Mustang Move-In
We are very excited to welcome you to the Hilltop!
We are currently working to provide a seamless Move-In experience. As we have additional details about the process they will be posted below.
Welcome home
We are very excited to welcome you to the Hilltop!
We are currently working to provide a seamless Move-In experience. As we have additional details about the process they will be posted below.
New First Year Move-In Days: Wednesday, August 16 & Thursday, August 17
Transfer student Move-In Day: Thursday, August 17
Welcome to the Hilltop! Fall Move-In Days are an exciting series of days that occur before Stampede, giving you time to settle into your new home.
New student Move-In Days are announced in late-May of each year. You will receive an email notification when these dates are announced and Move-In timeslots become active in the SMU Housing Portal. Students must register for a Move-In timeslot prior to July 31. Please do not book travel until you have a timeslot to ensure your travel plans align with your timeslot.
Returning student Move-In Days: Friday, August 18 & Saturday, August 19
Welcome back! We are happy to have you join us for another year on the Hilltop.
Residence halls will open for returning students after New Student Move-In Days ends but before classes begin. Returning students should inform RLSH of their arrival date on the SMU Housing Portal starting in late-May. Please select a timeslot before making travel plans.
Early arrival Move-In Days: Varies by program
Early arrival programs allow students to attend structured program-specific events that focus on preparation for the academic school year.
Residents participating in certain University-sponsored programs may be eligible for early arrival. Students who are eligible for early arrival will be notified and can select an appropriate timeslot in the SMU Housing Portal.
Below are additional examples of programs that allow for early arrivals.
Packing for university life can seem like an overwhelming task - what exactly do you bring to college? Don't worry! We've got your back. Read through our informative packing guides below, which include suggested items to bring, items that SMU supplies, and policies about specific items, such as coffee makers. For further specification on items permitted in residence halls, please refer to the housing policies webpage, and the fire safety page.
We want you to be comfortable during your time in SMU's housing, but we also want to make sure that you pack appropriately and safely. Residence Life & Student Housing discourages bringing a U-Haul to campus as parking for U-Hauls is unavailable and student rooms have limited space to store a large number of belongings. To ease space and travel issues, students are allowed to send up to 10 packages to SMU prior to Move-In. Students will receive an email with their PO Box information prior to Move-In, and additional information can be found on the SMU Postal Services website. Even with limited items, unpacking a car can be a lot of work. You are welcome to bring up to four guests to Move-In Days to help unpack and set-up your room.
Sometimes it can be helpful to view the typical student room for your community. We encourage you to view the 360 videos, photos, and floorplans of your Residential Commons or Upper Division Housing, to get a feel for your future residence.
Details on what we provide and what Mustangs should bring to your room in the Residential Commons.
Living in upper-division housing is a bit different from the Residential Commons. Explore this guide for what to bring with you.
Again, this step occurs prior to coming to campus. On the SMU Housing Portal, select a Move-In timeslot that is the most convenient for you. No timeslot is better than the other, since we stagger appointments throughout the day, ensuring a steady flow of Move-In participants. If you need to change your move-in time, simply do so on the housing portal. An email will be sent to your SMU account letting you know when timeslots go live, starting in late-May. Please secure a timeslot by July 31.
Only after you have confirmed your Move-In timeslot should you book travel. There are multiple Move-In Days, and you want to ensure that your travel plans coincide with your move-in time.
Your Move-In Day has arrived, and it is time to come to campus! On your Move-In Day, at your scheduled time, you will need to be on-campus, ready to unload and unpack your belongings. Please do not arrive early, nor late, as this will disrupt our schedule and make the move-in experience more laborious. To make the process of unloading easier, we have identified the closest parking areas to each building, listed below. Please park in the appropriate lot for your residence hall. As parking is limited, we rely on students moving in at their scheduled time, so that there will be parking spaces available for everyone.
Armstrong, Crum, Kathy Crow, Loyd, and Ware Commons (Southeast Area): Mustang Parking Center, 6001 Bush Avenue
Boaz, Cockrell-McIntosh, McElvaney, and Morrison-McGinnis Commons (Central Area): Binkley Parking Center, 3105 Binkley Ave
Virginia-Snider Commons (North Area): 3305 Dyer Street; park in the area just North of Virginia-Snider Commons to unload your vehicle. Once complete, please relocate your car to either Binkley Parking Center (3105 Binkley Ave) or Moody Parking Center (3063 SMU Boulevard).
Mary Hay, Peyton, and Shuttles Commons (North Area): 6211 Bishop Blvd; park on the Boulevard adjacent to the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center to unload your vehicle. Once complete, please relocate your car to either Binkley Parking Center (3105 Binkley Ave) or Moody Parking Center (3063 SMU Boulevard).
