Ticket to Park: What You Need To Know About NGU Parking Permits
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Wyatt Duncan, Staff Writer
The fall semester is in full swing here at North Greenville University, and that means that nearly 2,400 students, and hundreds of faculty and staff, flood campus every day.
Such a large number of people means a large number of cars on campus, which causes a need for rules and regulations to be set in place to keep everyone safe. In order to park on campus, students are required to register their vehicles with Campus Security, which costs $65, per year, per car.
To many people on campus, this may seem like a random price tag, but there is actually a very systematic rhyme and reason behind the regulations and costs tied into parking passes on NGU’s campus. Tony Beam, the university’s Vice President for Student Life, shares that the $65 parking fee goes directly back into the university for a few different purposes.
“The university pays a service to print [the parking passes].” Beam explains. In addition to paying Rydin (“a premier manufacturer of customized, security printed parking control products”), the school also uses a portion of that fee to send parking passes to students prior to move in day, as well as other administrative costs.
“The university employs a position in Campus Security that specifically monitors parking and helps students [with parking questions]”, Beam adds.
Whatever is left over is placed into a “general fund”, which helps make the university better for everyone. “We’ve calculated the [parking] permits based on the cost to NGU, and the cost to maintain them”, Beam comments.
Jonny Hannah, a Sophomore at NGU, states that “The tuition as a whole at NGU is significantly less than other schools, so paying $65 for a parking permit isn’t that bad.”
In addition to the Rydin Parking Permits financially aiding the school, the parking system is used to make life easier for students, faculty and staff. “The key reason [for the parking service] is security,” Beam continues.
The stickers on Crusaders’ cars serve a few purposes. First, the decals allow Campus Security to know whether or not a car is supposed to be on campus. Ticketing vehicles without permits allows Security to keep track of “suspicious or malicious presence on campus,” Daniel Baker, a faithful officer with NGU’s Campus Security says, “Then we have a better chance of protecting campus and preventing harm to people and property.”
In addition to the parking permits bringing safety to campus, Baker says that “the parking permit is a quick and easy way for law enforcement personnel to identify NGU students and contact the school if students are ever involved in car accidents or other incidents off campus.” This helps with the safety of the NGU family on and off campus.
“North Greenville University’s Parking Regulations are designed to help provide all students the opportunity to park in relative proximity to dorms, classes, and other campus activities.” Baker comments.
With over 2,500 people on campus at any given time, however, it is difficult for everyone to park exactly where they want. While Campus Security wants to provide convenience and ease for everyone on campus, they do write tickets for those who break the rules and regulations set in place.
