Adding more reserved parking on campus to the current 1,200 spaces will be discussed by the Campus Parking Committee on Thursday.

Of the current 9,000 total parking spaces, the reserved spaces are being re-evaluated to make sure they are serving the NIU community as best as they can, said Laura Lundelius, coordinator of parking and traffic. She said this is being discussed for two main reasons.

“I wanted to benchmark NIU against other universities’ policies when it came to reserved spaces,” Lundelius said. “Also, we really don’t have a policy in place concerning reserved spaces, and I would like for one to be put into place so that our office has a guideline to follow.”

There are 214 student-reserved parking spaces on campus, labeled “Reserved At All Times” or just “Reserved.” These spaces are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, she said. They are reserved for residence hall and commuter students.

Those with reserved parking spots are given a parking permit corresponding to their space, Lundelius said. If another person parks illegally in a reserved parking spot, there is a $40 fine.

Commuter students can purchase reserved spaces in three different lots: Lot B, near Anderson Hall; lot S, near the child care center; and lot 36, behind Founders Memorial Library.

It is in the best interest of all permit holders that a limited number of reserved spaces be dedicated on campus, said Norm Jenkins, assistant director of the Holmes Student Center and chair of the parking committee.

“Minimizing the number of reserved parking spaces allows general permit holders better access to parking and maximizes the use of all parking spaces,” he said. “In addition, the more reserved parking spaces that exist, the greater the challenge in terms of parking enforcement.”

Besides the 214 reserved spaces for students, 483 spaces are reserved for use by faculty and staff and include faculty/staff handicapped and departmental-reserved spaces.

About 83 of the faculty/staff-reserved spaces are available for purchase, Lundelius said. There are about 130 service spaces, 135 “15-minute” parking spaces and about 230 handicapped spaces.

Students can call Campus Parking Services in July to reserve a space for fall 2005, Lundelius said. If a space is not available, the student can have his or her name put on a waiting list. The red/blue spaces are ongoing and can be put on a waiting list as well.

Standard Parking Permit

Blue Permit – Annual $75 / Fall or Spring $50

Yellow & Orange Permit – Annual $60 / Fall or Spring $40

Reserved Parking Permit

Orange residence hall students – Annual $300 / Fall or Spring $160

Yellow commuter student – Annual $300 / Fall or Spring $160

Red/Blue faculty – Annual Monday thru Friday 7am-7pm $435 / Annual at all times $510