Parking on Campus
As it is at the beginning of each semester, parking on campus is at a premium. This year is no exception. It is anticipated that our traditional parking lots will be filled, and we will be using a number of lesser used lots to accommodate the overflow vehicles for a while.
Although everyone likes to be able to park in a parking lot that is close to their particular residence hall or destination, that is not always possible. Student lots are designated for commuters and all students that reside on campus. Students that reside on the campus can park in any student lot, but not in a commuter lots. Students (on campus or commuter) cannot park in a space or lot designated for faculty and staff parking.
In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure, the parking committee and University Police are asking for your assistance in doing the following:
- Park in your designated lots in a clearly marked legal parking space.
- Do not block anyone in.
- Do not block driving lanes.
- If you do not drive your vehicle daily, please park in an upper lot away from the dorms/academic buildings to give those that drive every day easier access.
The areas that we have designated as lesser used (upper lots) on campus include lots 20,22,24 and 31. Lots 20,22 & 24 are near Orvis. Lot #24 is located above Orvis and lot #31 is accessed by driving behind Peet Hall. In addition, we have two other lots on State Route. 244; lot #42 which is behind the Motorsports Complex and an area behind the Veterinary Technology Center. These lots are seldom full and using these lots will ease a lot of the initial parking problems.
ACES runs a shuttle that will transport students from the Veterinary Technology Center lot to the main campus. Call 607-587-4705 to find out what the ACES pick up schedule is for these lots.
View the ASC online interactive map for a complete view of the campus and available parking lots for the permit issued.
If you have any questions or concerns related to the parking on campus, or rules and regulations, you may direct your concerns to the following email: parkingconcerns@alfredstate.edu.
Note: this email account is NOT to be used for appealing a parking ticket. The parking ticket appeal form can be found under the Forms drop-down or picked up at the University Police Department in person. You have 5 business days to appeal a parking ticket.
Student Parking Changes FAQ
This Q&A explains recent parking updates, where students may park, and how enforcement works. Our goal is to keep parking fair, available, and safe for everyone. Thank you for doing your part—parking in the correct areas helps your classmates, our staff, and campus operations run smoothly.
What changed in where I can park?
We have unified all student parking. Commuter students may continue to park in any space designated as student parking. Residential students living on campus may park in student-designated areas and through these changes, also have access to three additional locations previously restricted: Lots 4, 9 and 13.
Why did you unify student parking?
We made this change for two reasons:
- Rules easier to understand: in prior years, many commuter students were unsure they could park in any student-designated space and limited their search to Lots 4, 9, or 13. This change simplifies the system and makes it clearer that commuter students may use any student-designated parking area.
- Residential student access: some of the previously restricted lots are very close to residence halls.
What other changes help students?
All students with a valid parking permit may park in the following faculty/staff lots between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to support evening classes, labs, and library use: Lots 6, 7, 10, 11, 28, and 29. (Previously, this expanded access was commuter-only.) Please park only during the approved hours and in marked spaces.
What changed regarding parking tickets and fines?
We adjusted fines to strengthen voluntary compliance and keep parking available for those who follow the rules:
- We are increasing all parking fines by $5. For example, a typical ticket increases from $25 to $30. This helps maintain a meaningful deterrent against willfully choosing to park in restricted areas.
- We are establishing a Persistent Violator category. If an operator receives more than 5 parking tickets in the same academic year, each additional ticket will be $50 during that year. This is intended to deter a growing pattern of repeated inattention and non-compliance to draw the operator’s attention to the rules.
- We are establishing an Aggravated Violator category. If an operator receives more than 10 parking tickets in the same academic year, each additional ticket will be further escalated to $100 for that academic year. This applies to situations where a clear pattern of violations is showing the regulations are being knowingly and willfully disregarded.
- For students who receive more than 20 tickets in the same academic year, parking privileges may be suspended or revoked. This will remove the ability to have a car on campus due to a demonstrated complete unwillingness to comply with parking regulations act responsibly. This is inarguably a last resort.
The good news is that the vast majority of students will never experience these cost escalations, because most members of the community following the rules!
We’re proud to be among the campuses that allow first-year students to bring cars. We’re also proud to align permit sales with available parking capacity to avoid overselling beyond space available (a common practice elsewhere). Because parking is a shared resource, we appreciate everyone following the regulations to ensure we have an orderly system built on mutual respect and unified commitment to a system that works.
FAQ
I hear that parking on a university or college campus is tight… are there enough spaces?
Yes! While on patrol and watching out for your safety at ASC, University Police also conduct parking space audits at the start of each semester as new students are searching for the best available space. Our audits and counts taken during peak demand (around 9:00-10:00 am) show hundreds of empty and available spaces on the Alfred campus.
Often new students, staff, or visitors, ask our police officers for assistance to learn their way around. They are here to help and can show you the multiple student parking lots with open spaces! Refer to the map until you’ve established your routine for when to arrive on campus and learn where empty spaces are most likely available at the time you’re parking your vehicle.
Have you “oversold” parking permits compared to the available number of spaces?
No. Nationally, most colleges do “oversell” parking permits by up to two times the number of spaces they have. Why? Because not all permit holders are using the spaces at the same time. At Alfred State, students in Alfred and Wellsville share 1945 parking spaces. Consistently, the ratio of permits-to-spaces at has remained under a factor of 1.
Does my parking permit guarantee me convenient parking, close to my building or classes?
No, unfortunately. While purchasing a parking permit entitles you access to campus parking, it cannot guarantee any person access to specific lots based on convenience. While we’d all like parking close to the buildings that we frequently use, the reality is that parking on college campuses is dynamic and requires personal flexibility to use lots with the available space at your particular time of arrival. Arriving at peak times changes the availability of the most convenient spaces.
When does the college begin issuing parking violations and not just warnings?
The University Police Department typically starts the fall semester by issuing warning notices to encourage compliance with parking regulations. We want to provide a short grace period for finding your way around. Most tickets carry only a $25 fine meant to encourage compliance with campus parking regulations.
What does the college do with the collected student parking permit fee and tickets issued?
The fee supports paving, re-sealing, parking lot lighting, snowplows to keep the lots clear, and more. A parking permit helps maintain and keep lots accessible, but does not guarantee or reserve a specific lot or area.
I am unhappy with my parking options. I changed my mind and would prefer not to have a parking permit on campus. What can I do?
You may visit University Police to turn in your permit and receive a prorated refund.