Now that you have found a place to park, it is time to check-in with RLSH staff to let us know that you are here! Check-in at the Move-In tent for your area, locations below. Don't worry, you can't miss it; it's filled with staff and student leaders ready to assist you with checking-in, answering questions, and getting you settled into your new home. At the tent, you will receive a set of keys for your room and your student ID card. This is why it is so important that you have submitted a photo and received approval from Parking & ID Services by July 1: so we can have your card ready for you upon check-in. Student IDs are important because all residence halls are card-access only to enter the building.
Armstrong, Crum, Kathy Crow, Loyd, and Ware Commons (Southeast Area): Outside of Loyd Commons, 5901 Bush Ave
Boaz, Cockrell-McIntosh, McElvaney, and Morrison-McGinnis Commons (Central Area): Outside of Mac's Place, 6000 Bishop Blvd
Mary Hay Peyton Shuttles, and Virginia-Snider Commons (North Area): Outside of Virginia-Snider Commons, 3301 Dyer Street
Now that all of your belongings are in your new room, it's time to organize. Feel free to take time with your guests, families, and roommate(s) to make your room yours. Set-up your desk, hang your clothes, put away miscellaneous items, and make your bed. Bed loft requests should be submitted prior to July 31. Don't try to loft the bed yourself!
Eventually, it will be time to say good-by to your guests and families and to begin experiencing campus. Socialize with your roommate and floormates, explore your residence hall, and attend events that your community and SMU hosts to get you acquainted with the Hilltop.
Again, this step occurs prior to coming to campus. On the SMU Housing Portal, select a Move-In timeslot that is the most convenient for you. No timeslot is better than the other, since we stagger appointments throughout the day, ensuring a steady flow of Move-In participants. If you need to change your move-in time, simply do so on the housing portal. An email will be sent to your SMU account letting you know when timeslots go live, starting in late-May. Please secure a timeslot by July 31.
Only after you have confirmed your Move-In timeslot should you book travel. There are multiple Move-In Days, and you want to ensure that your travel plans coincide with your move-in time.
Your Move-In Day has arrived, and it is time to come to campus! On your Move-In Day, at your scheduled time, you will need to be on-campus, ready to unload and unpack your belongings. Please do not arrive early, nor late, as this will disrupt our schedule and make the move-in experience more laborious.
You should immediately check-in at the appropriate UDH Move-In tent location to let RLSH staff know you have arrived. Don't worry, that you haven't parked yet; that will be the next step, so you can snag a spot close to your residence hall. Once at the tent, you will receive a set of keys to your room and your student ID card. If you are checking-in to Thomas House, you will not need physical keys, and can check-in via your phone. This is why it is important that you have submitted a photo and received approval from Parking & ID Services by July 1: so we can have your card ready upon check-in. Student IDs are important because all residence halls are card-access only to enter the building.
Thomas House: Lobby of Thomas House, 3130 Daniel Ave (please go directly to Thomas House and check-in via your phone through the SMU Housing Portal once inside the lobby)
Moore, Martin, Service House, and 3050: V parking lot, Dyer Court (behind the Sigma Alpha Epsilon House)
Now that you are checked-in and have your keys, it is time to drive to your residence hall and park. To make the process of unloading easier, we have identified the closest parking areas to each building, listed below. Please park in the appropriate lot for your residence hall. As parking is limited, we rely on students moving in at their scheduled time, so there will be parking spaces available for everyone throughout the day.
Thomas House: Airline Parking Center, 6506 Airline Road
Martin and Moore House: Hillcrest Parking Center, 5906 Hillcrest Ave, or the parking spaces near each building
3050 SMU Blvd & Service House (SMUSH): Moody Parking Center, 3063 SMU Boulevard, or the parking spaces near each building
After parking your car, move your belongings into your new room. Feel free to take time with your guests, families, and roommate(s) to make your room yours. Set-up your desk, hang your clothes, put away miscellaneous items, and make your bed. Bed loft requests should be submitted prior to July 31. Don't try to loft the bed yourself! Please note that beds in Daniel and Martin House cannot be lofted.
Eventually, it will be time to say good-by to your guests and families and to begin experiencing campus. Socialize with your roommate and floormates, explore your residence hall, and attend events that your community and SMU hosts to get you acquainted with the Hilltop.
Residential Communities | Instagram Handle |
Armstrong Commons | @armstrongcommons |
Boaz Commons | @boazcommons |
Cockrell-McIntosh Commons | @cmcommons |
Crum Commons | @crumcommons |
Kathy Crow Commons | @kathycrowcommons |
Loyd Commons | @loydcommons |
Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons | @mhpscommons |
McElvaney Commons | @mcelvaneycommons |
Morrison-McGinnis Commons | @momaccommons |
Virginia-Snider Commons | @vscommons |
Ware Commons | @wareyoubelong |
Upper-Division Housing | @upperdivisionsmu |
SMU Service House | @smuservicehouse |
SMU is committed to housing all incoming first-year, and continuing second-year students on campus!