There are a number of pre-approved clubs or organizations which can fulfill the Civic & Individual Ethics and Experience. Review them below and get in touch with their organizers to begin.
Dr. Dennis Simon Civil Rights Pilgrimage
The Dr. Dennis Simon Civil Rights Pilgrimage (“The Pilgrimage”) prepares students to be informed, ethical, and engaged citizens by engaging in museum visits, and face-to-face conversations with individuals who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and contemporary leaders for justice in the communities we visit in: Atlanta, Birmingham, Jackson (MS) Little Rock, Memphis, Montgomery, Oxford, Philadelphia (MS), Selma, and Tulsa. The Pilgrimage is a 7-day, 6-night, all-inclusive trip during the University’s Spring Break. Applications are available around Fall Break and due in early November. The group has 2-3 pre-trip meetings in the Spring semester. Click here for more information.
Engage Dallas
Engage Dallas is a place-based community engagement initiative via SMU’s Residential Commons to address community needs focusing on South and West Dallas. The initiative is a long-term, university-wide commitment led by students to partner with local residents, organizations, and other leaders to positively impact the community. Engage Dallas is a free program and accepts new members anytime. Students have the opportunity to serve in the community in small groups or independently, based on their availability. Learn more and get started by visiting smu.edu/engagedallas or selecting the Engage Dallas course on your Canvas account.
Honor Council
The Honor Council is a student-led organization entrusted with upholding a culture of integrity at SMU. Advised by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, the Honor Council conducts hearings on alleged Honor Code violations, evaluating evidence, and ensuring fairness and due process for both students and faculty. Furthermore, members of the Honor Council actively engages students in discussions and reflections on ethical dilemmas, decision-making processes, and the implications of their actions on the academic community through programming and 1:1 meetings. The Honor Council accepts student members on a rolling basis. Learn more here.
Mustang PEP Talks
The Mustang PEP (Peer Education Program) Talk program is an initiative designed to allow students who are RLSH Peer Leaders to participate in the NASPA Certified Peer Educator training program and then educate their peers on topics related to inclusive leadership at ҽsuch as identity-based leadership, bystander intervention, effective listening, and more through a series of presentations. This free program is only available to students who are a part of the RLSH Peer Leader program serving as either an Engage Dallas Student Director, Wellbeing Education Student Team member, Spiritual Life Mentor, or Peer Academic Leader. For students who want to become a RLSH Peer Leader and participate in the Mustang PEP Talk program, applications open every January for the following academic year. Learn more about this program here.
Vice President for Student Affairs Advisory Board
The purpose of the Vice President for Student Affairs Advisory Board is to provide feedback to the Vice President of Student Affairs on critical issues impacting student life that may arise during the course of an academic year. The Board will meet once each month throughout the academic year. Students interested in applying for the board must be in good academic standing with the university (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) as well as be in good student conduct standing. For more information about this program click here.