Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons

May Hay, Peyton, Shuttles Commons Crest

Diversity | Unity | Integrity | Harmony

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Get a sense of the community

Get a feel for all that MHPS 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
Designed for community
  • Free laundry
  • Movable furniture
  • Study rooms and spaces
  • Game room
  • Classroom
  • Community microwaves
Convenient location
  • Walk or bike to class
  • Nearby parking in Binkley garage or Airline Garage
  • Easy access to Umphrey Lee
  • Central location on campus provides easy access to academic buildings, Dedman Recreation Center, and Hughes-Trigg Student Center
An academically-oriented environment
  • 24-hour study rooms and spaces
  • Faculty-in-Residence
  • Peer Academic Leaders (PALs), Honors Mentors, and Student Wellness Champions
  • Educational programs
Worry-free features
  • Professional, on-site maintenance
  • 24-hour, on-call staff
  • Card-controlled building access
  • Security escorts
  • Roommate matching available
  • Adjacent bicycle racks

Sample floor plans 

Sketches are for illustration only; actual room layouts and furnishings may vary.

Peyton double room

Peyton Double

 

Mary Hay and Shuttles double room

Shuttles and MH Double

Mary Hay single room

MH Single

 

Building facts

 Community abbreviations  MHPS
 Building capacity  358 (Peyton-97, Mary Hay-110, Shuttles-151)
 Year built  Peyton-1950, Mary Hay-1959, Shuttles, 1957
 Residential area  North
 Physical address

 Peyton 6200 Hillcrest Avenue

 Mary Hay 6201 Bishop Boulevard

 Shuttles 6210 Hillcrest Avenue

 Room types  Singles and doubles
 Gender  Co-ed by gender by room

 

About our namesakes

Mary Hay Hall is named in honor of Mary Randle Hay*, former SMU Dean of Women.  Mary Randle Hay (1864-1953) was the widow of Stephen J. Hay, the mayor of Dallas when SMU was established. Following her husband’s death in 1916, Mary Hay became SMU’s Dean of Women, serving from 1923-1934. Dean Hay’s leadership led to the construction of more housing for women student, and in 1927, under her leadership, all resident women students were able to move into Virginia and Snider Halls.

Peyton Hall is named in memory of George L. Peyton, member of the SMU Board of Trustees.  George L. Peyton (1884-1939) was a Methodist minister, director of Wesley Bible Choir, Professor of Religion, and member of the Board of Trustees at SMU from 1934-1939. Following his death, Leila Peyton Hall  (1888-1972) finished her husband’s term on the SMU Board of Trustees. In addition to funding the construction of Peyton Hall in her husband’s honor, she also funded the Peyton Lectureship in Preaching. Following her death in 1972, the Leila Peyton Hall Endowment was established in her memory as part of the President’s Scholars Program in 1977.

Robert Hall Shuttles (1878-1955) was a Dallas area businessman, churchman, philanthropist, and former chair of the SMU Board of Trustees.

Room and furniture dimensions

Mary Hay Hall

Square footage ranges

  • Single Rooms: 90-160 sq.ft.
  • Double/Single Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.
  • Double/Double Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.
Furniture dimensions
  • Desk: 30" H x 17" W x 24.5' D
  • Dresser: 30" H x 29.5'" W x 24.5' D
  • Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Loftable Twin)
  • Window: 45 inches wide (height depends on the floor)

Peyton Hall

Square footage ranges

  • Single Rooms: 90-160 sq.ft.
  • Double/Single Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.
  • Double/Double Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.

Furniture dimensions

  • Desk: 30" H x 29" W x 28' D
  • Desk Storage Unit: 30”H X 17”W X 24 ½”D
  • Dresser: 30”H X 29 ½”W X 24 ½”D
  • Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Loftable Twin)
  • Window: 45 inches wide (height depends on the floor)

Shuttles Hall

Square footage ranges

  • Single Rooms: 90-160 sq.ft.
  • Double/Single Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.
  • Double/Double Suites: 185-250 sq.ft.

Furniture dimensions

  • Desk: 30" H x 29" W x 28' D
  • Desk Storage Unit: 30”H X 17”W X 28”D
  • Dresser: 30”H X 29 ½”W X 24 ½”D
  • Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Loftable Twin)
  • Window: 45 inches wide (height depends on the floor)


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.

Mary Hay Peyton Shuttles crest, Immigration and Refugee Support

In Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons (MHPS), we focus on Immigration & Refugee Supports as a community need in Dallas. MHPS students address this by collaborating on service events and activities with local partners, Dallas Furniture BankHeart House, Trusted World, and Intensive English Program 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! 

Start serving today! 

Questions? Email your MHPS Engage Dallas Student Director, Manasvi Kanneganti at engagedallas@smu.edu
.

What you can expect

MHPS Commons students enjoying the Taste of Diversity Signature Event.

Taste of Diversity

Taste of Diversity is MHPS Commons’ annual event designed to uplift our own value statement of Diversity, Harmony, Unity, and Integrity. At this event, community members have the opportunity to develop an understanding of different cultures around the world through the best possible gateway: food! Cuisines from across the world, locally sourced in Dallas, are on display as students learn about the country and culture they come from along with student performances.

Dr. Alberto Pastor (Faculty-in-Residence) and MHPS students outside for TAPAS event

Tapas & More

Each week, Alberto, our Faculty-in-Residence, welcomes every student for an evening of good food and social fun. A native of Spain, he brings the tradition of socializing around small dishes known as “tapas”. Students have the opportunity to taste Spanish tapas and other bites from international cuisines. Tapas & More is a dynamic event where MHPS residents also engage with different SMU student organizations of diverse background, faculty members, and guests from the Dallas community.

Four students holding green and white poster outside for MHPS Birthday Bash

MHPS Birthday Bash

The newest MHPS tradition, the MHPS Birthday bash. This is a birthday party for MHPS’s mascot, Owen the Triceratops along with all of MHPS’ birthdays. This event has food, lawn games, birthday activities, cake that will happen every year, but with a revolving theme. This event happens in late April and serves as an end of year celebration.

Live, learn, achieve—together

Get to know the Faculty-in-Residence and Residential Community Director of Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons.

Alberto Pastor

Dr. Alberto Pastor (He/him/his)

Faculty-in-Residence

A native of Madrid (Spain), Alberto Pastor has taught linguistics at SMU since 2005. His research interests are linguistic theory and sociolinguistic issues related to Spanish in the United States such as language contact, language ideologies and attitudes, and linguistic landscapes. In his classes and personal life, he tries to serve as an advocate for multilingualism and multiculturalism in the society at large. Along with his wife Martha, and their son Alejandro, they are thrilled to continue the diversity values and traditions of HPMS Commons, and to be part and foster this community. Learn more about Dr. Pastor and his family.

Roman Peterson

Roman Peterson (He/him/his)

Residential Community Director

Roman is born and raised a Texan. Originally from Lake Jackson, TX, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas State University and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Oklahoma State University. He is passionate about helping students become the person they want to be and being part of their journey. Roman enjoys learning about anything and everything, playing video and board games, watching tv and Dr. Pepper. Stop by his office in Mary Hay for good conversation.

Anna Sanders

Anna Sanders

Assistant Residential Community Director  

Anna is from Portland, Maine and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Baylor University. She is currently working on her Masters of Higher Education. She is looking forward to fostering the living-learning environment for future leaders. Anna loves reading, golfing, and baking in her free time.