Southern Methodist University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Southern Methodist University

Motto	Latin: Veritas liberabit vos
Motto in English	"The truth will make 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	$2.04 billion (2023)
President	R. Gerald Turner
Provost	Elizabeth G. Loboa
Academic staff	1,151; 754 full time (Fall 2019)
Students	12,053 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	7,056 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	4,997 (Fall 2022)
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 – AAC ECAC ACC (in effect July 1, 2024)
Mascot	Peruna

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university. It is located in University Park, Texas. There is also a smaller campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU was started on April 17, 1911. It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This church is now part of the United Methodist Church.

SMU welcomes students of all religions. It is known for its high level of research. In fall 2020, SMU had over 12,000 students. This included about 6,800 undergraduate students. It was the largest number of students in SMU's history. The university has many teachers and professors.

In 2020, SMU gave out over 3,800 degrees. This included bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. SMU offers many programs from its eight different schools. These schools include business, law, engineering, and arts.

A Look Back: SMU's History

The university officially started on April 17, 1911. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, wanted a Methodist school in a big city. They first thought about Fort Worth, Texas. But Dallas leaders worked hard to bring the school to their city. So, a new university was built in Dallas. Robert Stewart Hyer became the first president of SMU.

Dallas Hall was built in 1915. It is still the main building on campus.

The Methodist Church decided to support SMU. They also helped expand Emory University. SMU was chosen as an important school for all Methodist churches west of the Mississippi River.

SMU's first building was named Dallas Hall. This was to thank the Dallas leaders and citizens. They had promised $300,000 to help build the university. Dallas Hall is still the main symbol of the university. It is why the school is sometimes called "the Hilltop." It was designed to look like the Rotunda at the University of Virginia. Dallas Hall opened in 1915. It held the whole university, a bank, and even a barbershop. This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Robert Stewart Hyer was SMU's first president. He was also a physics professor.

Classes were supposed to start in 1913. But building delays meant they began in 1915. During this time, SMU only had a medical college. This college was bought from Southwestern University.

President Hyer chose Harvard crimson and Yale blue as the school colors. He wanted SMU to be seen as a top university. Many streets near the campus are named after famous universities.

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

In 1927, the Highland Park United Methodist Church was built on campus. During World War II, SMU helped train students for the Navy. This was part of the V-12 Navy College Training Program.

In 1987, the university's football team faced a big problem. They had broken rules about recruiting players. Because of this, the NCAA gave them a serious punishment. The football team could not play in 1987. They also missed most of the 1988 season. They were banned from Bowl Games and TV for two years.

On February 22, 2008, SMU decided to host the George W. Bush Presidential Center. This center includes a library, museum, and offices. It opened on April 25, 2013. Many important people attended the opening. This included five U.S. presidents.

The library and museum are managed by the U.S. government. The university helps with the center's policy board. This project raised over $500 million. The center operates separately from SMU.

SMU's special fund, called an endowment, grew a lot. In 2005, it reached over $1 billion. From 2008 to 2015, SMU raised another $1.15 billion. This was part of its "Second Century Campaign." They used this money to improve the campus. This included fixing the Fondren Library and building new student housing. By June 2022, the endowment was almost $2 billion.

Becoming More Independent

The university decided to become more independent from the United Methodist Church. This was because of different ideas about certain policies.

In 2019, SMU changed its official papers. These changes removed the church's direct control. The university stated that its Board is the main authority. The church disagreed and filed a lawsuit. In March 2021, a judge ruled in favor of SMU.

Former Plano Campus

From 1997 to 2020, SMU had a small campus in Plano, Texas. This campus had 16 acres and four buildings. It was home to SMU's video game design school, SMU Guildhall. Other graduate programs were also there. In 2019, the Plano campus was sold. All programs moved to the main Dallas campus in 2020. They are now in the new Gerald J. Ford Hall.

How SMU is Organized

Schools and Programs

The Cox School of Business

SMU has eight schools that give out degrees. Each school has a dean. All new undergraduate students start in the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.

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 Resources

The Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building.

In 2019, SMU's endowment was $1.664 billion. This made it one of the largest university endowments in the U.S. and Canada.

In 2016, SMU announced its "Centennial Campaign" had raised $1.15 billion. This was the largest fundraising effort in North Texas history. It was also the biggest for a private Texas university. This campaign celebrated SMU's 100-year anniversary.

