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DID YOU KNOW…

Did you know that the SMU Staff Association has been around since 1942? First organized in 1942, the association began as the University Staff Club. Membership was $.50 per semester in dues and was open to full-time, non-academic employees of SMU. Modest beginnings – 31 members – with the focus of ‘furthering friendship of the members of the Club and fostering cultural, spiritual, and philanthropic interests of the University.’ Early meetings consisted of monthly luncheons where a guest speaker – either a faculty member or administrator – would speak on a topic.

Around 1952 due to the Bylaws and Constitutional records being lost, new ones were prepared and the name of the association was changed to the SMU Woman’s Staff Club. After another 26 years – in 1977 – the name was changed again to the SMU Staff Club. This was done with the hope that the new name would encourage the male members of the staff to be more involved in the club. Finally, during the summer of 1990, the association once again changed its name to what we know today – the SMU Staff Association – while still holding to its original theme of cultural, spiritual, and philanthropic interests of the University but broadening its scope to include promoting staff development as well as scholarship.

Over the years, the one constant of the association has been the Caroline M. Jones Memorial Scholarship. More on the scholarship in the spring! But the association has chosen to promote other various activities over the years as well. Monthly lunches, as mentioned above, a talent show, even handing out a flower to celebrate birthdays, the Staff Association has always looked to promoting staff and their contributions to SMU.