SMU Unveils “Pony Promise”

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Unveils “Pony Promise”
University Reinforces Long-Standing Commitment To Student-Athletes

Oct. 20, 2015

DALLAS (SMU) – The Mission of SMU Athletics is to “prepare students for life.” To that end, SMU is reinforcing its long-standing commitment to student-athlete development, well-being and experience with the Pony Promise. The Pony Promise consists of several initiatives that provide for an outstanding student-athlete experience from enrollment through graduation.

1. Student-Athlete Academic Services
Recognizing that varsity athletes commit to representing the University, and thus face the unique challenge of balancing academic and athletic objectives, SMU’s Student-Athlete Academic Services team is tasked with providing mentoring and core skills support; help them respond effectively to specific academic challenges; better articulate their educational goals; and succeed in their undergraduate pursuits.

Student-athletes work through either the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) or the Center For The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) for support.

The mission of the A-LEC is to help student-athletes respond effectively to specific academic challenges, articulate and achieve educational goals, and successfully complete the undergraduate curriculum. Specialists help student-athletes build success from the beginning, through both developmental and accelerated programs designed to maximize learning potential, personal adjustment, and academic performance.

ADSA staff provides services such as academic counseling, mentoring, tutoring and reading/writing assistance. ADSA has six Academic Counselors, three Reading/Writing Specialists, an Administrative Assistant and two interns. Additionally, ADSA works in collaboration with the A-LEC to provide disability services and other various programs.

2. Full Cost of Attendance
SMU provides scholarships up to the full cost-of-attendance for all student-athletes. Each school's financial-aid office, not its athletics department, uses a federal formula to set the cost-of-attendance figure for the school year. Using those guidelines, SMU’s Financial Aid Office has set the figure at $2,676 annually for full-scholarship student-athletes. That figure represents the gap between last year’s full scholarship amount and full cost of attendance at SMU. Students may qualify for additional support based upon individual needs. For example, students with significant demonstrated need are eligible for a Pell grant in the amount of $5,775 per academic year.

These figures do not include or take into account other distributions that SMU student-athletes may receive, such as off-campus stipends, which are provided to upperclassmen who, as the term would indicate, live off-campus after two years of on-campus residency. Those stipends are currently valued at $15,650 per academic year (fall and spring semesters).

3. Student-Athlete Development & Welfare
Strength & Conditioning
Vic & Gladie Jo Salvino Strength & Conditioning Centers are located in the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center and the Crum Basketball Center. Both of the state-of-the-art training facilities include functional drill space and Olympic platforms and weights. The Salvino Strength & Conditioning Centers also include aerobic equipment, weight stations and free weights.

Equipment & Apparel
SMU is a proud partner of Nike, who provides SMU gear and apparel. The SMU equipment staff handles all of the ordering and inventory of athletic gear for the SMU Athletic Department and its teams, custom fitting all Mustang student-athletes with all needed equipment.

Sports Medicine
The SMU Sports Medicine Program is housed in the Lindsay & Bobbie Embrey Sports Medicine Complex inside the Loyd All-Sports Center, and offers the outstanding services of leading sports medicine and health care professionals. The SMU Sports Medicine staff works with physicians to design rehabilitation programs for injured student-athletes to minimize the loss of fitness during recuperative time.

Mental Health & Sports Psychology
While intercollegiate athletics has a large focus on the physical demands for the student-athlete, SMU Athletics also understands the importance of providing resources to address the emotional and mental demands associated with being a student-athlete. Because of this, we have developed a two-tiered mental health program. One tier has a focus on the emotional and mental well-being of a student-athlete, while the other tier focuses on finding ways to address mental aspects of sport performance.

Tier 1: Mental Health and Well-Being
Mental Health Resources for Student-Athletes are designed to provide counseling services to meet the student-athletes’ needs for achieving emotional well-being necessary for success in college. The life of a student-athlete often comes with pressures, high expectations, and many obligations that can potentially feel stressful or overwhelming. Counseling provides a confidential, supportive, and accepting environment to address issues that may be interfering with a student-athlete’s ability to enjoy a fully satisfying life or reach his/her full potential.

Tier 2: Sport Psychology/Peak Performance
There have been a wide variety of written materials about the physical component of the game, yet the emotional and mental side often makes the difference in performance and outcome. One thing the student-athlete has complete control over is his/her thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that make up the main components of the mental skills process. Being keyed into these three areas will influence one’s competitive edge. SMU Athletics strives for each student-athlete to take charge of his/her process of the game.

Concussion Protocol
The SMU Sports Medicine Department has established a detailed protocol to manage the risks and concerns of concussions for SMU student-athletes. This management plan follows the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the NATA, NCAA, American Athletic Conference, United Educators and the practicing physicians involved in SMU Athletics. This policy is a living document that is reviewed annually by SMU Risk Management and team physicians. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that standards of care are being met and that overall healthcare and specifically the management of concussions is done in a manner that protects and treats the student-athlete with the highest regard to safety.

The concussion management plan is broken into three major components. The first component is education of concussions. The second is based upon the management and treatment of concussions. The third is the student-athlete’s return to activity.

The SMU Concussion Policy has a management plan to help guide student-athletes safely through a return-to-play protocol, as well as a return-to-learn plan. Awareness and communication are key components to the management of our policy, and because of this, we involve key individuals ranging from administrators, coaches, academic advisors, neurologist, psychologist, team physicians and athletic trainers. Our policy also allows us to work within the University and the academic community in a manner in which accommodations can be made to help support the student academically through the recovery phase.

