Residence Life
Transformative experiences, lifelong friendships
SMU is combining the academic, residential and social aspects of a traditional collegiate experience to allow first-and second-year students the opportunity to make friends and transition smoothly in a supportive environment. By living in one of the 11 on-campus Residential Commons, SMU students interact with students from across the country and around the world, developing a global perspective right here on campus!
All of our Residential Commons -- RC's for short -- are co-ed and offer the same amenities: mostly double-occupancy rooms with similar furnishings and access to classroom and study space and dining options. But, that's where the similarities end. Each architecturally distinctive building houses a community that is ever-evolving with each new group of residents, developing unique traditions, gatherings, and meaningful activities. Each RC even has its own signature crest and colors to further add to the individual identity of the community. Together, the 11 Commons make up a vibrant, dynamic residential living and learning system that reflects the diversity on which SMU thrives as a whole.
Faculty Engagement
SMU’s commitment to creating lasting, mentoring relationships between students and faculty extends into the Residential Commons system with the Faculty in Residence. The FiRs are the cornerstone of the residential life experience, offering mentorship, guidance, intellectual discourse and fostering community outside of the classroom.
Whether it’s teaching a class inside the RC, organizing a group outing to explore one of Dallas’ offerings such as Klyde Warren Park, or baking up a fresh batch of cookies for a weekly book club, FiRs are there to engage, interact and foster students through their first two years on campus. You may even get the opportunity to take walks with a furry resident, like Chewy, official Dog in Residence at Crum Commons!