All Elon University students will see an increase in parking permit rates next academic year. For regular permits, the rates will increase from $160 to $225, except for Global Neighborhood lot permits which will increase from $50 to $100.

According to a campus-wide email forwarded by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley on Nov. 29, Chief of Campus Police and Safety Joe LeMire will be initiating a parking pilot program in which all freshman parking will be moved to the east side of campus, including at Danieley Center and a new lot being built at the Gerald Francis Center. 

The email also said that campus transportation — including parking buses, shuttles, E-rides and campus safety escort services — will facilitate transportation to and from these lots. In addition, future parking decisions will be made after the “first several years” of this pilot program.

Announced on Nov. 29 by Chief of Campus Police and Safety Joe LeMire, Elon University's proposed parking map to take effect at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Image from Elon University.

 This announcement for the 2024-25 academic year comes after the change in permit price for Mill Point residents at the beginning of the fall 2023 semester — having increased from free to $160.

During a town hall discussion inside Irazu Coffee on Nov. 8, President Connie Book hinted about these changes when parking was mentioned by students. 

Book said that Lemire may propose a series of changes and is considering various factors about student parking on campus.

“He's looking at everything, including whether first-year students should be able to have a car on campus or not,” Book said. 

The email also stated that the current freshmen parking locations in East Neighborhood will become faculty parking spots under this pilot program.