Beginning this term, retired faculty and staff who work part-time for the University can no longer park on campus for free.
The Department of Public Safety previously issued free parking permits to qualifying retired University employees, but continued
complaints from faculty and staff, and a large increase in the amount of free permits issued prompted DPS to stop giving permits to retired employees who are still paid by the University.
Retired employees who are not paid still get free permits.
A few years ago, 60 free parking permits were issued to retired University employees. Since then, the number has climbed to more than 300, DPS Parking and Transportation manager Rand Stamm said.
Last year, emeritus permit sales totaled about $472,000, a large portion of DPS’ yearly budget of $1.6 million.
Faculty and staff permits are $75 per term or $167 per year. Each year, faculty and staff purchase between 3,200 and 3,400 permits, about half the total permits purchased from DPS.
Overuse of free parking permits for retired employees results in fewer parking spaces and decreased funds for DPS, Stamm said. DPS uses the money to fund its parking operations.
The free passes are for “University faculty granted emeritus/emerita status and to other retired University employees whose years of service and continuing connections with the University indicate such a benefit is appropriate,” according to DPS’ Web site.
Since the change, Stamm said he has received several complaints from employees who once parked for free.
“(Paying for) parking passes will diminish the amount of time retired faculty spend on campus, and that’s unfortunate,” said Grant McKernie, a retired theater arts professor who still temporarily works for the University. “It’s important that retired faculty feel they are welcome on campus to participate in activities, to help out and to continue their own research.”
McKernie retired from the University four years ago and this is his last year teaching, he said. He will be eligible for a free permit next year when he is no longer paid by the University.
Stamm said the decision was also made to “focus on the long range of getting people away from purchasing permits to (drive) their own vehicles and using other modes of transportation,” such as carpooling or walking to campus.
“It’s the best way to entice people to think about alternative transportation to campus,” said Steve Mital, sustainability coordinator for the Environmental Health and Safety department. Mital will work with DPS to reduce the amount of faculty who drive to work by developing programs like ride shares, a two-person carpool. “You should have to pay to park on campus,” he said.

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