While finals approach, students will be filling up the parking lots more than ever before. On top of tests and projects, students worry about the same set of issues: Where can I park? Will there be enough space? How early should I leave? And perhaps most important of all: How much will it cost? A self-funding parking program at Stan State must find a way to sustain itself and while many students feel the pinch when finals begin, the cost of parking at Stan State and many other California State Universities (CSUs) is often determined by the needs of its parking program.
According to the University Police Department at Stan State, “how much will it cost?” is more complicated than many realize. “Every campus has a parking program and the parking program essentially oversees parking on that campus. It does things like it sets the prices of parking, which isn’t generally done in the parking program level, that’s usually done at the level of the president’s office,” says UPD Chief of Police at, Clint Strode.
The funds are used for maintenance and other need related to parking. “The parking program does things like making sure that the parking lot lights are on. Making sure the daily permit dispensers are in place. Contracting with outside vendors for things like restriping the parking lots” says Strode.
Many students still feel the squeeze, however. “I transferred from Modesto Junior College so the parking permit thing is a huge adjustment because you go from paying $30 or $40 at MJC to paying like $184 over here. Close to $200. And it’s not always something that everyone can afford” says Mayra Marmolejo a junior at Stan State.
It can seem as though maintenance of a parking lot does not require much money, but the reality is much different. “Our parking program has to sustain itself and that’s through the issuing of parking citations and primarily through the sale of parking permits,” says Chief Strode.
“We can’t raise tuition, we can’t use student fees, we can’t use state dollars. All of that has to come from our parking program,” said Dr. Jennifer Biedendorf a professor of Communication Studies. She feels as though
parking fees are not as unreasonable as other schools she has taught at in the past. Biedendorf says, “where I’ve taught before in Pittsburg the parking pass was like $400 or something per semester. It was a ridiculous amount. I mean I know for students that’s a lot of money still but compared to other places it’s still pretty reasonable I think.”
Decisions regarding parking are discussed by the parking committee and must consider several factors when making decisions regarding fees. “They have to consider things like inflation. Things get more expensive daily. We’re paying more for electricity and more for labor as people’s salaries go up,” says Chief Strode.
Where do you come up with that money if you can’t use student fees or state dollars? It has to come from the parking program. Students wishes however would remain clear, more affordable parking. “I think if it could be a little bit more affordable, people would be more inclined to park on campus,” says Marmolejo. She adds that “I feel like that kind of would help with the safety too because a lot of students that do park off campus and have late night classes, it’s kind of sketchy for them to walk a couple of blocks at night.”
Students like Marmolejo do however have an important avenue for having their voices and concerns heard regarding parking. “In the fall of every year. The parking task force meets that includes representatives from the Associated Students representatives of faculty and staff and those are the things that we talk about” says Chief Strode.
On the topic of the Associated Students and parking matters, Lieutenant Matthew Dillon of the UPD says, “Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) always has someone that is a representative on the parking committee. As students, ASI always has input into things like price increases.” Lieutenant Dillon adds, “None of these decisions are made unilaterally. It is with a lot of collaboration and input from all of the stakeholders: The students, the staff, the faculty. Everybody gets involved with that and ASI always has someone involved.”
Students interested in parking matters at Stan State or who wish to voice opinions or concerns are encouraged to voice them with the Associated Students Inc. at the University Student Union in the Housing and Residential Life offices.