SMU has had great success in fundraising. Under President R. Gerald Turner, the university has received over $1.6 billion. This money supports many important university projects.

SMU Campuses

Main Campus in University Park

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is on the main campus. Five U.S. presidents attended its dedication.

Most of SMU's main campus is in University Park, Texas. This city is in Dallas County, Texas. Parts of the campus also reach into Dallas and Highland Park. The campus covers 234 acres. It is just west of US Route 75. Dallas Hall is the central building.

The campus is known for Bishop Boulevard. This is a tree-lined road where students gather for events. In 2016, Condé Nast Traveler called SMU the most beautiful campus in America. The George W. Bush Presidential Center is also on the east side of campus.

Taos Campus in New Mexico

Since 1973, SMU has owned a 423-acre campus near Taos, New Mexico. This campus is at Fort Burgwin. Students can take classes here between semesters and in the summer. During winter, students can take wellness classes focused on winter sports. Some courses use the natural environment. For example, a field botany class might be offered in the summer.

Learning at SMU

Becoming an Undergraduate Student

For the class entering in Fall 2020, over 14,000 students applied to SMU. About 52.7% were accepted. Around 1,500 students chose to enroll. The average SAT score for enrolled students was 1,343. The average ACT score was 30.6. Most students who started in Fall 2019 stayed for their second year.

University Honors Program

New students are considered for the University Honors Program (UHP). This program is very selective. Usually, students in the top 10% of their class are invited. Other students can apply later if they have good grades. The UHP offers special courses. It ends with a final project chosen by the student.

Reputation and Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked SMU tied for 89th among national universities in 2023. Its highest ranking was 56th in 2011 and 2017.

The Cox School's Executive M.B.A. program was ranked 27th in the nation in 2020. The Dedman School of Law was tied for 56th in the U.S. in 2021. It also ranked 23rd for average salaries of new graduates.

In 2020, Condé Nast Traveler ranked SMU 6th among the "50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America."

The Princeton Review ranked SMU Guildhall as the No. 4 "Graduate Program for Game Design" in the world in 2020. It has been in the top 10 since 2010. It was even No. 1 for two years in a row (2017 and 2018). The Princeton Review also named SMU one of the "Best Western Colleges."

In 2019, Forbes ranked SMU 91st. 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 Special Centers

SMU has many centers for research and special studies. These include:

• AT&T Center for Virtualization: For engineering studies.
• Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom.
• Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility.
• The Brierley Institute for Customer Engagement: At SMU Cox.
• Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security: For engineering studies.
• Southwestern Graduate School of Banking: At SMU Cox.
• Temerlin Advertising Institute: At SMU Meadows.
• John Goodwin Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs: Named after Senator John Tower.
• SMU Guildhall: Offers a Master's degree in Digital Game Development. It is known for being a top program.
• SMU DataArts: A 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 different subjects:

• Business Information Center (BIC): The business school library.
• Bridwell Library: A top library for religious studies.
• Central University Libraries: The largest library system at SMU. It includes Fondren Library, Hamon Arts Library, and DeGolyer Library.
• CUL Digital Collections: Offers online access to many texts, videos, and images.
• DeGolyer Library: Holds special collections on history, business, and science. It has strong collections on the American West and Texas.
• Fondren Library Center: The biggest 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. It is a popular study spot for students.
• Edwin J Foscue Map Library: One of the largest map collections in the Southwest. It is located in Fondren Library.
• Fort Burgwin Library: Located at the SMU-in-Taos campus in New Mexico.
• Hamon Arts Library: Supports the Meadows School of the Arts. It has many items related to visual and performing arts.
• Norwick Center for Digital Services: Offers digital services and technology support.
• Underwood Law Library: Supports the Dedman School of Law. It has over 640,000 volumes.

Museums

Meadows Museum

• George W. Bush Presidential Center: Located on the main campus. It includes a presidential library and museum. It has a replica of the White House Oval Office. It also holds many artifacts and records from his presidency.
• Meadows Museum: Has a large collection of Spanish art. It also features sculptures by famous artists. The museum hosts different art exhibits each year. It also manages the university's art collection.
• Pollock Gallery: Shows art by SMU faculty, students, and outside artists. It is located in the Hughes–Trigg Student Center.

Student Life at SMU

Student Population

As of Fall 2020, SMU had over 12,000 students. They came from all 50 U.S. states and 83 countries. Most U.S. students are from Texas, California, and Florida.

