On March 2, SMU’s Hilltop Scholars Instagram announced that beginning in the Fall of 2026, McElvaney Commons would be converted into an honors dorm for first-year students in the University Honors Program, Hilltop Scholars and Turner Scholars, living in the heart of campus.
“This new Honors Residential Community is designed to bring together rigorous academics, meaningful friendships, and intentional mentorship – all in one place,” the post stated.
However, current residents of McElvaney were aware of this change before the Instagram announcement. Residence Life and Student Housing, or RLSH, informed the residential assistants of the change the week of Jan. 12, and residents were notified via email on Jan. 22.
A McElvaney resident shared with The Daily Campus the email they received explaining the change. To protect the student’s privacy, we have crossed out their name.
After speaking with current McElvaney residents, RAs and the new Faculty-in-Residence, here are the facts:
McElvaney’s honors dorm will mainly house incoming freshmen. Incoming freshmen are not required to live in McElvaney their first year, but it is an option if they choose it and is encouraged by the faculty of these programs.
Honors sophomores may live there if they wish, but it is not required.
Although it is technically called the ‘honors dorm,’ not everyone will be in the honors program, as it will be a mix of honors and scholars students.
Current residents in McElvaney, specifically freshmen and sophomores, have mixed opinions on this change. For many sophomores in McElvaney, this news isn’t directly affecting them, as most plan to move off campus or into upper housing.
Sophomore Gillian Ricks has been a resident of McElvaney for the past two years. Although she is moving off campus next year, the news was still a shock.
“I kind of think it’s odd that they’re putting all honors students in one dorm,” Ricks said. “I just feel like SMU prides itself of being diverse and meeting different kinds of people. I feel like putting the same type of person in one place kind of limits you to that.”
Although the dorm is intended for freshmen, honors sophomores can live there if they choose, but not many are.
Honors freshman John Yates currently lives in Kathy Crow, but will not live in McElvaney next year.
“I’m staying in Kathy Crow,” Yates said. “I like Kathy Crow, nothing against McElvaney.”
Freshman Cecilia Nelson is also an honors student who currently lives in McElvaney, but does not plan to stay there next year.
“I was not going to [stay in McElvaney], only because I felt like it was kind of advertised towards freshmen next year,” Nelson said.
Although McElvaney is at the heart of campus, current residents were curious as to why RSLH chose McElvaney.
“If I were an honors student as a freshman, I would maybe like a nicer dorm. I know that McElvaneys’ probably not the nicest on campus and it’s one of the oldest buildings,” Nelson said. “I know they’re not forced to live here, but given the option, I definitely would probably rather have the new dorms.”
McElvaney is one of the older buildings on campus, originally built in 1959. Some students have complained about the building’s upkeep.
“The first day sophomore year, the bathroom flooded, and there’s been a lot of ant problems,” Ricks said. “I’ve heard there’s been mold issues in the past. I haven’t experienced that but…McElvaney is just old.”
The Daily Campus reached out to RLSH for comment, but did not hear back.
Despite the building’s old age, there are members of the McElvaney Community who are excited about this change.
One RA believes this is a good thing for the campus, helping to increase participation in the honors program. The RA also said that the dorm will function like all the other dorms on campus, with residential life remaining the same and continuing to compete in dorm competitions, such as the Commons Cup.
Dr. Joan F. Arbery, an assistant director of the University Honors Program, will be the new Faculty-in-Residence in McElvaney. Having grown up on a university campus herself, she is excited to bring a sense of community and home to incoming freshmen.
“I’m looking forward to being able to go back to some of the things I used to do a lot more when I lived in a community,” Dr. Arbery said. “Whether that was in college or graduate school, just hosting people in my home.”
Dr. Arbery plans to host barbecues on the patio, bring her dog out for students to play with and host music nights each Monday for students. She also plans to invite faculty and administrators from each program to interact with students across campus.
“My hope is five to 10 new faces who are joining in and talking to the students from the community,” Dr. Arbery said. “I want to be inviting as many students from all of the programs that are part of this dormitory, not just the ones who live in [other] dorm[s].”
