Four members of the Southwestern community were honored with 2026 Mundy Awards while over three dozen employees were recognized for milestone anniversaries with the University.
Loaded with all the latest amenities, the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center is ready to serve the current Southwestern community and greet the next generation of Pirates.
As part of the University’s $120 million investment in the student experience, Southwestern officially opened two brand new, state-of-the-art residence halls prior to the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
Glenn will study language and culture in Rome with IES Abroad while Renfro will travel to three countries with the SU European Cultural Explorations program.
After graduating in December, financial economics major Kaleb Knighten ’25 headed to New York City to begin his role in the financial services firm’s Fixed Income Electronic Trading Desk.
The consortium of liberal arts institutions honored Southwestern for its initiative to subsidize fraternity and sorority new member fees for students with financial need.
Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.
Kinesiology major Angela Escobar ’27 spent her fall teaching students as an assistant soccer coach through an organization hosted by Austin FC’s nonprofit foundation.
Four members of the Southwestern community were honored with 2026 Mundy Awards while over three dozen employees were recognized for milestone anniversaries with the University.
Loaded with all the latest amenities, the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center is ready to serve the current Southwestern community and greet the next generation of Pirates.
As part of the University’s $120 million investment in the student experience, Southwestern officially opened two brand new, state-of-the-art residence halls prior to the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
Glenn will study language and culture in Rome with IES Abroad while Renfro will travel to three countries with the SU European Cultural Explorations program.
After graduating in December, financial economics major Kaleb Knighten ’25 headed to New York City to begin his role in the financial services firm’s Fixed Income Electronic Trading Desk.
The consortium of liberal arts institutions honored Southwestern for its initiative to subsidize fraternity and sorority new member fees for students with financial need.
Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.
Kinesiology major Angela Escobar ’27 spent her fall teaching students as an assistant soccer coach through an organization hosted by Austin FC’s nonprofit foundation.
Four members of the Southwestern community were honored with 2026 Mundy Awards while over three dozen employees were recognized for milestone anniversaries with the University.
Loaded with all the latest amenities, the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center is ready to serve the current Southwestern community and greet the next generation of Pirates.
As part of the University’s $120 million investment in the student experience, Southwestern officially opened two brand new, state-of-the-art residence halls prior to the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
Glenn will study language and culture in Rome with IES Abroad while Renfro will travel to three countries with the SU European Cultural Explorations program.
After graduating in December, financial economics major Kaleb Knighten ’25 headed to New York City to begin his role in the financial services firm’s Fixed Income Electronic Trading Desk.
The consortium of liberal arts institutions honored Southwestern for its initiative to subsidize fraternity and sorority new member fees for students with financial need.
Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.
Kinesiology major Angela Escobar ’27 spent her fall teaching students as an assistant soccer coach through an organization hosted by Austin FC’s nonprofit foundation.
Four members of the Southwestern community were honored with 2026 Mundy Awards while over three dozen employees were recognized for milestone anniversaries with the University.
Loaded with all the latest amenities, the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center is ready to serve the current Southwestern community and greet the next generation of Pirates.
Glenn will study language and culture in Rome with IES Abroad while Renfro will travel to three countries with the SU European Cultural Explorations program.
After graduating in December, financial economics major Kaleb Knighten ’25 headed to New York City to begin his role in the financial services firm’s Fixed Income Electronic Trading Desk.
The consortium of liberal arts institutions honored Southwestern for its initiative to subsidize fraternity and sorority new member fees for students with financial need.
Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.
Kinesiology major Angela Escobar ’27 spent her fall teaching students as an assistant soccer coach through an organization hosted by Austin FC’s nonprofit foundation.
From produce to packaged products, Pirate Dining’s emphasis on utilizing locally-sourced options highlights Southwestern University’s commitment to sustainability and supporting local businesses.
Southwestern University’s newest student organization aims to help students learn conversational Spanish through watching and discussing popular films.
Four members of the Southwestern community were honored with 2026 Mundy Awards while over three dozen employees were recognized for milestone anniversaries with the University.
Loaded with all the latest amenities, the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center is ready to serve the current Southwestern community and greet the next generation of Pirates.
Glenn will study language and culture in Rome with IES Abroad while Renfro will travel to three countries with the SU European Cultural Explorations program.
