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All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Parking advice for TCU first-year students

Parking+advice+for+TCU+first-year+students

When it comes to parking preferences for TCU students and officials, the debate is often between proximity and availability.

TCU has approximately 8,600 parking spots for 2,375 students with parking permits, a TCU official said.

And yet, students still complain that they have a hard time finding a spot close to their dorms.

The complaints stem from the location of available parking spaces. Students living in Foster, Clark, Sherley and other first-year residence dorms have parking lots just outside their front doors; but they are not allowed to use them.

Instead, students are supposed to use the vast expanse of spots located on the opposite side of the football stadium. There are almost always spots available, but the lots are a good distance from dorms.

The campus physical plant has a map for parking areas, which indicates where first-year students can park. Anyone with over 24 credit hours who lives in a main campus dorm can earn a main campus parking spot in lots 7 and 9.

All other first-year students must park in lots 3 and 4, located behind the football stadium.

Parking may be a challenge for some students, but with over 6,000 extra spots, anyone can find a place to park. It just might be on the opposite side of campus.

DeAnn Jones, the coordinator of parking and transportation services for TCU, said parking is much simpler than students make it out to be.

“Be familiar with the rules that pertain to your particular parking permit and follow those rules,” Jones wrote in an email.

Jones said parking information is readily available, both in the TCU police office and in her emails to TCU students.

“Students should read all emails from the parking department, as they may contain information that affects them,” Jones said. “I know these emails can sometimes be tedious, but we try to send them only when important information needs to be communicated.”

Luke Hopfinger, a sophomore accounting major, said he has had several problems parking in the Worth Hills lot, even with his permit.

Just under 1,000 students have permits for Worth Hills, where the Greek dorms and the new halls are located.

“Usually I drive around for about 10 minutes, and that usually doesn’t work,” Hopfinger said. “Now I’ve been relocating my car to the parking lot where the stadium is.”

That lot is Lot 2, one of three overflow lots for students. Lots 3 and 4 are also considered overflow lots.

However, the status of overflow lots are “subject to change,” Jones said.

“TCU’s enrollment is growing, so parking is getting harder,” Hopfinger said. “Giving advice is hard because parking is hard.”

For those looking for a closer spot, there’s always the option suggested by one TCU student on Twitter.

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