McKay School of Education opens doors to all majors with commons space

The McKay commons is a space in the McKay Building that opened in September 2024 for students of all majors to gather.

The commons was conceptualized by a previous dean in the McKay School of Education along with several other people, including Jeanna Nichols, assistant dean.

I was here at BYU during my first year, and I just walked into this building, and I felt like I belonged here, said Alora Capson, a BYU student.

We just felt like our students struggled to find anywhere to be together, to have a place to study, to slip in between classes, or for any of our clubs to gather, Nichols said.

The school holds events there every week, including a sip and study that offers Italian sodas each Thursday.

I feel like the same people come in here, so most people know each other, said Allie Bond, an education student. Theres a lot of people who are in the same cohort who work together, and they use this space as an easy place to do group projects.

The McKay commons is also home to The Toolbox, a creative space near the back of the commons open to students of all majors.

Often, I just go over there to get supplies that I know they have that sometimes we don't have, Bond said. One time, I made a shirt there for a band.

The Toolbox holds everything from pens and pencils to tape, a Cricut machine, a Glowforge, a 3D printer and a sewing machine.

It's basically a maker space. So the possibilities are endless, Nichols said.

The idea for the commons was initially brought to the university by the McKay faculty in 2023. To complete a project that costs over a certain amount, organizers must get approval from the university, and this project exceeded that amount.

The university was very supportive and approved the project, according to Nichols.

I think people have loved the space from the beginning. Students were in there from the minute we opened the doors, Nichols said.

The McKay School of Education has five departments; one is housed in the Taylor Building. The students there do not have a gathering space. Because of this, their club leaders often schedule activities in the McKay commons as well.

The McKay commons is on the first floor of the McKay Building and is open to students of all majors.