After graduating in December, financial economics major Kaleb Knighten ’25 headed to New York City to begin his role in the financial services firm’s Fixed Income Electronic Trading Desk.
The consortium of liberal arts institutions honored Southwestern for its initiative to subsidize fraternity and sorority new member fees for students with financial need.
Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.
From produce to packaged products, Pirate Dining’s emphasis on utilizing locally-sourced options highlights Southwestern University’s commitment to sustainability and supporting local businesses.
As an Institutional Consulting Analyst, Philip Moffatt ’20 has built a successful career in wealth management on the foundation of his Southwestern Experience.
The names of 1902 graduate and civil rights activist Jessie Daniel Ames and beloved campus icon Ella Sedwick will soon adorn the two new residence halls opening on campus this winter.
A Four-Year Guide to Student Success at Southwestern University
Your Four Years. One Clear Plan.
At Southwestern University, your education is intentional—from your first year on campus through graduation. The Pirate Plan is a four-year guide designed to help you make the most of your Southwestern experience by clearly outlining what to focus on each year—academically, personally, and professionally. Rather than navigating college as a series of disconnected opportunities, students follow an intentional and personalized plan that integrates learning, involvement, and career preparation from day one.
A defining pillar of the Pirate Plan is personalized support. Incoming Southwestern University students are paired with a dedicated Student Success Coach at the start of their enrollment and will continue working with that coach throughout their time at Southwestern. Student Success Coaches guide you not only in your academic progress, but also in your personal growth and career development. This four-year partnership provides continuity, accountability, and individualized guidance, ensuring you move forward with clarity and purpose, never navigating your college experience alone.
The Four-Year Roadmap
Year 1: Find Your Bearings
Foundation, belonging, and exploration
Your first year at Southwestern is about making new friends, experiencing Austin, living in brand-new, mixed-use residence halls, exploring majors and minors with friendly faculty, trying something bold—like hiking a volcano in Hawaii with our Outdoor Adventure program—and beginning career planning through our Career Center, ranked #1 in Texas by The Princeton Review, all with guidance from your Student Success Coach.
Examples of ways students begin building their foundation in Year One include:
Call the best residence halls in Texas your new home
Perfect your LinkedIn with our #1 in Texas Career Center
Complete an AI Bootcamp to build AI literacy
Cheer on the Pirate football team in our new stadium
Join an intramural pickleball team
Experience a Pirate Adventure, such as a taco crawl in Austin or Formula 1 at Circuit of the Americas
Years 2–3: Chart Your Course
Focus, leadership, and experience
Your second and third years at Southwestern are about gaining real-world experience—studying abroad in places like London and Granada, conducting research alongside faculty and co-authoring a paper together, and developing your brand identity during SOAR, a career summit designed to sharpen your skills and direction—all while committing to your academic focus by declaring your major and maybe even a minor.
Examples of ways students begin building their foundation in Years Two and Three include:
Sing in the Chorale or act in a play
Study octopus populations in Turks and Caicos
Gain real-world experience through a paid internship with Morgan Stanley
Network with SU alumni in your area of interest through COMPASS
Step into a leadership role in the Student Government Association or Greek Life
Guess the treat at this week’s Sweet Surprise
Year 4: Set Sail
Synthesis, launch, and transition
Your final year at Southwestern is about pulling it all together—presenting your capstone, gaining additional hands-on experience through opportunities like researchships at Houston Methodist Hospital, sharpening your postgraduate toolkit with the Career Center, applying for your dream job or graduate school, signing the Cullen Tower, and graduating ready to launch what’s next.
Examples of ways students prepare to set sail in Year Four include:
Pick up an on-campus job, like working as a barista at the Lord Café
Serve on the Student Advisory Group for Marketing and Communications
Complete a second paid internship at the Texas State Capitol
Seize the opportunity to add financial literacy to your skillset
Sing karaoke at one final Late Night Breakfast
Walk across the stage and complete your Southwestern journey
Why the Pirate Plan Matters
The Pirate Plan makes the value of a Southwestern education clear. By connecting learning, experience, and preparation across four years, it helps ensure graduates leave with:
Strong academic and communication skills
Real-world experience and leadership development
A professional network and clear post-graduate plan
