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AdvancedSpecial charactersHelpHeadingLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5FormatInsertLatinLatin extendedIPASymbolsGreekGreek extendedCyrillicArabicArabic extendedHebrewBanglaTamilTeluguSinhalaDevanagariGujaratiThaiLaoKhmerCanadian AboriginalRunesÁáÀàÂâÄäÃãǍǎĀāĂ㥹ÅåĆćĈĉÇçČčĊċĐđĎďÉéÈèÊêËëĚěĒēĔĕĖėĘęĜĝĢģĞğĠġĤĥĦħÍíÌìÎîÏïĨĩǏǐĪīĬĭİıĮįĴĵĶķĹĺĻļĽľŁłŃńÑñŅņŇňÓóÒòÔôÖöÕõǑǒŌōŎŏǪǫŐőŔŕŖŗŘřŚśŜŝŞşŠšȘșȚțŤťÚúÙùÛûÜüŨũŮůǓǔŪūǖǘǚǜŬŭŲųŰűŴŵÝýŶŷŸÿȲȳŹźŽžŻżÆæǢǣØøŒœßÐðÞþƏəFormattingLinksHeadingsListsFilesDiscussionDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getItalic''Italic text''Italic textBold'''Bold text'''Bold textBold & italic'''''Bold & italic text'''''Bold & italic text== History == The university was chartered on April 17, 1911, by the [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South|southern denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church]]. At the time of the charter, church leaders saw a need to establish a Methodist institution within a metropolitan area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/iwm01|title=METHODIST EDUCATION|date=June 15, 2010|website=Tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051221/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/iwm01|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally, this new institution was intended to be created in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] through a merger between Polytechnic College (now [[Texas Wesleyan University]]) and [[Southwestern University]]. However, the church's education commission instead opted to create a new institution in Dallas to serve this purpose after extensive lobbying by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. [[Robert Stewart Hyer]], previously president of Southwestern University, was appointed as the first president of the new university.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbt24|title=Texas Wesleyan University|last=Minor|first=David|date=June 15, 2010|website=Tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053304/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbt24|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HyerPapers">{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00072/00072-P.html|title=Robert S. Hyer papers|access-date=November 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203021415/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00072/00072-P.html|archive-date=February 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Dallas Hall on the campus of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas LCCN2015630915.tif|left|thumb|Constructed in 1915, [[Dallas Hall]] remains the centerpiece of the campus.]] The effort to establish a new university in Dallas drew the attention of the [[General conference (United Methodist Church)|General Conference]] of the Methodist Church, which was seeking to create a new [[Connectionalism|connectional institution]] in the wake of a 1914 [[Tennessee Supreme Court]] decision stripping the church of authority at [[Vanderbilt University]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanderbilt.edu/chancellor/history/|title=History of the Office {{!}} Office of the Chancellor {{!}} Vanderbilt University|website=Vanderbilt.edu|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051115/https://www.vanderbilt.edu/chancellor/history/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The church decided to support the establishment of the new institution while also increasing the size of [[Emory University]] at a new location in [[DeKalb County, Georgia]]. At the 1914 meeting of the General Conference, Southern Methodist University was designated the connectional institution for all [[Conferences of the United Methodist Church|conferences]] west of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00038/smu-00038.html Southern Methodist University origins and history collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007182948/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00038/smu-00038.html |date=October 7, 2008 }} – Utexas.edu – Retrieved February 3, 2008</ref> SMU named its first building [[Dallas Hall]] in gratitude for the support of Dallas leaders and local citizens, who had pledged $300,000 to secure the university's location. It remains the university's symbol and centerpiece, and it inspired "the Hilltop" as a nickname for the school. It was designed by [[Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge]] after the Rotunda at the [[University of Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://people.smu.edu/jwheeler/Dallas_Hall_description.html|title=Dallas Hall - 3225 University Blvd., Dallas, TX 75275|website=People.smu.edu|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213122246/http://people.smu.edu/jwheeler/Dallas_Hall_description.html|archive-date=December 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dallas Hall opened its doors in 1915 and housed the entire university along with a bank and a barbershop.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dallas Landmarks|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2009|pages=98}}</ref> The hall is registered in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. [[File:RSHyer.jpg|thumb|Robert Stewart Hyer, physics professor and first president of Southern Methodist University.|232x232px]] Classes were planned to officially begin in 1913, but construction delays on the university's first building prevented classes from starting until 1915. In the interim, the only functioning academic department at SMU was the medical college it had acquired from [[Southwestern University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00088/smu-00088.html|title=SMU Medical and Pharmacy School Records|access-date=November 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203021426/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00088/smu-00088.html|archive-date=February 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Southern Methodist University July 2016 145 (Perkins Chapel).jpg|thumb|Perkins Chapel serves as the primary worship setting for Perkins School of Theology.]] As the first president of Southern Methodist University, Hyer selected [[Harvard Crimson (color)|Harvard crimson]] and [[Yale blue]] as the school colors in order to associate SMU with the high standards of [[Ivy League]] universities.