SMU also has many international students. In Fall 2020, about 9% of students were from other countries. The largest groups came from China, India, and Saudi Arabia.

About 31% of students are from minority groups. Females make up about half of the student body. The average student-faculty ratio is 11:1. This means there are 11 students for every teacher.

For students who shared their religious beliefs:

• 25% are Catholic.
• 13% are Methodist.
• 38% are from other Protestant churches.
• 15% are from other religions like Judaism and Hinduism.

Where Students Live

Loyd Commons is one of SMU's residential halls.

Armstrong Commons is one of five residential commons opened in 2014.

Since 2014, SMU has a residential commons system. This is like systems at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Undergraduate students must live on campus for their first two years. In their first year, they live in one of eleven residential commons. Students are randomly placed into a commons.

Each commons has a faculty member living there. They also have a residential community director. These leaders organize events for students. The oldest residence hall is Virginia-Snider Commons, built in 1926. It used to be a women's dorm. The newest commons opened in 2014.

Student Groups and Activities

SMU has almost 300 student organizations. These groups cover many interests. There are academic, professional, and sports groups. There are also groups for different cultures, religions, and service.

Some notable groups include the Feminist Equality Movement (FEM). Mustang Heroes is a large service organization. The Embrey Human Rights Program is also popular.

Student groups like Student Foundation plan many events. These include Family Weekend and Homecoming. They also host "Boulevarding," which is SMU's version of tailgating.

Religious Life

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

Student Media

The Daily Campus was the student newspaper from 1915 to 2018. It published less often in the summer. In 2018, the newspaper lost its independent status. It is now managed by the journalism department.

Other student media include:

• The Rotunda: The official SMU yearbook.
• SMU-TV: A student-run TV station.
• The Daily Update: A weekday morning newscast.
• Hilltopics: A publication by the University Honors Program.
• The Muddler: A satirical newspaper.
• SMU LOOK: A student-run fashion magazine.
• SMU Style: A student-run fashion and lifestyle blog.

SMU also had student radio stations, KSMU and KPNI. They operated from 1964 to 2011. The university closed the radio station in 2011 due to lack of money.

Greek Life

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

Since 2010, many sorority houses have been updated or rebuilt. These were multi-million dollar projects.

SMU has strict rules against hazing. Hazing is when new members are forced to do harmful or embarrassing things. The university has suspended organizations for breaking these rules. For example, Alpha Phi Alpha was suspended in 2004. Four members were expelled after a student went into a coma during hazing.

In 2018, Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha were investigated for hazing. Pi Kappa Alpha was suspended until Fall 2022. Kappa Alpha Order was also suspended in 2017.

In 2022, Kappa Alpha Theta was suspended. New members were pressured to drink a lot of alcohol. They were also exposed to other unsafe activities. After this, some members started a new group called The Society. SMU has warned students not to join unrecognized groups like this.

SMU Athletics

SMU's sports teams are called the Mustangs. They compete in the NCAA's Division I. The football team plays in Division I FBS. Their home games are at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on campus. The Mustangs are part of the American Athletic Conference. Starting in July 2024, they will join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

SMU football fans cheering on their team.

SMU's biggest sports rival is Texas Christian University (TCU). In football, they play each year for the Iron Skillet. SMU also plays Rice University each year for the "Mayor's Cup." This rivalry started in 1916.

From 1980 to 1985, SMU had a very strong football program. They won many games and were highly ranked. However, in 1987, the NCAA gave the team a severe penalty. This was because of serious rule violations by people supporting the team. The punishment meant the team could not play in 1987. They also missed most of the 1988 season. They were banned from bowl games and TV for two years. SMU decided to cancel the entire 1988 season.

The Doak Walker Award is a special award. It is given each year to the best college running back in the nation. It is named after Doak Walker, a famous SMU football player.

June Jones became SMU's head football coach in 2008. He had a great record at the University of Hawaiʻi. He left SMU in 2014. Chad Morris then coached the team. He led SMU to the Frisco Bowl in 2017. The current head football coach is Rhett Lashlee. The current head basketball coach is Tim Jankovich.

Many SMU football players have become professional stars. These include Don Meredith, Doak Walker, and Eric Dickerson. As of May 2021, many former Mustangs were playing in the National Football League.

Marching Band

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

Famous People from SMU

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Metodista del Sur para niños