As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines has officially switched from open seating to assigned seats. After decades of choosing seats during boarding, they’re now using a standard assigned‑seat system on all flights.

In summary:

• Assigned seats on every flight: Boarding passes will now show your specific seat, no more picking once you’re on the plane.
• New boarding groups: Southwest has retired the A/B/C groups and introduced eight new boarding groups. A traveler's place in line will depend on the fare type, seat selection, status, and Southwest credit‑card perks.
• Seat selection options: Traveler's can now pay for preferred seats (like extra legroom or seats closer to the front) at check‑in, depending on the fare and loyalty level.
• Extra‑space policy changes: Travelers who need additional seat space will now need to purchase an extra seat in advance. Refunds depend on availability and fare rules.

What this means for travelers:

• If someone is flying soon, it’s a good idea for them to take a quick look at their boarding pass and seat assignment before heading to the airport. With the new system rolling out, arriving a bit earlier than usual could also help avoid any hiccups.
• There is a note within Concur telling travelers to go to Southwest.com after ticketing to choose a seat. One helpful detail, though: if a traveler has their Rapid Rewards number saved in their Concur profile, they will actually be able to select their seat directly in Concur.

NEW! Southwest Tier Experience: 

Between February 1 and April 30, travelers can sign up to receive complimentary A List Status for 90 days. Should they book and fly three round trips or 6 one ways within those 90 days, their A List Status will be extended another 12 months. Benefits of A List status in this new chapter of SWA are immense, with inclusions like increased options on seat selection, boarding priority, and a checked bag waiver.  Travelers can register here or the link in the attachment.

In addition, travelers can double dip on benefits and sign up for a New Year Loyalty Promotion via their Rapid Rewards Account. Those same (business) segments booked for Tier Experience qualification can earn them up to 7,500 Rapid Rewards Points.  

If there are any questions, please reach out to the ASU Travel Service Center at [email protected] or 480-965-3111. Thank you.

ASU Staff Council is excited to launch Career Workshops, a new professional development series designed with staff in mind. This series offers practical tools, insights, and conversations to support career growth, skill-building, and long-term success at ASU. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or strengthening your current path, Career Workshops aims to empower staff at every stage of their professional journey. Open to all ASU staff!

Resume Update: Hiring Trends & Resume Tips for ASU Staff

• What: Practical session on current hiring trends, ATS-friendly resumes, and how to create a modern resume!
• When: Thursday, Feb. 5 | 12–1pm

• Where: Zoom (Register Here)

   

Whether you’re actively exploring new opportunities or just want to keep your materials fresh, this session offers timely insights and actionable takeaways.

Barrett Student Services is excited to welcome Joshua Albin to the team as the new Assistant Director of Student Services. Joshua will be joining the Tempe campus on January 5th. Joshua brings seven years of experience working at Barrett’s Polytechnic campus, where he supported a wide range of student services and operational initiatives while consistently advancing the mission and values of Barrett. As a Barrett and Arizona State University alum, Joshua credits his honors experience with shaping his commitment to student-centered support, academic excellence, and community engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering and a Master of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from ASU, combining technical expertise with a strong foundation in higher education practice. Throughout his time at Barrett, Joshua has demonstrated a deep dedication to the college’s culture and long-term growth. Please join us in welcoming Joshua into this new role on the Tempe campus. 

Barrett Advising is excited to welcome Maggie Reynolds and Alaina Wong to our Tempe team the week of December 29, just in time for the Spring semester. A special thank you to Teresa Guerra and Molly Boyle for helping select these outstanding additions to the Barrett staff.

Maggie Reynolds is a recent Barrett alum who has been working as a Music Therapist since graduating in Spring 2023. She brings valuable experience supporting students and developing strategies that promote success. Maggie previously served as a management intern and events programmer with Barrett Student Services, where her leadership and creativity stood out. We’re thrilled to welcome her back full-time.

Alaina Wong most recently worked with the Office of Student Athlete Development, supporting ASU student-athletes through one-on-one academic success coaching. Her efforts contributed to ASU Athletics’ impressive 93% Graduation Success Rate. Alaina has extensive experience helping students balance demanding schedules and leadership roles, making her a great asset for our honors students.

Maggie and Alaina join us following the transitions of Sarah Mogytych, who moved to Development, and Parker McNair, who relocated to Philadelphia. We are excited to have them on our team and look forward to all they will contribute.

I’m excited to share that Sammie Moran has joined Barrett Enrollment Services as a recruiter!

Sammie graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2022 with her degree in Physics and Astrophysics. Since then, she has built a strong background in education—first as a teaching assistant in ASU’s Department of Physics and most recently as a high school physics and calculus teacher.

Outside of work, Sammie enjoys an active and creative lifestyle. Her hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, reading, board games, and playing classical piano. She and her husband were married in December 2023 and recently welcomed two energetic kittens into their home, Saturn and Sparks.

Please join me in giving Sammie a warm welcome to Barrett Enrollment Services! We’re thrilled to have her on the team.

Angela Carter

We are excited to welcome Emily Rap on Monday, July 21st in the role of Assistant Director for Pre-Professional and Legal Pathways. Emily will report to Alex Aragon and her office is located in Sage 128 with Cariann Powers. In this role Emily will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and expanding pre-professional support services for honors students at Barrett, The Honors College, with an emphasis on pre-law programming. Emily will work with our ASU and community partners as well as Barrett and ASU faculty and staff to support honors students pursuing careers in law, medicine, and graduate school. 

Emily is a proud Barrett alumna, Class of 2005.  She earned her JD from Penn Law and practiced at a large firm in Washington DC prior to undertaking additional graduate study in comparative legal history.  She has been working at ASU since 2020, but lived in France for over three years, pre-pandemic.  In her leisure time Emily enjoys cooking, reading mystery novels, and exploring downtown Phoenix with her husband and her Welsh Terrier, Rufus.

Dear Barrett Community, 

Please welcome Jimmy Garcia to Barrett, the Honors College!  He will be serving as the new Academic Success Advising Coordinator for the Downtown campus.   Jimmy comes to us from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, bringing outstanding experience in advising and teaching.  We are thrilled to have Jimmy on board, starting August 4th, and we'll ensure that he has the opportunity to connect with everyone during his onboarding process.

Barret Michalec

Associate Dean, Downtown Campus

A team retrospective is a structured way to look back on a project or period of work to understand what went well, what could be improved, and how to move forward stronger. In this hands-on session, you'll learn simple steps to facilitate your team in reflecting openly, building trust, and turning insights into action. Register here!

Curious about what it takes to land a Business Analyst (BA) role? Join us for a practical Lunch & Learn focused on interview prep and insider advice from real hiring managers.
  Discover common BA interview formats & prep tips
  Hear what BA hiring managers look for most
Whether you’re actively applying or just exploring, this session is for you!
  Date: July 30, 12–1PM
  Location: Zoom
  Register here
 All are welcome—feel free to share with your teams!