Parking availability is a frequent topic for Utah Tech University students, and a new policy at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Institute of Religion parking lot has drawn attention from students.
Students have recently received flyers placed on their cars stating that parking in the Institute lot now requires a permit.
The Institute parking lot is located south and east of the building, and is marked by signs distinguishing it from Utah Tech parking areas.
Students can obtain a permit by registering for an Institute class and maintaining at least a 75% attendance rate. Students attending the classes and Institute employees will receive parking permits for the Institute lot.
Utah Tech students are already required to purchase a general parking pass through the university’s parking website to park on campus.
“Currently and historically, not every parking lot is full, and plenty of parking is still available daily,” said Valerie O’Rourke, Utah Tech’s parking manager.
Students are permitted to park in nearby campus lots, including those near the General Classroom Building and the Holland Centennial Commons and Library, known as lots K and N.
“They should allow parking in the Institute lot for students, since so many students have classes in the General Education Building,” said Michelle Rodriguez, a junior psychology major from Salt Lake City.
While the Institute property is owned by the Church, enforcement involves the university, with Utah Tech Parking Services checking for Institute permits before issuing citations, O’Rourke said. Students may appeal citations through the Institute office, which verifies permits and notifies Parking Services to void tickets.
All fines collected from tickets issued in the Institute lot will be paid to the university, O’Rourke said.
“I think as someone who goes to Institute activities, the restrictions are unnecessary,” said Ally Cannon, a senior digital media major from St. George. “There is already limited parking on campus, and restricting an area that isn’t used during school hours doesn’t make sense.”
O’Rourke said the policy was requested by the Institute and is newly implemented.
Although signs mark the entrances to each lot, some students say the boundary between Institute parking and campus parking is unclear, particularly near lot K, which borders the Institute.
“Near the Institute parking, there is some uncertainty, in the sense of are you allowed to park around this?” said Beau Kendrick, a junior digital media major from West Haven.
Because the buildings and parking areas are so close together, some students say it can be difficult to tell whether they are parking on campus or Institute property.
Utah Tech is a public university, meaning its policies and enforcements must remain religiously neutral.
As students move between classes, parking availability remains a daily concern.
“I didn’t even know there was a difference. I just thought it was all part of the campus,” said Ella Weathers, a sophomore general studies major from Sherwood, Oregon. “A better distinction could help students know where they should or should not park.”
