collection of resources on campus. It has materials for humanities, social sciences, and business. It also includes the Science and Engineering Library. Fondren Library is open 24 hours and has a Starbucks Cafe.
• Edwin J Foscue Map Library: This library, located in Fondren, has one of the largest map collections in the Southwest.
• Fort Burgwin Library: This library is on the SMU-in-Taos campus in New Mexico.
• Hamon Arts Library: This library supports students in art, dance, music, and theater.
• Norwick Center for Digital Services: This center helps with digital services and multimedia.
• Underwood Law Library: This library supports the law school and has many books on law topics.

Publications

Field & Laboratory was a science journal published by the university's science departments. It was published from 1932 to 1959. Its articles are available online.

Museums

Meadows Museum

• George W. Bush Presidential Center: This center includes a presidential library and museum. It has a full-size copy of the White House Oval Office and many artifacts from his presidency.
• Meadows Museum: This museum has a large collection of Spanish art from different centuries. It also has sculptures by famous artists like Henry Moore. The museum hosts new exhibits throughout the year.
• Pollock Gallery: This gallery shows art by SMU faculty and students, as well as other artists. It is located in the student center.

Student Life

Student Population

As of Fall 2020, SMU had 12,373 students from all 50 U.S. states and 83 countries. About 31.4% of students are from minority groups. The number of female and male students is almost equal. The average age for undergraduate students is 20.

Among students who shared their religious beliefs, 25% are Catholic, 13% are Methodist, and 38% are from other Protestant churches. Another 15% are from other religions, including Judaism and Hinduism.

Student Housing

Loyd Commons

Armstrong Commons, one of five residential commons opened in 2014

Since 2014, SMU has used a residential commons system for student housing. This is similar to colleges in England. Undergraduate students must live on campus for their first two years. In their first year, they live in one of eleven residential commons. Each commons has a faculty member and a director who plan events for students.

The eleven residential commons are Armstrong, Boaz, Cockrell-McIntosh, Crum, Kathy Crow, Loyd, Mary Hay-Peyton-Shuttles, McElvaney, Morrison-McGinnis, Virginia-Snider, and Ware. Virginia-Snider Commons, built in 1926, is the oldest.

Student Groups

SMU has almost 300 student organizations. These groups cover many interests, like academics, sports, and different cultures. Some popular groups include the Feminist Equality Movement (FEM) and Mustang Heroes, a large service organization.

Student groups like Student Foundation and Program Council often plan events for all students. These events include Family Weekend, the Tate lectures, and Homecoming.

Religious Life

The Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life helps religious groups on campus. There are Christian organizations, Hillel (for Jewish students), and a Muslim Students Association. The South Asian Student Association hosts a yearly Diwali celebration. There is also a Catholic Center on campus.

Student News and Media

The Daily Campus was the independent student newspaper from 1915 to 2018. It published less often in the summer. In 2018, the newspaper lost its independent status but still publishes online.

Other student media include:

• The Rotunda, the official SMU yearbook
• SMU-TV, a student-run television station
• The Daily Update, a weekday morning newscast
• Hilltopics, a publication from the University Honors Program
• The Muddler, a funny newspaper
• SMU LOOK, a student-run fashion magazine
• SMU Style, a student-run fashion and lifestyle blog

KSMU was a student radio station that operated from 1964 to 1989. It later became KPNI from 1995 to 2011. The university radio station closed in 2011 due to lack of money.

Greek Life

About 43% of SMU's undergraduate students are part of Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities).

Since 2010, many sorority houses have been updated and rebuilt. These projects cost millions of dollars.

SMU has a strict rule against hazing, which are dangerous activities new members might be forced to do. The university has suspended groups for breaking this rule. For example, Alpha Phi Alpha was suspended in 2004 after a student went into a coma during hazing. Four members were expelled. In 2018, Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha were suspended for hazing. Kappa Alpha Order was also suspended in 2017.

In 2022, Kappa Alpha Theta was suspended after new members were pressured to drink a lot of alcohol and faced other unsafe activities.

Athletics and Sports

SMU's sports teams are called the Mustangs. They compete in the NCAA's Division I. The football team plays in Division I FBS. The football team plays at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on campus. The Mustangs joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2024-25 season. Before that, they were in the American Athletic Conference and other conferences.

SMU football fans

SMU's main sports rival is Texas Christian University (TCU). In football, SMU and TCU play every year for the Iron Skillet trophy. SMU also plays Rice University for the Mayor's Cup.

From 1980 to 1985, SMU had a very strong football program. However, on February 25, 1987, the NCAA gave the team a very serious punishment, called the "death penalty." This was because of repeated rule-breaking in recruiting players. The punishment meant the team could not play in 1987. They were also banned from bowl games and televised games for two years. SMU decided to cancel the entire 1988 season as well.

Marching Band

SMU's marching band plays at football and basketball games. They play big band and jazz music. The band has about 80 members and is known as "The Best Dressed Band in the Land" because of its many uniform styles. In 2001, the band performed at the first inauguration of George W. Bush.

Famous People from SMU

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Metodista del Sur para niños