Cockrell-McIntosh Commons
Hospitality | Advocacy | Integrity | Balance | Community Pride | Sense of Belonging
Keeping It Classy Since 1964
"What I love about CM is Sandy, our Faculty-in-Residence. She makes it feel like a home away from home, whether she makes something for us to eat early in the morning or hosts pop-up dinners for us! One of my favorite monthly activities is Cockrell Eats where FiR Sandy and the Culinary Club make food for CM and anyone else who wants to join. CM has many opportunities to get involved and help build the community from the Commons Council to intramurals."
Francesca Morisano, second-year student
What you can expect
The Cockrell Classic
The Cockrell Classic is Cockrell-McIntosh's signature annual event created to foster community within Cockrell-McIntosh and the larger SMU campus. Occurring at the end of November or start of December, The Cockrell Classic celebrates the winter season and the end of the semester through horse-drawn carriage rides around the boulevard, authentic and fresh-made french crepes, and winter themed games. The event is held in the Cockrell-McIntosh quad and is planned and executed by the Cockrell-McIntosh Commons Council.
Cockrell Culinary Club
Cockrell Culinary Club, in conjunction with Cockrell Eats, is FiR Sandy Duhé’s signature weekly event. Residents sign up to be either the executive chief of the week or one of the sous chefs. The executive chef works with Sandy early in the week to create a menu for that week’s Cockrell Culinary Club. Then on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m., Sandy, the executive chef, and the sous chefs cook the decided-upon menu, which is enjoyed by all of Cockrell-McIntosh at Cockrell Eats at 8 p.m.
Blvding with the Duhés
Every home football game in the fall, the Cockrell FiR Family boulevards on the front porch of CM for the two hours before kickoff. Join Cockrell-McIntosh residents old and new plus their families for classic homemade football foods, made by FiR Sandy, as her husband Brad fires up the grill for football classics.
Serve where you live: Engage Dallas
Engage Dallas is a place-based community engagement initiative via SMU’s Residential Commons to address community needs focusing on South and West Dallas. The initiative is a long-term, university-wide commitment led by students to partner with local residents, organizations, and other leaders to positively impact the community. There is equal emphasis on campus and community impact stemming from the initiative.
In Cockrell-McIntosh Commons, we focus on College Access & Preparation as a community need in Dallas. Cockrell-McIntosh students address this by collaborating on service events and activities with local partners, Crowned Scholars, LNESC, and Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, to directly help those most in need. Our students who serve gain a broader understanding of current social problems, build community with both the city and their peers, and can earn their Community Engagement Proficiency required for graduation. Engage Dallas cultivates unique and enriching experiences for SMU students to explore and serve Dallas!
Questions? Email your Cockrell-McIntosh Engage Dallas Student Director, Mackenzie Thierry at kthierry@smu.edu.
Get a sense of the community
Get a feel for all that Cockrell-McIntosh Commons has to offer by scrolling through the photo gallery or viewing the video. If you prefer, check it out for yourself by visiting campus, or take an online 360°room tour.
We've got a lot to offer
Amenities
Fully furnished rooms- Furniture (per resident): desk, chair, bed, & dresser
- Wired and wireless internet
- Free on-site washer/dryers
- ADA-compliant rooms available
- Electricity, water, sewer, &recycling/trash service included
- Movable furniture
- Study rooms and spaces
- Community microwaves
- Walk or bike to class
- Nearby parking available on campus
- Easy access to dining and fitness activities in the Dedman Recreation Center
- 24-hour study rooms and spaces
- Faculty-in-Residence
- Peer Academic Leaders (PALs), Honors Mentors, and Student Wellness Champions
- Educational experiences
- In-Commons classroom
- Professional, on-site maintenance
- 24-hour, on-call staff
- Card-controlled building and room access
- Security escorts available
- Roommate matching available
- Adjacent bicycle racks
Sample floor plans
Please note, there are multiple configurations for room types. The below is an example floor plan.
Double room with suite-style bath
Room and furniture dimensions
Square footage ranges- 130 - 240 sq.ft.
- Desk: Two Styles
- Style 1: Dimensions: 42" x 30.5" x 24"
- Style 2: Dimensions: 48 3/8" x 30.5" 24" (ADA accommodation size)
- Dresser: 29.75" x 30.5" x 24", three drawers
- Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Twin)
- Window: 38.5" x 60"
About our namesakes
Cockrell Hall was named after Judge Joseph Elmore Cockrell (1859–1927). He was the former chair of the SMU Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the establishment of the Dedman School of Law at SMU. As the former president of the Dallas Bar Association, Joseph Cockrell began discussions with SMU administrators regarding the law school in 1919. In fall 1925, classes began at the School of Law with Joseph Cockrell as the interim dean.
McIntosh Hall was named after John Strayer “Dutch” McIntosh (1879–1945). Known as the “handsomest man on campus,” John was a professor of classical languages and head of the Latin and Greek Department from 1915 to 1945. He often played tennis with his students. He was chairman of the Faculty Athletic Committee and served as president of the Southwest Conference. John also led the graduation ceremonies as the University marshal from the first convocation in 1915 until he died in 1945.
Building Facts
| Community abbreviations | CM |
| Building capacity | 209 |
| Year built | 1964 |
| Residential area | Central |
| Physical address | 5904 Bishop Boulevard |
| Room types | Singles and doubles |
| Gender | Co-ed by gender by room |
Live, learn, achieve—together
Get to know the faculty, staff, and student leaders of Cockrell-McIntosh Commons.
Dr. Sandy Duhé (She/her/hers)
Faculty-in-Residence
Sandy Duhé is a Louisiana native who is happiest in the classroom and the kitchen. Her earliest memories are of playing school with stuffed animals and willing relatives as her first students. After an extensive corporate career in the energy sector, she made the transition to teaching and came to SMU with husband Brad and children Byron and Mary Cathryn in 2012. Together, they’ve enjoyed creating a home away from home for Cockrell-McIntosh residents since 2018. Learn more about Dr. Duhé and her family.
Dylynne Dodson (she/her/hers)
Residential Community Director
Dylynne Dodson is originally from Loganville, GA. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Writing from Texas Christian University and worked with the TCU chapter of the College Advising Corps before earning her Master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Western Carolina University. Dylynne enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, and traveling. Dylynne's favorite part about working in residence life is building one-on-one relationships with students and making the community feel like a home away from home.