As the Oakland University community prepares to return for the fall 2011 semester, students, faculty and staff are reminded to allow extra time and to pack some patience as they travel on campus.
Finding a convenient parking spot may be a challenge during the first few weeks of the new semester, but initiatives from the
Oakland University Police Department and
Office of Student Affairs are in place to make it as smooth an experience as possible.
Throughout the main campus, OUPD will monitor and close parking lots once they are full, with the exception of allowing authorized drivers to enter and access available handicap spaces. Officers will take periodic lot counts throughout the day and early evening of the first two weeks of the semester. Information on actual available parking can be obtained by calling (248) 370-2445.
As main campus lots begin to fill, sufficient available parking can often be found in the parking structure, the P-11 lot by the Upper Fields, as well as the P-37 lot and P-35 lots near Pioneer Road and Library Drive. In addition, approximately 320 temporary turf parking spaces have been marked and will be opened in those areas as needed and as weather conditions allow. Additional signage has been provided to direct traffic.
Real-time parking recommendations will be available on the official OU Twitter and Facebook accounts. Students and staff can also post their own parking suggestions and see others' using the hash tag
#parkOU. For additional parking tips, view
OU’s Notes.
At the same time, Oakland’s student radio station, 88.3 WXOU-FM, will periodically broadcast updated parking availability information based on information provided by the OUPD.
Three information tents manned by student volunteers will be set up in various locations throughout campus to provide directions and information to any new members of the community who may be unfamiliar with building locations and roadways. Volunteers will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, Tuesday, Sept. 5, and Wednesday, Sept. 6, and from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.
The
OU Bike Share Program is set to provide free and easily accessible transportation to students.
Bike racks can be found outside most buildings and in numerous areas on campus.
The
Bear Bus will begin service on Thursday, Sept. 1, and will run 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Bear Bus will be free for all visitors, students, faculty and staff. The two busses will make frequent stops, with priority route locations at P-11 and P-35.
Students living in the residence halls and student apartments are urged to walk or bike to class rather than attempt to drive for purposes of finding a closer parking space. This should help alleviate some of the expected congestion.
Students should plan to get to campus at least an hour in advance of their class start time and to leave their vehicle in the same parking location throughout the day. Many campus offices and services will have extended hours, including Kresge Library, OU Rec Center, Pioneer Food Court, Café O’Bears and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
OU’s Welcome Week offers a variety of on campus activities and events for students, set from Thursday, Sept. 1 through Friday, Sept. 9. View the
Welcome Week calendar of events to learn about opportunities to participate.
Traffic exiting campus is also likely to be congested at times. Students are encouraged to remain on campus until non-peak exit times, and to plan for additional travel time as they leave campus for the day.
For assistance with parking:
