Commuter Student Success
Studying & Hanging Out on Campus
Commuter students are welcome in all common spaces on campus before, after, and in between classes. Whether students live on or off campus, face coverings are required inside all campus buildings.
Below are some of our favorites, or check out this listing for more ideas of places to hang out on campus!
Commuter Lounge – Campus Center next to the Post Office
Royals Den – University Commons on the second floor
Hot food options
Dining Hall – Ground floor of Northlawn –
A meal plan, basic or full, is recommended (but not required) for commuter students.
Meal plan or not, for reduced prices of all your meals in the cafeteria you can buy
a “Lion’s Share” of at least $100 and the cafeteria will give you an additional twenty
percent that can be used in the dining hall or the Royals Den snack shop (your $100
is turned in to $120!). Ask about Lion's Share at the reception desk as you enter
the dining hall!
Get involved
The easiest way to meet other students is to get involved in campus life. Student organizations has something for everyone. Also, stay tuned for opportunities to get involved with recreational sports, visit the fitness center, the game room and other related physical activities.
Commuter Lunches
New for 2025-26, we have expanded our Commuter Meal Options. Commuter students can drop into the Student Life Suite (second floor, University Commons) and ask anyone with an office for your Commuter Meal Tickets. You can take that ticket and use it for one free meal - any day, any time. All you have to do is present the ticket at the Dining Hall. Three tickets are available to you for the first half of a semester. After fall break/spring break you can come by the office and receive three additional tickets.
What is happening on campus?
The Calendar tab on myEMU has all the latest happenings on EMU’s campus. By clicking on the event you will find a detailed description of what, when, and for who of anything that is going on at EMU. The Calendar tab also contains a complete listing of Zoom links for campus events.
Checking your EMU e-mail will also keep you in touch. We know that there are many forms of communication that students use, but e-mail is favored by faculty and staff and is used for many official EMU communications.
Your student mailbox is another form of communication between you and the community. Please check it frequently.
Other ways to stay informed about what’s happening are the following:
- web calendar on myEMU
- E-mail announcements
- Follow EMU on social media
- TV announcements outside the Dining Hall and Student Life Suite
- Weathervane (university newspaper)
- Bulletin boards in the Campus Center greeting hall and the Science Center
Weather delays
Wondering if the snow or ice is causing a delay in classes? myEMU will have all the latest announcements or you can sign up for EMU Alerts and receive a text when decisions are made
Need assistance, advice or information?
If you have any special needs or concerns, please stop by the Student Life Suite on the second floor of University Commons, call 540-432-4135, or email studentlife@emu.edu.
