Campus Life | February 28th, 2025

FAMU Students Frustrated Over Campus Parking

By: Jaila Dowdell

Parking at Florida A&M University (FAMU) has become a daily struggle for students, with limited spaces, inconsistent communication, and mounting fines, leaving many frustrated and calling for urgent action from the administration. 

A Daily Struggle for Parking at FAMU 

Students have been voicing concerns about the shortage of parking spaces for years, but the issue remains unresolved. Frustrations are mounting, with many accusing the university of focusing on punishment instead of finding solutions. 

The parking shortage affects students across the board. Commuters often circle the campus for upwards of half an hour searching for a spot, only to give up and park in unauthorized areas. The consequence? Tickets, fines, and in some cases, towing. 

“When there’s no parking, I usually have to either do an extra 10-15 minute long walk or waste an extra 20-30 minutes trying to find parking before I give up and get to hiking,” Cariene Geffard, a fourth-year student said.  

The lack of spaces, combined with strict enforcement, has left students feeling frustrated and unheard.  

Dniya Henderson, a second-year student voiced her concerns on the matter. 

“Parking here is so frustrating and unpredictable,” Henderson said. “The lack of available spaces, especially during peak hours, makes it nearly impossible to find a spot when you really need one.” “It’s caused me to be late to class or meetings a few times, and honestly, it just adds unnecessary stress to my day.” 

Staff Also Affected by Parking Shortage 

Staff members at FAMU expressed frustration with the ongoing parking shortage on campus. With limited spaces available, many employees find themselves struggling to find parking close to their work areas, impacting their schedules and productivity. 

Kiersten Mitchell, an Academic Coach at FAMU acknowledged the ongoing struggle for convenient parking on campus. 

“I know that students are trying to find parking closer to buildings that they need to go to,” Mitchell said. “For us we are trying to make sure that we are finding a good spot that we are comfortable parking at that is close as well, and those parking spots are not always available to us due to students parking their cars there,” Mitchell said. 

“Overall, there is not enough parking around campus, I feel that this impacts employees because students take our parking spots, which makes us late to meetings,” an anonymous source said. 

Revenue Over Resolution? 

Many students believe the university prioritizes revenue from parking fines over solving the problem. With fees ranging from $30 for tickets to hundreds of dollars for towing, students argue that these penalties are adding unnecessary financial stress. 

In addition, students point out that while the university is quick to issue tickets for parking violations, they fail to send out reminders or notifications about parking permit renewals. This lack of communication only adds to the frustration, as students are often unaware when their permits are about to expire, leading to more fines and penalties. 

Kamia Harrell, a graduating senior, highlighted a communication gap regarding parking regulations on campus. 

“I don’t see any newsletters telling students to make sure that you renew your parking registration, so if you don’t know you will receive a ticket until you do so,” Harrell said. 

Proposed Solutions 

Students have suggested various solutions, such as building additional parking structures, creating partnerships with local transit systems, or even offering more shuttle services. However, there’s little evidence that these ideas are being seriously considered. 

“I face a lot of challenges when it comes to parking. There’s such limited spaces and they’re not necessarily placed at convenient locations, I think they should work on building more parking garages,” Nissa Phillips, a third-year student said.  

Impact on Academics and Productivity 

For some students, the parking shortage at FAMU is more than just an inconvenience. The time spent looking for a spot takes away from what could be used for studying or other important tasks.  

“As a grad student, I often have tight schedules balancing work, classes, and research. When I can’t find parking, it delays everything and sometimes makes me late for classes or meetings, which is frustrating when I’m already juggling so much,” Janelle Cotton, an MBA candidate at FAMU said.  

Lovely Eveque, a third-year student suggested that the university should expand parking areas or implement a more efficient parking permit system to better accommodate the growing demand.  

“I think the university should use the open spaces on campus to create parking lots designated for students, instead of reserved spots, this would help eliminate the worry of being towed or booted,” Eveque said. 

Commuters, including students and staff, are frustrated by the ongoing parking shortage and are urging the university to provide clear answers on how they plan to address the issue. They want more communication and updates on any potential changes to ease the parking problem. 

The FAMU Department of Parking and Transportation was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for this story. As concerns grow, students and staff are left wondering if the department is addressing the issue, with many hoping for clear communication and concrete solutions. 

For now, the parking problem at FAMU remains unresolved, but students are determined to make their voices heard. Whether the university will take meaningful steps to address their concerns remains to be seen.