With the start of the fall 2012 semester approaching, Oakland University students, faculty and staff are reminded to allow extra time and to pack some patience as they return to campus.
Classes are set to begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, with the first full day of the semester beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
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.
As main campus lots begin to fill, sufficient available parking can often be found in the P-11 lot by the Upper Fields, the P-37 and P-35 lots near Pioneer Road and Library Drive, as well as in the P-29 parking structure. In addition, 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.
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 Facebook page throughout the week.
Two welcome tents staffed by student volunteers will be set up near South Foundation Hall and across from the Campus Recreation Center 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 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, and Friday, Sept. 7, and from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and Thursday, Sept. 6.
The Bear Bus will begin service on Wednesday, Sept. 5. During the first few weeks of the semester, the Bear Bus Vans will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. along a route traveling from Hamlin Hall, the Ann V. Nicholson Student Apartments, P-11, O'Dowd Hall, P-36, Dodge Hall, P-35, P-1 and the Human Health Building. Beginning in mid-September, Bear Bus Shuttles will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., traveling from Hamlin Hall, the Ann V. Nicholson Student Apartments, P-11, O'Dowd Hall, P-36, Elliot Hall, Dodge Hall, P-35, P-1, and the Human Health Building. At that time, the Bear Bus Vans will change to a shorter route.
The Bear Bus Vans and Shuttles are free for all students, faculty and staff with a Grizzly ID. The vans and shuttles will make frequent stops, allowing for only a five to ten minute wait at bus stops.
View the map to locate Bear Bus stops, walking paths and bike racks on campus.
The
OU Bike Share Program will change this fall. As before, several bikes will be available for free and easily accessible transportation to students, however the majority of bikes will be available for extended check out at the Recreation Center with a Grizzly ID.
Bike racks can be found outside most buildings and in numerous areas on campus.
There have been several additions to parking this fall, and portions of the P-1 and all of the P-3 lots have been returned to general use. The P-1 and P-32 lots have been expanded to include a total of 150 new spaces. Additionally, there are new pull-off lanes on Pioneer Drive and Meadow Brook Road to maintain traffic flow while students and others are being dropped off.
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 Tuesday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 14.
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:
• View the
campus map
• View the
OU Facebook and
Twitter accounts
• Tune to
WXOU 88.3-FM
Members of the Oakland community should check back often to
oakland.edu for the most up to date information and news about the university, including events, road closures and important campus notices.