<ref name="colors"/> Several streets in [[University Park, Texas|University Park]] and adjacent [[Highland Park, Texas|Highland Park]] were named after prominent universities. In 1927, [[Highland Park United Methodist Church]], designed by architects [[Mark Lemmon]] and [[Roscoe DeWitt]], was erected on campus.<ref name="texasstate">{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fle64|title=Lemmon, Mark|access-date=August 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922164804/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fle64|archive-date=September 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> During [[World War II]], SMU was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]] which offered students a path to a Navy commission.<ref name="list-of-v-12">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/115-8thND/115-8ND-23.html|title=U.S. Naval Administration in World War II|year=2011|publisher=HyperWar Foundation|access-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112105122/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/115-8thND/115-8ND-23.html|archive-date=January 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1987, the university football program's [[Southern Methodist University football scandal|repeated, flagrant recruiting violations]] led to the [[NCAA]] administering what is called the [[Death penalty (NCAA)|death penalty]] against the program. The punishment included cancellation of the 1987 football season, most of the 1988 season, and a two-year ban from Bowl Games and televised sports coverage.<ref name="deathpenalty">[http://people.smu.edu/adedo/deathpenalty.html people.smu.edu – Retrieved February 3, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101061545/http://people.smu.edu/adedo/deathpenalty.html|date=January 1, 2008}}</ref> On February 22, 2008, the university trustees unanimously instructed President [[R. Gerald Turner]] to enter into an agreement to establish the [[George W. Bush Presidential Center]] on 23 acres on the southeast side of the campus.<ref name="dallasnews">[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/022308dnmetbushlibrary.19ae3faa.html It's official: Bush library coming to SMU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706063637/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/022308dnmetbushlibrary.19ae3faa.html |date=July 6, 2008 }} – Dallasnews.com – February 22, 2008</ref> The center, which includes a presidential library, museum, institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation, was dedicated on April 25, 2013, in a ceremony which featured all living former U.S. Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], [[George W. Bush]], and then-incumbent U.S. president, [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Bush-Presidential-Library-dedicated-in-style-at-4463716.php|title=Bush Presidential Library dedicated in style at SMU|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052849/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Bush-Presidential-Library-dedicated-in-style-at-4463716.php|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Presidential library system|library]] and museum are privately administered by the [[National Archives and Records Administration]], while the university holds representation on the independent public policy institute board. The project raised over $500 million for the construction and endowment of the George W. Bush presidential center, which has a 249-year ground lease from SMU, with extensions, and operates completely separate from SMU.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/10/bush-raises-more-than-500-million-for-library/|title=Bush Raises More Than $500 Million For Library|date=April 10, 2013|work=Time Magazine –|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715074845/http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/10/bush-raises-more-than-500-million-for-library/|archive-date=July 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-assigns-aa-idr-to-southern-methodist-univ-tx-affirms-revs-at-aa-29-09-2020|title=Fitch Assigns 'AA-' IDR to Southern Methodist Univ., TX; Affirms Revs at 'AA-'|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=December 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225024700/https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-assigns-aa-idr-to-southern-methodist-univ-tx-affirms-revs-at-aa-29-09-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The university's endowment surpassed $1 billion for the first time in the university's history in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smudailycampus.com/news/smu-endowment-tops-1-billion|title=SMU endowment tops $1 billion|website=Smu.edu|language=en|access-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014432/https://www.smudailycampus.com/news/smu-endowment-tops-1-billion|archive-date=September 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Through its "Second Century Campaign" from 2008 to 2015, the university raised an additional $1.15 billion and celebrated the centennials of its 1911 founding and 1915 opening through the renovation of Fondren Library, the construction of five new residential halls, and other campus revitalization projects. After these expenditures, the endowment stood at just under $2 billion as of June, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smu.edu/100/|title=The Second Century Celebration - SMU|website=Smu.edu|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053109/http://www.smu.edu/100/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2015/09/24/southern-methodist-university-reaches-1-billion-fundraising-goal|title=Southern Methodist University reaches $1 billion fundraising goal|date=September 24, 2015|work=Dallas Morning News|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105137/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2015/09/24/southern-methodist-university-reaches-1-billion-fundraising-goal|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Split from the United Methodist Church=== In light of the turmoil within the Methodist Church over what it described as "[[United Methodist Church#2020–2022 potential schisms|fundamental differences]]" over LGBTQ policies, the university decided to separate itself from control of the church.