Mike Morton, SMU’s Director of Sports Medicine, was hired this year by the NFL to serve as an injury spotter for games held at AT&T Stadium. To obtain this position, Morton completed an NFL training program to review and understand protocols in place to help identify NFL players that may be demonstrating symptoms associated with head and neck injuries.

Sports Dietician
The goal of a sports nutrition program is to ensure student-athletes are well nourished, optimally refueled after exercise to speed up complete recovery and prepared for overall lifelong health. By providing team talks, one-on-one meal plan counseling, grocery store tours, cooking classes and education at the on-campus fueling stations, the sports dietician engages with student-athletes on a daily basis. Other responsibilities include managing the ordering and inventory of the fueling stations, identifying optimal products to stock the fueling stations, developing relationships with vendors to support SMU student-athletes and creating custom educational materials.

Supplemental Meals & Snacks
SMU student-athletes have access to supplemental meals in conjunction with participation in athletic activities.

SMU Athletics has partnered with SMU Dining Services to provide SMU student-athletes with the best in nutritional and dining options. SMU student-athletes are able to access the Arnold Dining Commons to receive supplemental meals and snacks.

SMU student-athletes can also fuel up at the fueling stations located in the Salvino Strength & Conditioning Centers, where pre- and post-workout nutrition is available for student-athletes along with snacks for between classes.

4. Life Skills Programming
SMU is committed to the holistic development of our student-athletes. Life Skills programming cultivates skills that prepare student-athletes for the ultimate competitive challenge - Life.
Our S.T.A.N.G.S. (Student-Athletes Together Achieving the Necessary Goals for Success) program is based on:

Personal Development
SMU supports the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills.

Community Service
SMU facilitates community outreach opportunities for student-athletes, providing them with an appreciation for the value of service and a chance to show their gratitude to the DFW communities that support them.

Career Development
SMU places a priority on preparing students for life after college. Our program helps give student-athletes a career direction and provides networking opportunities.

Financial Literacy
SMU equips student-athletes with the tools needed to efficiently and effectively manage their resources and build a positive credit history, working to ensure that student-athletes will be prepared to handle post-graduate financial responsibilities.

5. The Student-Athlete Advisory Council
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a partnership of the student-athletes representing all 17 sports at SMU. SAAC provides insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

6. Facility Enhancements
Providing championship-caliber facilities gives our student-athletes the best possible environment for success.

SMU opened a renovated and expanded Moody Coliseum and the new Miller Event Center in 2014. In 2015, SMU opened the new SMU Tennis Complex, completed Phase II of the DAC golf practice facility and updated the Salvino Strength and Conditioning Center and the football offices and meeting rooms. SMU is in the process of building other facilities, including a new home for golf and a track and field throws area, while a new aquatic center is close to breaking ground. An athletics facilities master plan is being developed to identify and address future investments in the student-athlete and fan experiences.

To support these important initiatives, please contact the SMU Mustang Club at 214-SMU-CLUB or visit SMUMustangClub.com. With your gift, the Mustang Club provides the resources to help our student-athletes reach their academic and athletic potential.

[Puckhead48E]

Notedly absent...IPF.

Just saying...would be better if it was there, even if it is just over the next hill.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

This sounds like a great deal. It's nice to see SMU and The American putting their money where their mouth is and matching what the P5 schools are doing.

[The Q]

Notedly absent...IPF.

Just saying...would be better if it was there, even if it is just over the next hill.

IPF project has to include money for new soccer facility, if it's true that IPF is going on current soccer site.

[Blunt Pony]

Can't help but recall "The Commitment" when I see this. Let's hope the follow through is there.

[Stallion]

Come on
Really? You're saying this program hasn't advanced in its commitment since 2000
Wake up-we are ready to roll

[Puckhead48E]

Notedly absent...IPF.

Just saying...would be better if it was there, even if it is just over the next hill.

IPF project has to include money for new soccer facility, if it's true that IPF is going on current soccer site.

And it needs to. Men's soccer is ranked #12 right now...can't ignore the sports that are delivering.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Rebel10]

A Pell Grant is available to any student at any school. They are putting it in there as if to say it is something new.

How does this compare to our conference mates. Any numbers on the other teams?

[smupony94]

A Pell Grant is available to any student at any school. They are putting it in there as if to say it is something new.

How does this compare to our conference mates. Any numbers on the other teams?

I can't find the thread on the AAC board but we are on the far bottom of our conference

[StallionsModelT]

Can't help but recall "The Commitment" when I see this. Let's hope the follow through is there.

footballdad?

[couch 'em]

No way footballdad was around to hear the Turner/Copeland bill of goods.

[SMUer]

Cool. But sounds like girl secret handshake.

[ReedFrawg]

Notedly absent...IPF.

Just saying...would be better if it was there, even if it is just over the next hill.

IPF project has to include money for new soccer facility, if it's true that IPF is going on current soccer site.

And it needs to. Men's soccer is ranked #12 right now...can't ignore the sports that are delivering.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I enjoy soccer and played it my whole life...but let's get real here. Football is what drives the world of collegiate athletics so not sure what smu soccer is delivering. IPF should be top priority.

[smusic 00]

It's because the IPF will displace the soccer field, so the two are linked. Ipf=new soccer facility