Student & Academic Affairs
Samuel Merritt University offers students a variety of support services during every stage of the educational journey.
Support for Students
The Office of Student Affairs works to support the university's mission. It plays a significant role in educating the whole student in preparation for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service in a diverse and global society. Through the promotion of health, leadership, and community, Student Affairs supports students for life and a career in the health sciences.
The programs and services (listed near the bottom of the page) foster the integration of student learning with personal development, personal responsibility, and the advancement of a healthy campus community.
Background Checks and Drug Screens
SMU contracts with multiple agencies that require a criminal background and drug screening for students to be able to participate in rotations at their sites. In response to these requirements, student criminal background check and drug screenings are conducted within a standardized process through the Office of Student Affairs. Criminal background checks are completed for all students as a condition of student admission. Drug screenings are conducted for students from the DPM, DPT, MPA and OT programs as required by their assigned rotation agency sites. Both a criminal background check and drug screen are required upon admission for students attending all nursing programs with the exception of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. Information and compliance guidelines for the SMU student criminal background and drug screening process are outlined below.
A criminal background check must be completed by each SMU student as a condition of admission. By contract, in order to participate in rotations, SMU’s clinical agency partners require that each student complete a criminal background check. Current statute of limitation: If students maintain continuous enrollment, they generally will not be required to repeat a background check screen unless a clinical site specifically requires an updated report.
A drug screen is required by many of SMU’s clinical agency partners. Students will be assigned a LabCorp location to complete their drug screen. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED students go to their assigned location. However, students can complete their drug screen at any LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics location as long as the facility is contracted with CastleBranch. If going to an alternate location, students must call the drug test location in advance to ensure they are contracted with CastleBranch.
All newly admitted nursing students are required to complete a drug screen. Only students participating in the DNP or CM post professional nursing programs may possibly be exempted from this additional requirement. All other students (DPM, DPT, MPA, OTD, MOT) must complete a drug screen upon advance notification from their program clinical faculty/staff or program chair. Currently, if students maintain continuous enrollment, they will not be asked to repeat a drug screen by the majority of clinical agencies. Some agencies, however, may establish different timeframes for their drug screening and it is possible that some students will be required to be screened more than one time.
Please use the below links to sign-up for your background check and/or drug screen. You will need to sign-in to your existing Castlebranch account or create a new Castlebranch account to proceed:
SMU Student Pantry
About one-third of students are worried about having sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food. Our food pantries allow students access to healthy and nourishing food that promotes health and well-being, so that all students can successfully focus on their studies.
Food Pantry Hours
- Fresno: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Fresno Campus, 1791 E. Fir Ave.
- Oakland: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Please complete the pantry intake form at least one hour before you plan to visit.
- Sacramento: By appointment; contact Robyn Heise.
- San Francisco Peninsula: Please fill out this form 24 hours prior to expected pickup. All orders are held in room 300 until the end of the week.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
We can help you determine what financial aid options are best for your academic needs and career goals.
Student Accounts
We have information on your account balance, tuition, fees, and payment plan options.
Contact
Need more Assistance?
Dean of Students
Andrew Castro
Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life
Michael Wong
Assistant Dean of Students and Interim Director of SMU Central
Chris Chu
Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life
Judy Gutierrez
Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life
Robyn Heise
Director, Disability Resource Center & Interim ADA/Section 504 Coordinator
Julia Cohen
Director of Student Health Services
Nina Ho
Director of Academic Support
Erika Nelson
Academic Affairs
Samuel Merritt University Academic Affairs serves students, faculty, and the community at large by providing outstanding undergraduate and graduate health science education programs. We offer student-centered services and faculty support and resources that promote best practices in student learning, teaching, and educational performance evaluation—including many of the resources found on this page.
The division consists of our academic programs and supporting departments.
Our Academic Programs
Our Vision
We are united in the education of health care practitioners who will improve health and wellbeing in our communities. As educators, we engage in exemplary teaching, scholarship, service, and practice. As learners, we engage in authentic experiences that empower us for success. Our collective drive for excellence is characterized by a commitment to never stop asking, “How can we improve?”
Our success is founded on the contributions of everyone at Samuel Merritt University, our alumni, members of our local communities, and people throughout the health care system. What we achieve together creates a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Thus, we are accountable to create and sustain a culture in which people experience:
- Robust interprofessional collaboration
- Respect for the value diversity brings to us and appreciation for the ways that inclusivity enriches our communities
- Respect for each person’s physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs
- Encouragement and support that empowers us to develop our personal talents and interests while providing the necessary resources for success
- Intentional preservation of time and space for creativity and innovation
- Encouragement and opportunities to embrace change, confront daunting challenges, and celebrate experiences of learning
- Timely, clear, and open communication
- A mutual commitment to earning each others’ trust
Within this culture, we are all responsible for ensuring that our work aligns with a collective effort to achieve our vision.
Academic & Instructional Innovation
We work with faculty, staff, and students to support teaching and learning, faculty development, and professional growth.
Educational Assessment
Our goal for assessing educational effectiveness is to facilitate a cycle of continuous improvement of teaching and learning.
Commencement
Commencement ceremonies take place twice a year in December and May and are coordinated by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Accreditation
SMU is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools—Western Association of Schools and Colleges. All programs, departments, and schools within the University also hold specialty accreditation. The specialty accreditation agencies are all recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education Accreditation.
Contact
Need more assistance?
Provost Executive Vice President, Academic/Student Affairs
Brian Clocksin
Vice Provost for Academic & Student Affairs
Carl Garrubba
Assistant Provost for Strategy
Amy Anderson
Assistant to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Jamie Hirota
Executive Administrative Assistant
