Dive Brief:
- The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is taking campus parking digital with NuPark's open parking management platform, according to Campus Technology.
- Thanks to the new platform, integrated license plate recognition tech will replace the need for physical parking permits displayed in windows, as well as allowing Parking and Transportation Services administrators and staff to see where a vehicle is parked and what its enforcement status is via a digital dashboard in real time.
- The move is also letting UNCC fulfill a longterm student demand for semester permits, and Campus Technology reports that NuPark is also used at institutions including Baylor University, Florida International University, and Texas Tech.
Dive Insight:
Streamlining campus parking and enforcement is yet another area where colleges and universities can save both time and money. Taking monitoring and enforcement digital can alleviate the expense of printing paper permits, which are often on a more expensive laminate material for student and staff passes, as well as reducing the need for staff to physically patrol parking locations and identify those in violation.
This can be especially beneficial for institutions that have largely become commuter schools. The growing "new normal" of majority non-traditional students on campuses has no doubt created a greater demand for parking at a number of institutions. Simplifying that process for both the student and campus parking officials is a win for both parties.