The operation of a motor vehicle on campus is a privilege extended to employees and students. Regulations are necessary in order to have proper control of the operation of motor vehicles. If these regulations are not followed, a student may expect to be issued a ticket, have the vehicle towed, lose the privilege, or in cases of serious difficulty or continued trouble, a student may be suspended from Bluffton for breaking regulations.
The acceptance of the privilege of parking a motor vehicle on campus shall constitute the acceptance of the responsibilities of the driver to see that no vehicle owned or registered in his/her name is operated or parked in violation of the regulations. All vehicles parked on campus shall be parked at the risk of the owner.
All automobiles, trucks, motorbikes, motorcycles and motor scooters owned or operated by employees or students of Bluffton University and brought to the campus must display an official university motor vehicle parking sticker. Vehicles must be registered at the business office, located in College Hall, within the first three days of the start of the school year, or within three days after bringing the vehicle to the campus.
Students registering a vehicle will receive one nonrefundable parking sticker for $15. A second nonrefundable sticker can be purchased for $10. There is a limit of two parking stickers per student. Stickers must be placed in the lower left corner of the rear window. Only one vehicle is allowed per student on campus at one time. Permits are letter coded to specific lots. Students are assigned by class rank to a lot according to the letter of their permit and must park only in the assigned lot at all times. Each year during spring semester, a parking draw is held for assigning parking for the following year. Parking in the incorrect lot will result in a fine.
A change of vehicles any time during the year must be reported immediately to the business office (ext. 3301 or e-mail reichenbachp@bluffton.edu.) Students wishing to change his/her permit must contact the business office (based on available permits). Students may ask to be put on a waiting list for a different parking lot. A temporary parking pass can also be obtained at the business office in College Hall for short-term parking (up to 2 weeks).
Visitor vehicles are required to display a guest permit while parked on campus between the hours of 2 and 5 a.m. Guest permits for visitor vehicles are available at the information desk in Marbeck Center between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., and through campus security during other times at extension 3444. Visitor's vehicles must be parked in designated visitor lots at all times. Students may not obtain visitor permits for their own vehicles.
Temporary handicapped permits are available at the business office and must be accompanied by a doctor’s verification.
Anyone wishing to have a security escort from assigned parking lots should call university security at 419-358-2961.
A list of lots and vehicles permitted to park in each lot are listed below. Signage is posted at each location.
Residential students
A. Ramseyer, Hirschy, Neufeld lots, First row in the first Bentley Road lot,
adjacent to the football field
B. Bentley Road second, third and fourth lots, adjacent to the football field
D. Sauder Visual Arts Center lot
E. Bren-Dell lot and College Ave. from Spring Street to the bridge
F. Ropp Hall lots
Commuter students
G. Elm Street lot, Sauder Visual Arts Center lot and first Bentley Road lot (except for first row)
All parking violation fines are payable within three working days of issuing the ticket. A parking ticket not paid within three days will be added to the student’s account. An appeals committee of Student Senate members will review appeals of issued tickets. Appeals procedures are available at the business office.
Fines for parking violations are as follows:
