Karis Hudgins, Social Media Manager/Associate Editor  

At the University of North Carolina Greensboro, parking has evolved from a minor inconvenience to a daily challenge that affects students financially, logistically, and even academically. As the university continues to grow each semester, welcoming more students, expanding academic programs, and funding new campus facilities, the needs of students also increase. Yet, much of the campus’s infrastructure, specifically parking, is falling behind. For many students, the daily struggle of locating a parking spot cut into valuable time, wastes money, and in some cases, impacts class attendance and academic performance. In a time when pursuing higher education is already under extensive strain, the additional stress of finding a place to park before class should not be part of the college experience.  

The rising cost of parking permits at UNCG has become a financial burden on many students and their families. The cost of parking permits varies widely depending on the location of the lot, whether a student is a commuter, what building they live in, and their type of vehicle. However, even the least expensive option that allows on-campus residents to leave their cars parked overnight costs over $250. For students already burdened by tuition, rent, meal plans, and other required university expenses, the parking fees feel like another hidden cost of college.  

And it’s not just the cost of parking permits weighing on students’ shoulders. The availability of permits, particularly the most affordable ones, are a major concern as well. Despite applying months in advance, many permit types are limited and require students to be put on waitlists with no guaranteed timeline. As a result, many students are left to figure out off-campus parking options that force them to walk long distances to class with limited or no security and potential additional costs. Sydney Lohr, a second-year student, shares her experiences with being pushed to park on the outskirts of campus. She states, “There are times I genuinely feel unsafe walking to class. As a commuter student, I would like to have certainty that I’ll find a parking spot that won’t harm my safety or timeliness.” 

Those who are lucky enough to obtain a parking pass are subjected to the daily challenge of circling the campus searching for an open spot. Michelle Joseph, a third-year commuter with an Oakland Deck parking pass, describes her daily search as “some game of musical chairs.” She adds, “It’s ridiculous to pay hundreds for a parking permit just to circle the lot every morning. The struggle to find a spot makes it harder to get to class on time, and by the time I finally leave campus, I’m already running late for work.”  

This experience is not an isolated one. Students across campus echo the same frustrations, reporting that it takes upwards of thirty minutes just to secure a parking space. Aside from the annoyance and inconvenience of the daily search for a spot, the issue of limited parking has started to affect student attendance rates. Lohr shares, “My biggest issue this semester is being late to class. Nine times out of ten, I’m late because I spent fifteen-plus minutes trying to find parking.”  

In response, Parking Operations and Campus Access Management (POCAM) has encouraged students to arrive early as a solution to ensure they find parking. However, this is not feasible for many who travel far distances to campus or come directly from prior responsibilities such as jobs. Zainab Adamou-Mohamed, a commuter student, states, “I feel frustrated about the whole thing. I don’t want to have to arrive before 8 am on top of my commute just to find a spot.” Yet this is a common occurrence for students with late morning to midday classes. Many are left to make the decision between sacrificing their time and risking being late or missing class. This challenge not only wastes time, but it takes a toll on students’ mental health. 

Adamou-Mohamed continues, “Not finding parking before class can set a negative tone for the rest of my day.” She also addresses another unnecessary and even dangerous factor that limited parking creates. “Looking for a spot alongside other stressed students and faculty can make for a dangerous situation in the parking lots, and I’ve gotten into near-misses. I don’t remember it being this bad in previous years.” As students navigate the pressure of keeping up in college courses, maintaining jobs, and balancing personal relationships, finding a parking spot should not be an additional stressor on their plates. 

According to POCAM, “UNCG does not run out of spaces, even in peak demand.” Their last report, conducted in Fall 2020, shows that only 85% of the parking capacity is utilized during peak demand hours. But this data is arguably outdated and irrelevant as 2020 was an especially abnormal year with COVID-19 disrupting university operations and drastically decreasing the number of on-campus residences as well as in-person classes. Since then, UNCG’s student population has also dramatically grown. As of September 2025, the university celebrated hitting its highest enrollment level in four years with over 18,000 students enrolled. Today’s parking situation is no longer accurately reflected in the last published report. For the sake of students, parking operations on campus must be reevaluated and expanded to meet their rapidly growing needs.  

In an attempt to address these concerns, UNCG does offer alternative transportation services, such as the Park and Ride and Spartan Chariots. The Park and Ride allows students to purchase a less expensive parking permit in exchange for parking in a remote lot located past the Greensboro Coliseum, with the Spartan Chariot transporting them to and from campus. And while this option is financially appealing, it carries invisible costs as well. Students who rely on these services face less flexibility as the shuttles may arrive and leave at inconvenient times that do not align with their schedules. Parking in the remote lot also does not offer students overnight or weekend access to their vehicles. This can be especially frustrating for those with off-campus jobs or who depend on the availability to travel during these times. 

Finding a parking spot should not be a daily obstacle that students face in their higher education journey. And the challenge of doing such is not going to minimize or go away on its own. While it is the responsibility of students to advocate for themselves by reporting these issues, it is the university’s duty to not only listen to these concerns but to modify their policies and infrastructure to accommodate student needs.  

Unfortunately, due to the university’s limitation of physical space on campus, the solution is not as simple as paving new parking lots or building additional parking decks. UNCG does not have the ability to expand parking without sacrificing greens spaces or areas dedicated to recreational use. This makes it clear that the issue cannot simply be addressed by providing more parking, but the entire campus parking system needs to be reconsidered and potentially redesigned. This growing problem also raises concerns about how the university chooses to prioritize or ignore students’ everyday needs. With increasing enrollment and expanding student demands, it’s time for UNCG to adopt better policies that put students first.