When spring semester charges hit student accounts, many Samford students realized the parking pass debate they thought ended in the fall was far from over.
While the total cost of a parking pass has not changed since last semester, the split billing structure and uncertainty surrounding exemptions have brought renewed attention to the issue.
Under Samford’s current policy, parking fees are automatically assessed each fall and spring semester and applied to student accounts upon registration
While the total cost increased flatly from $60 to $500, the $250-per-semester breakdown has prolonged the issue.
Transportation Services Director Louis Hinchey said that much of the pushback stems from lingering misunderstandings surrounding the policy.
“It was still just kind of the remainder of rumblings from the previous year,” Hinchey said, noting that students were not charged the full amount up front.
Beyond cost, uncertainty surrounding parking fee exemptions has become a central issue. Students may apply for full or partial exemptions, but approval is evaluated on a semester-by-semester basis and is not guaranteed to carry over.
Exemptions are primarily intended for students who do not plan to bring a vehicle to campus at all.
“That’s to ease congestion,” Transportation Specialist Mac Barron explained, adding that the option has helped improve traffic flow.
Partial exemptions exist but are limited and program specific. Students participating in off-campus internships or academic programs may still be ineligible if they intend to bring a vehicle to campus at any point during the semester, complicating planning for students whose schedules change midyear.
Transportation services maintain that requiring registration for any vehicle on campus between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. is necessary for safety and accountability.
“We try to make sure that we know everyone who’s on campus,” said Barron.
For some students, however, the policy feels disconnected from actual campus use. Senior Maggie Lindstrom described the cost as “incredibly frustrating,” especially for commuters.
“I don’t come on campus more than two to three times a week, so it makes no sense for me to pay the same cost as someone parking every day,” said Lindstrom.
As the spring semester progresses, students say this issue is not just the price itself, but the lack of flexibility based on circumstances.
Staff Reporter
