The changes will provide more flexibility for most student car owners as well as new parking capacity.
Elon University will implement a new approach to student parking permits for the 2024-25 academic year that will provide more flexibility for returning students and additional parking capacity with the construction of a new parking lot for first-year residential students. Student parking permit fees will increase for the first time in more than a decade.
Next fall, students except for first-year residential students will have the ability to park in additional areas of campus. Previously, students were assigned a permit type tied to their residential neighborhood, and parking access was restricted to that area. Under the new plan, residential and commuter students who are at least in their sophomore year will have more options to choose from. A new parking map for the 2024-25 academic year details these options.
First-year residential students will continue to be able to bring a car to campus but will be required to use the easternmost lot in the Danieley Center or a new 500-space lot to be built adjacent to the Gerald L. Francis Center on East Haggard Avenue. First-year residential students will be able to use parking buses, shuttles, E-rides and campus safety escorts to help them access these parking locations.
These changes will create more parking capacity on campus for most students, faculty and staff, and will provide more flexibility during large events on campus such as admissions events, football games and commencement. The policy changes follow an examination of on-campus parking against the backdrop of growth at Elon by an ad hoc committee appointed earlier this year.
“We think students will find this policy offers them more value from their parking permit since they will be able to choose from a broader range of lots,” said Campus Safety & Police Chief Joe LeMire.
The parking committee also examined Elon’s parking permit fees and found that they are considerably lower than peer institutions in North Carolina and nationally, due in large part to the lack of fee increases at Elon for the past 13 years. Among 33 schools examined, Elon’s annual student parking permit fee of $160 was the eighth lowest.
Beginning in fall 2024, the student parking permit fee will increase to $225, which is still lower than the average among peer, aspirant and many North Carolina institutions. Global Neighborhood residents will see their permit fee increase from $50 to $100. The reduced rate accounts for residents needing to move their cars during some athletics contests or special events.
The university will continue to monitor parking trends and challenges, with the new first-year student parking policy being implemented as a pilot program. Future decisions will be made based on an analysis of data from the first several years of the pilot program.