Campus community to prepare for a busy return to classes
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.
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.
The OU community is reminded to plan ahead to return to campus. Classes are set to begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, with the first full day on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
Created by Katherine Land - Deleted (land@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Modified by Katherine Land - Deleted (land@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Article Start Date: Tuesday, September 4, 2012
