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Frequently Asked Questions - Columbus State University

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University Support Services

Frequently Asked Questions

The new parking permit process began on July 1, 2017.

Proceeds from parking permits will fund campus security upgrades, including additional police officers on campus.

Only if you intend to park on either campus. If you walk, ride, or take a bus to campus, then you do not need a parking permit.

All vehicles that park on campus must be registered with Parking Services and linked to a valid permit. You may add up to 3 vehicles to a single permit, which is registered to a single driver. Please be advised that only one vehicle from each permit may park on either campus at one time. Visit the Parking Web Portal to add temporary or permanent replacement vehicles to your account.

All vehicles that park on campus must be registered with Parking Services and linked to a valid permit. Visit the Parking Web Portal to add temporary or permanent replacement vehicles to your account. You can also call us at (706) 507-8203, email us at parking@columbusstate.edu, or stop by our office on the third floor of the Cunningham Conference Center to register additional vehicles.

You run the risk of receiving a ticket. Vehicles with an excessive number of unpaid tickets may be immobilized or towed, at the operator/owner's expense. Also, visitor parking spaces are patrolled to prevent students, faculty, and staff from parking in those spaces to avoid purchasing a permit.

Permits for students are $45 per academic year. Permits for faculty, staff, Enterprise Development partners, and vendors' vehicles are $90 per academic year. Part-time and temporary faculty and staff may qualify to have the parking permit charge waived. Reserved spaces are $180 per academic year and are only available to those who previously had reserved parking spaces.

Only Deans and Vice Presidents are currently eligible for reserved parking spaces.

Yes, motorcycles are required to be registered to a valid parking permit.

At the Parking Services Office on the third floor of the Cunningham Conference Center. Our hours are Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. Permits can also be purchased at any of our satellite opportunities or online through the Parking Web Portal.

Yes, all vehicles parked on campus must be registered with Parking Services. Please visit the "Visitor Parking" section from the left-hand side of this page for more information.

The "Student Parking Deck Fee" listed as a mandatory fee on tuition statements, "Provides support for the maintenance, upkeep and debt retirement of the University's student parking deck" (Office of Student Accounts – Explanation of Mandatory Fees). This fee was approved by SGA and implemented roughly 10 years ago. The paid parking permit program only applies to those who choose to bring a car to campus and is not included in the tuition.

The parking deck is for students only. Faculty, staff, vendors and auxiliary parking permit holders are subject to ticketing and fines for parking in the deck.

No. Volunteers registered with HR can register for a parking permit at no charge. Please visit the Parking Services Office or have the department you volunteer with contact us.

Any vehicle that parks on either of CSU's campuses must be registered and have a current parking permit. We recommend that all faculty and staff register their vehicles and purchase a permit, even those at the outreach centers if you must park on campus.

These two facilities have new parking policies in place for their visitors. For other large events on campus, please contact Parking Services. These areas are still classified as "on campus" and therefore, parking permits are still required for all faculty, staff, and students.

Parking Services does not have an office on our RiverPark campus at this time. However, permits can be purchased online through the Parking Web Portal. Since all permits are now digital, there is not a permit to pick up from a physical location.

Yes, please complete the Employee Parking Registration form found on our "Forms & Guides" page and submit to the Parking Services Office.

The signage was significantly upgraded on campus regarding parking. We recommend also reminding guests that parking permits are required when you invite them to campus. Feel free to advertise the Parking Services website in any emails, flyers, or other communications you issue regarding events on campus.

No.

The Parking Code is in effect at all times. As of January 1, 2019 students may park in green-lined faculty/staff spaces after 5:30 pm. A valid parking permit is still required, though, and this procedure is subject to change.

The parking spaces around campus are color-coded as follows:
Green - Faculty/Staff Parking.
White - Open parking for all currently registered vehicles unless designated otherwise. This excludes the Main Campus Parking Garage; the main campus garage is exclusively for registered student vehicles.
Blue - Accessibility Parking. Individuals without special accessibility placards or plates are subject to citation and impoundment.
Visitors - Visitor parking. Faculty, staff, students and third-party employees and vendors may not park in designated visitor spaces at any time.
Electric Vehicle Charging Spaces - These publically available spaces are reserved for electric vehicles (EV) only. EVs must be in an active session connected to the charger to use the spaces. There is a 4-hour time limit for EV spaces. Any non-electric vehicles or EVs not in active sessions are subject to citations. EV spaces are located in the center section of the first floor of the parking deck, Lot 14 in front of University Hall, and at the Cunningham Conference Center.

Here is a sample of what some other USG institutions charge for a parking permit on their campuses:

  • College: students (up to) / employees (up to)
  • Georgia Tech: $795 / $795
  • Georgia State: $430 / $660
  • UGA: $240 / $720
  • Kennesaw State: $26 / $1,056
  • Georgia Southern: $160 / $100
  • Georgia College & State: $150 / $100
  • Augusta: $35 / $120
  • Valdosta State: $75 / $75
  • Gordon State: $20 / $20

Please contact Parking Services at 706-507-8203 or via email at parking@columbusstate.edu.

Transportation Options FAQs

Absolutely. You can use the CSU Shuttle or METRA (the Columbus public transportation system). You can also carpool, bike, or walk. See the questions below for more details.

Yes, the Shuttle runs between RiverPark Campus and Main Campus about every 20 minutes for most of the day. You can also pick it up at Lakebottom Park (near Columbus High School). All CSU faculty, staff, and students can ride the CSU Shuttle free of charge. For a detailed schedule, please see the Bus Schedule page.

Yes, METRA Routes 5 and 6 serve Main Campus. Routes 2, 4, and 8 serve downtown Columbus within walking distance of the RiverPark Campus. Student fares are $1 with a student ID. Multi-day passes are also available (details on METRA's website).

Yes, the Fall Line Trace is a multi-use path that runs 11 miles from downtown Columbus through many residential areas to Psalmond Road in east Columbus. It has an entrance to the main campus.
NOTE FOR BICYCLISTS: The first two (2) miles between the 14th Street Bridge and Fall Line Trace entrance off 10th Avenue requires street riding.

Every major building on Main Campus and the RiverPark Campus has bicycle racks nearby, some of which are sheltered. While Columbus is a safe area, it is always advisable to use a sturdy lock. U-locks and chains are generally more effective than cable locks.

Yes, all METRA buses and some of the CSU Shuttles have bike racks. This allows you the flexibility of a multi-modal commute, using a bike for part of your trip and a bus or shuttle for another part.

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