April 9, 2026

Dear Staff Colleagues,

One of the things that makes SMU special is the care and commitment you bring to creating exceptional experiences for our students and for one another. As we continue building that culture together, we also want to find thoughtful ways to offer flexibility when the rhythm of the academic year allows.

With that in mind, we piloted remote work last November and December and are extending this pilot into the summer. Four Fridays in July (July 10, 17, 24, and 31) are designated as remote workdays for eligible staff. July 3 is already a University holiday.

July is typically a quieter month on campus, and this pilot gives us an opportunity to offer added flexibility while continuing to serve our community well.

Unit leaders will determine whether remote work on those Fridays makes sense for their teams based on their operational needs. For areas that require Friday coverage, including student-facing or time-sensitive functions, leaders may instead identify four equivalent remote workdays during June or July that better align with their schedules.

We also recognize that some roles and units require an on-campus presence and may not be able to accommodate remote workdays. We are grateful for those teams and the consistency they bring to our campus each day.

Thank you for all you do for SMU and for one another.

Sincerely yours,