Morrison-McGinnis Commons
Community | Acceptance | Character
"MoMac" for short
Individually unique, together complete.
“MoMac is full of fun events to keep spirits high throughout the year. We love to give out TONS of food and have a good time. Some favorites include SnoMac, MoMac at the Movies, Super Bowl Watch Parties, Sunday Night Snacks with Mark, Variety Hour, and so much more! Commons Council and I work really hard to make MoMac feel like a home for everybody. We can’t wait for y’all to get here, and I know we’re gonna have so much fun!”
"Morrison-McGinnis Commons is a wonderful place to live. The community is very strong, and you will make many life-long friends in Morrison-McGinnis. While we may not have the newest building (it has a lot of character), the people who live here make the journey worthwhile. Also, we have many traditions that make our commons unique, such as Sunday Night Snacks, MoMac at the Movies, SnoMac, MoMac and Cheese, and much more. MoMac Spirit Check!"
What you can expect
SnoMac Winter Festival
SnoMac is a large winter festival and celebration of the end of fall classes. For the past sixyears, members of the Morrison-McGinnis Commons Council fully take the lead in brainstorming, planning, and executing an event that attracts 250to 300 people from the SMU community. Be on the lookout for great food, fun traditions, and stress-relieving activities at this crucial point in the semester.
MoMacians throw what you know!
MoMacians take great pride in the affiliation to their Commons. You'll learn the MoMac Double M sign and the MoMac Spirit Check so you can take pride in your new home just like years of MoMacians before you!
MoMac at the Movies
MoMac at the Movies is a semi-annual campus-wide tradition and favorite event for Morrison-McGinnis residents. Our Faculty in residence rents out a theater in a nearby cinema and arranges a screening of a current, popular film. In addition, SMU faculty members whose areas of expertise align with subjects relevant to the film are invited for a discussion over food following the movie. The fall semester film occurs on Labor Day Monday while the spring semester film occurs during the week of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and focuses on themes of civil rights and social consciousness.
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 Morrison-McGinnis Commons (MoMac), we focus on Child Poverty as a community need in Dallas. MoMac students address this by collaborating on service events and activities with local partner, After8toEducate, Behind Every Door, and Vogel Alcove, 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 and Civics & Individual Ethics proficiencies required for graduation. Engage Dallas cultivates unique and enriching experiences for SMU students to explore and serve Dallas!
Questions? Email your MoMac Engage Dallas Student Director, Abigail Nguyen, at abigailn@smu.edu.
Get a sense of the community
Get a feel for all that Morrison-McGinnis 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
- Free laundry
- Movable furniture
- Tabletop games
- Community microwaves
- Walk or bike to class
- Nearby parking in Binkley garage
- Easy access to Mac’s Place
- Central location on-campus
- 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 single room
Suite double room
Room and furniture dimensions
Square footage ranges- Suite bath rooms: 130 - 240 sq.ft.
- Community bath rooms: 160 - 240 sq.ft.
- Desk: 2'6" H x 3'6" W x 2' D
- Dresser: 2'6" H x 2'6" W x 2' D
- Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Twin)
- Window: 4'10" H x 3'2" W
About our namesakes
J. Ray Morrison was the first head football coach and athletic director for SMU. Morrison was responsible for building—by hand—the practice fields at SMU by carting squares of sod from nearby to the designated location on campus. He is remembered in American football history for his “Flying Circus” offense that helped popularize the forward pass, today a staple of the sport.
Dr. John H. McGinnis was the first professor and original member of the SMU faculty. McGinnis, known for his “strength of individuality” (C.W. Ferguson, “The Other End of the Log”), was a professor of English, founder of the SMU Press, and creator of The Dallas Morning News’ weekly book section.
Building facts
| Community abbreviations | MoMac, MM |
| Building capacity | 201 |
| Year built | 1964 |
| Residential area | Central |
| Physical address | 6004 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 MoMac.
Dr. Debra Branch (She/her/hers)
Faculty-in-Residence
Debra Branch is a eighth-generation Texan, born in the border town of Eagle Pass and raised in the Piney Woods of East Texas. She received her BA at the University of Texas at Austin and her MA at the University of Oklahoma, both in Sociology. Dr Branch has won several campus honors at SMU, including the prestigious Provost’s Teaching Award. In addition, she teaches regularly at SMU-in-Taos, and has taken students to Cuba as part of the SMU in Havana/Miami abroad program. She is the SMU Faculty-in-Residence for Morrison-McGinnis Residential Commons. Learn more about Dr. Branch and her family.
Rylie Ackley (She/her/hers)
Residential Community Director
Rylie Ackley is from Centennial, CO. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Religion and a Master's degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs, both from Baylor University. She enjoys watching movies, reading books, playing board games, and being outside. Rylie's favorite aspect of working in Residence Life & Student Housing is partnering with students to build a home and community within and from which students can grow and thrive.