McElvaney Commons
Leadership | Service | Diversity | Academics
Welcome to the McMansion
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“Living in McElvaney has been one of my favorite experiences of SMU! It has provided me with a wonderful community to live and learn with. I am so grateful to live around such amazing people.”
“I know it sounds cheesy, but McElvaney has truly become my home away from home. The friends I have made living here will be my friends for life; we study together, eat together, laugh together. I Love my FIRs and RCD. They make me feel welcome and cared for everyday. The events they plan (such as brunch, museum trips, and a McElvaney birthday party) help me connect with my new community as well as open my eyes to opportunities in Dallas. I’m so glad to be a McResident!!”
What you can expect
Camp McElvaney
Food, Fun, and Tie-Dye: before the spring semester comes to an end, we enjoy a taste of summer fun. Part barbecue, part carnival, all fun.
International Food Festival
Each year the McElvaney Commons leadership works with the cultural student organizations on campus to host a food festival that brings together students from across the university and around the world. This festival has given many students the opportunity to learn about a variety of cultures while tasting their native cuisine.
Be a part of McElvaney
In Spring 2019 the McElvaney community came together to select a mascot we felt exemplified our values. After much debate, the Moose, indomitable, stalwart, and courageous, was chosen.
Get a sense of the community
Get a feel for all that McElvaney 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
- Wireless and wired internet
- Free on-site washer/dryers
- ADA-compliant rooms available
- Electricity, water, sewer, & recycling/trash service included
- Free laundry
- Movable furniture
- Game rooms
- Community microwaves
- Walk or bike to class
- Nearby parking in Binkley garage
- Easy access to Mac’s Place
- Central location on campus provides easy access to academic buildings, the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, and the Dedman Recreation Center
- 24-hour study rooms and spaces
- Faculty-in-Residence
- Peer Academic Leaders (PALs), Honors Mentors, and Student Wellness Champions
- Educational programs
- Professional, on-site maintenance
- 24-hour, on-call staff
- Card-controlled building access
- Security escorts
- Roommate matching available
- Adjacent bicycle racks
Sample floor plans
Community bath double room
Room and furniture dimensions
Square footage ranges
- 180-205 sq.ft.
Furniture dimensions
- Desk: 2'6" H x 3'4" W x 2' D
- Dresser: 2'6" H x 2'6" W x 2' D
- Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Loftable Twin)
- Window: 4'6" H x 3'9" W, 1'9" distance to floor
About our namesake
Eugene McElvaney (1897 – 1971), McElvaney’s namesake, was the Senior Vice President for the First National Bank in Dallas. In 1939 Eugene McElvaney became a university trustee. Because of his passion and work towards the success of the university he served as the Chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees from 1952-1956. McElvaney also served as a university promoter and fundraiser, and was a major influence on the establishment of the SMU Press in 1937. Since his time here members of the McElvaney family have been an integral part of SMU.
"...constant adaptations are essential to human progress."
- Eugene McElvaney, 1954
Building facts
| Community abbreviations | McE |
| Building capacity | 252 |
| Year built | 1959 |
| Residential area | Central |
| Physical address | 6000 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 McElvaney.
James (Jim) Hart (He/him/his)
Faculty-in-Residence
Jim Hart earned a BFA from SMU and MFA from Yale School of Drama. He lives in McElvaney Commons with his wife Kristina, daughter Dottie, and their growing puppy, Bonnie. Before returning to SMU, Professor Hart and his family lived many years in Oslo, Norway. Hart shared, “We love getting to know our McElvaney residents. It’s so fun engaging with them both inside and outside the classroom." Follow their pup on Instagram: @McElvaneyPup
Maya Reeves (She/her/hers)
Residential Community Director
Maya Reeves is from Mesquite, TX, with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a master’s degree in Adult and Higher Education. She enjoys reading, volunteering as a sexual health educator, and exploring the restaurants of Dallas. Maya is passionate about supporting student initiatives – seeing students bond over making McElvaney better is her favorite thing about McElvaney.