A private university located in University Park of Texas in United States, Southern Methodist University was founded in 1911. It is affiliated to the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was chartered in the same year by five Annual Conferences in Texas of the Church. In the year 1939, the university was placed under the jurisdiction of the South Central division of the church.

University Campus

Southern Methodist University has campus in Park, Plano, New Mexico, and Taos, and has the enrollment capacity of 11,000 which includes 6,000 undergraduates. It was the historic Dallas Hall where the entire university was housed in 1915 and the nickname of the university "hilltop" was inspired by its location in the historic hall.

Notable Incidents Relating to the University

The university also finds place in the Cambridge Encyclopedia owing to some good and bad incidents.

* Death penalty was imposed on its football program in 1987 by NCAA for frequent and flagrant violation of recruitment rules.
* It faced a ban in football seasons 1987 and 1988 for the said reasons.
* On the brighter side, it was selected in 2008 as the site for George W. Bush Presidential Library.
* The same year it was also selected as the George W Bush Policy Institute.

University Profile

As many as seven schools granting degrees function under the Southern Methodist University imparting education in various academic streams. These schools are -

* Dedman College that offers courses in humanities and science;
* Cox School that offers courses in business administration;
* Dedman school offering courses in Law;
* Perkins school of theology;
* Meadows School in Arts;
* Lyle school of engineering; and
* Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education Human Development.

Ranking in Terms of Endowment

With endowment value of around $1,367 million, it ranks 51st among the 77 colleges in United States as well as Canada having endowments over $1 billion. In addition it receives millions of dollars as external sponsorship for research.

Special Programs

Among the special programs offered by the university are -

* Summer credit courses;
* Archaeology field programs;
* SMU in Taos; the annual cultural program;
* Study abroad programs; and
* University honors program.

According to U.S News & World Report, the university ranked 56th among National Universities in 2011 and stood first in terms of largest private collection in respect of research materials in its library.