As we enter the final weeks of the school year, there is tremendous work happening across campus and beyond. There is also strong progress on our strategic planning effort as we set up the next decade for SMU.
We are confident in the strategic framework that is being developed. It calls for SMU to be positioned among the leading universities in the country, focusing our efforts on transformative teaching and programs, research that matters, athletic impact, exceptional experiences, and principled leadership. Central to this plan is our commitment to lifelong student success, a strong Mustang culture, operational excellence, and our partnership with all of Dallas. We continue to work to build out the details and will officially introduce the comprehensive strategy in September.
Core to the planning work has been the input we have received from our campus community, our extensive network in Dallas, and alumni, donors, and leaders across the country. Your perspective and ideas have been critical to this process. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. We have worked hard to incorporate your ideas and feedback into the plan.
Over the last eight months, we have engaged students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, parents, and community members through surveys, interviews, and multiple group sessions. To date, nearly 9,000 members of Mustang Nation and counting have participated in this process, including about 2,200 faculty and staff, 1,200 students, and 5,400 community members. This is a direct reflection of our community’s shared excitement and desire to influence SMU’s future.
Across all groups, there were several themes that were consistent across the surveys, interviews, and group sessions:
Pride in SMU: There is tremendous excitement, pride, and confidence in where we are today and where we are going.
Increase Our Regard: While SMU’s stature continues to grow with strong momentum, there is a desire to dramatically elevate our standing as a leading university by elevating academics, research, athletics, and our brand.
Academics as the Priority: We must continue prioritizing academic excellence and differentiation, elevating SMU’s relevance, value, and prestige nationally.
Elevate Our Strengths: While we continue our academic ascent, we must work to leverage and build on our current strengths and proud SMU traditions.
Student Experience: There is a need to continue to enhance the value of the student experience in uniquely SMU ways.
Alignment Around One SMU: There is an important opportunity to increase experiences for all students to feel a part of the greater Mustang community, reinforcing a shared Mustang culture and an increased sense of belonging for all.
Dallas as the Engine: There is a desire to further strengthen our relationship with the Dallas community, learning from and engaging with broader parts of the city.
Streamline Processes and Communication: The University must work to modernize systems and improve collaboration, which respondents deemed to be essential to unlocking our potential.
In addition to research and ongoing discussions on the strategic plan, we have also leveraged meaningful insights from the 2025 University Climate Survey. The survey confirms the importance of belonging, trust, and leadership in the daily lives of our faculty and staff. Additionally, the survey results point to a desire for more cross-campus collaboration, a deeply held commitment to SMU’s mission, and the distinctiveness of the Mustang culture and traditions.
As we work through the semester and summer to finalize the strategic planning process, working groups consisting of faculty, staff, and students are continuing to explore these areas more deeply. There are many other ideas and concepts that we are also considering as we build out the plan.
Thank you again to every Mustang who took the time to participate. Your insights are critical as we look to the future of our University. With your continued partnership, we will build on our momentum and define an ambitious path forward for SMU.