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grigsby |first1=Sharon |title=What SMU's plan to split from Methodist control could mean for Dallas churches angry about LGBTQ policies |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/commentary/2019/12/11/what-smus-plan-to-bolt-from-methodist-control-could-mean-for-dallas-churches-angry-about-lgbtq-policies/ |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=11 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423075954/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/commentary/2019/12/11/what-smus-plan-to-bolt-from-methodist-control-could-mean-for-dallas-churches-angry-about-lgbtq-policies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2019, the SMU board filed with the state of Texas amended articles of incorporation that eliminated the [http://www.scjumc.org/ United Methodist Church]'s rights as listed in the 1996 articles. The amendment made it clear that SMU is solely maintained and controlled by its Board as the ultimate authority for the university and removed an overarching statement that the school would be "owned, maintained and controlled by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference."<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Turner |first1=R. Gerald |title=Statement from President Turner regarding our relationship with UMC |url=https://www.smu.edu/News/2019/Statement-from-President-Turner-regarding-our-relationship-with-the-United-Methodist-Church |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=SMU |date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613141450/https://www.smu.edu/News/2019/Statement-from-President-Turner-regarding-our-relationship-with-the-United-Methodist-Church |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="church_lawsuit"/> Within a month, the Church filed a [https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/media/smu_lawsuit.pdf lawsuit] alleging that the trustees of SMU have no authority to amend the Articles of Incorporation without the prior approval and authorization of SCJC.<ref name="church_lawsuit">{{cite news |last1=Brumfield |first1=Loyd |last2=Smith |first2=LaVendrick |title=Methodist conference sues SMU over university's steps to redefine its relationship with the church |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2019/12/08/methodist-conference-sues-smu-over-universitys-steps-to-redefine-its-relationship-with-the-church/ |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=8 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427151339/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2019/12/08/methodist-conference-sues-smu-over-universitys-steps-to-redefine-its-relationship-with-the-church/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Elizabeth |title=SMU sued for amending governance documents to separate itself from church authority |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/12/09/smu-sued-amending-governance-documents-separate-itself-church-authority |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=December 9, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426202905/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/12/09/smu-sued-amending-governance-documents-separate-itself-church-authority |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2021, Dallas County judge ruled in favor of Southern Methodist University in the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hodges |first1=Sam |title=Judge rules for SMU over jurisdiction |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/judge-rules-for-smu-over-church-conference |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=United Methodist News Service |date=March 23, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421193928/https://www.umnews.org/en/news/judge-rules-for-smu-over-church-conference |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Elizabeth |title=Judge Sides With University in Dispute With Methodist Church |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/03/25/judge-sides-university-dispute-methodist-church |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=March 25, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216021306/https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/03/25/judge-sides-university-dispute-methodist-church |url-status=live }}</ref> === Historical Plano campus === From 1997 to 2020<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-19 |title=SMU sells its Plano campus to developer Trammell Crow |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2019/09/19/smu-sells-its-plano-campus-to-developer-trammell-crow/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Dallas News |language=en |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913065123/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2019/09/19/smu-sells-its-plano-campus-to-developer-trammell-crow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Southern Methodist University operated a small campus, consisting of 16 acres and 4 buildings, in Plano, Texas, in Legacy Business Park. This campus hosted SMU's video game design school, [[SMU Guildhall]], and other graduate-level programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smu.edu/Plano/AboutUs|title=About SMU-in-Plano - SMU|website=Smu.edu|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052214/http://www.smu.edu/Plano/AboutUs|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After the university sold the Plano campus to a developer in 2019, SMU Guildhall and all other programs housed there moved onto the main Dallas campus in the new Gerald J. Ford Hall for Research and Innovation on December 4, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dallasinnovates.com/change-of-venue-smu-guildhall-planning-move-away-from-plano/|title=Change of Venue: SMU Guildhall Planning Move Away From Plano » Dallas Innovates|last=Innovates|first=Dallas|date=March 21, 2018|work=Dallas Innovates|access-date=July 9, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709064919/https://dallasinnovates.com/change-of-venue-smu-guildhall-planning-move-away-from-plano/|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smu.edu/News/2020/Featured-News/Ford-Hall-Celebration | title=The Gerald J. Ford Hall for Research and Innovation ignites the future of research and education at SMU | access-date=July 9, 2022 | archive-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706110153/https://www.smu.edu/News/2020/Featured-News/Ford-Hall-Celebration | url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page