By Cait Kemp
News Editor
With every new school year comes a slew of documents to fill out, papers to be taken care of, and mundane tasks that have a hard deadline. One task students often are eager to complete is the registration to receive a parking pass on campus.
Springfield College allows sophomores, juniors, and seniors to keep their vehicles on campus for a fee of $130, for both resident and commuter students.
Due to COVID, that cost was diminished last year in the understanding that everyone was in difficult situations, but has returned to normal price for the fall 2021 semester. Parking for first-year students is only allowed under specific circumstances, such as medical reasoning or employment off-campus.
In order to receive a parking pass, students must register their vehicles on PrideNet and with the completion of their registration, they are signed up to get a pass.
Once students are on campus they can report to Springfield College’s Department of Public Safety, located at 25 Portsmouth Street. Students must bring their school ID to show the officers when they pick up their parking decal.
Parking decals are available for East lot, West lot, or Commuter lots. An East lot decal is valid for Lots 7 (Gulick Hall lot), 15 (PE Complex), and 18 (Townhouses/Senior Suites).
West lot decals are valid for Lots 2 (Living Center/Blake Hall) and 6 (International Hall).
Commuter decals are valid for Lots 5 (near Department of Public Safety), 9 (corner of Sheffield St and Alden St), and overflow into lots 2 and 15.
An email was sent out by the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday, which included the dates and times that students have the chance to go pick up their parking decals.
Pick-up is Friday, Sept. 10:00 a.m. from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Beginning next week, it is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
The Vehicle Registration section on Springfield College’s website details the cost of tickets in accordance with the offense.
Some examples of these are simply not having a parking pass, parking in an incorrect lot, parking in fire lanes or loading zones, parking on a sidewalk or grass, failure to move a vehicle during a snow removal and parking in a handicap spot. Tickets range from $25 to $125. Students should check all limitations on the Springfield College website.
Demonstrating safe parking and driving is an essential task, but also an easy one. Simply following the regulations and taking the time to park correctly, going the speed limit, and checking on any updates regarding parking that may be announced is an important way to create a safe environment for all students and faculty on campus.
For questions and concerns, contact (413) 748-3516 or parking@springfield.edu
Photo courtesy Springfield College