The start of a new semester looks different every year. With the fall 2023 semester beginning on Aug. 28, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó’s Parking and Transportation Services has enhanced parking to make it more convenient for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. From virtual permits to a new website that displays availability in parking garages, here are seven tips to help you navigate around campus this fall.
1. Purchase your parking permit.
Students, faculty, and staff must have a parking permit to park their vehicles on campus. Parking is more convenient through a virtual parking system that uses license plate recognition (LPR) technology to connect license plates to permits.
Parking permits can be purchased online through the . Be sure your vehicle information is accurate as your license plate is your parking permit.
Please keep in mind that license plates must be visible from the drive aisle. If you prefer to back your car into a parking space and don’t have a front license plate, you must display a parking sticker on your windshield or rearview mirror hang tag. Parking decals can be purchased at Parking and Transportation Services' office.
2. Park with 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó Park & Go.
Plan ahead before coming to campus with 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó Park & Go — a new website that displays real-time occupancy percentages of the Cottage Grove Parking Garage, University Gateway Parking Garage, and the expanded Tropicana Parking Garage offering an additional 1,000 parking spaces.
3. Pay as you go.
Don’t have a parking permit? PayByPhone is a convenient, easy, and secure way to pay for hourly or daily parking. Register your vehicle through the PayByPhone app or website and pay for the amount of time you need.
4. Charge your electric vehicle.
There are 34 electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces across campus. To charge your vehicle, you must have a valid 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó parking permit and a ChargePoint account. After your membership is activated, you can begin your charging session. Charging is available for up to four hours.
5. Find other ways to get to campus.
Save yourself time and avoid the hassle of finding parking with transportation alternatives. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) offers carpooling through Club Ride, or you can get discounted transit passes through the U-pass program. Both programs are available to all students, faculty, and staff.
If you prefer rideshare services (such as Uber and Lyft), there are many designated pick-up and drop-off locations around campus.
6. Use campus maps and be aware of closures.
Visit the Campus Maps website for interactive maps of all buildings and parking lots. The website also features resources on where to find campus dining, computer labs, hydration stations, libraries, museums/galleries, athletic locations, and restrooms.
Another thing to keep in mind is that road closures happen from time to time and can impact parking on campus. Plan accordingly by staying up-to-date on the parking alerts on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó parking website.
7. Arrive early.
Plan to arrive at campus at least 30 minutes early. This gives you enough time to find parking (if needed), especially during the first few weeks of the new semester. Arriving early also gives you an excuse to grab a coffee or a quick bite to eat, stroll around campus, or catch up with friends or colleagues.
For more information, visit the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó parking website or call 702-895-1300.
