Morrison-McGinnis Commons

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

Designed for community

Free laundry
Movable furniture
Tabletop games
Community microwaves

Convenient location

Walk or bike to class
Nearby parking in Binkley garage
Easy access to Mac’s Place
Central location on-campus

An academically-oriented enviroment

24-hour study rooms and spaces
Faculty-in-Residence
Peer Academic Leaders (PALs), Honors Mentors, and Wellness Education Student Team(WEST)
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

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

Sample floor plans

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

Community bath single room

Suite double room

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.

Room and furniture dimensions

Square footage ranges

Suite bath rooms: 130 - 240 sq.ft.
Community bath rooms: 160 - 240 sq.ft.

Furniture dimensions

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

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 City Square 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 MoMac Engage Dallas Student Director, Ailsa McCollom at amccollom@smu.edu
.

What you can expect

SnoMac Winter Festival

SnoMac is a large winter festival and celebration of the winter season. For the past 8 years, members of the Morrison-McGinnis Commons Council fully take the lead in brainstorming, planning, and executing an event that attracts 250-300 people from the SMU community. Get excited for great food, fun activities, and other traditional components to celebrate the season.

MoMacians throw what you know!

MoMacians take great pride in the affiliation to their Commons. You’ll learn the Double M sign and affiliated mascot so you can take pride in your new home just like years of MoMacians before you!

McQuad Block Parties

A couple times a year, the other buildings in the ‘McQuad’ area (McElvaney, Cockrell-McIntosh, and Morrison-McGinnis) team up to throw an epic block party. Our Retro Night theme in the Spring was a blast from the past for students as they enjoyed sliders, arcade games, and a silent disco!

Live, learn, achieve—together

Get to know the Faculty-in-Residence and Residential Community Director of Morrison-McGinnis Commons.

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.

Elizabeth Turner (She/her/hers)

Residential Community Director

Elizabeth Turner is from the quaint town of Charleston, Arkansas. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2022 and her Master of Arts in Teaching for Middle/Secondary Education in 2024 at Arkansas Tech University. Her most recent professional role was serving as a Resident Director overseeing four Residential Halls at Arkansas Tech. Elizabeth is deeply passionate about fostering community among residents and paying forward the opportunities she has received. Elizabeth loves painting and doing other creative endeavors in her free time. You can also catch her cheering at sporting events or exploring campus with her two beloved cats, Buckeye and Calypso!