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Parking Operations

Whether you are visiting Western Carolina for the first time or live on campus full time, WCU's Office of Parking Operations strives to provide you safe, convenient access to Western Carolina University and its many resources and events. For specific questions or concerns please contact the Parking Operations office at 828.227.7275.

An aerial shot of the band practice field parking lot.

 

Every motorist desiring to park on campus is required to register with the Parking Operations office. A parking permit is required to secure parking privileges. While a permit does not guarantee a parking space in a specific space or area, it authorizes the permit holder to seek a parking space in an area designated by the Regulations. Western Carolina University is able to provide ample parking on campus for all registered vehicles, although spaces will not always be available at desired locations. 

As a community, we all play an important role in keeping accessibility in mind when we plan events, courses and any other activities on campus. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment for everyone. Disability parking is available in locations throughout our Cullowhee Main Campus.

Find Disability parking

Please Note: Parking and operating a vehicle on campus is a privilege extended by the University subject to ordinances adopted by the Board of Trustees. This privilege may be revoked if a person seriously or habitually violates the regulations.

Where to Park 

Generally, yellow stripes denote spaces for faculty and staff members; white striped spaces are for students. White striped spaces near the residence halls are for on-campus resident students. Freshmen are not permitted to park at the residence halls, all Freshmen must park in freshmen Catamount Lot #73, HHS Overflow Lot# 76B, Print Shop Overflow Lot #27E and Lower Norton Lot #27B

Be sure to observe parking control signs designating other restrictions in these categories. All faculty/staff areas are designated as wheel-lock/tow zones during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semester and including Advising Day.

Commuter students are permitted to park in faculty/staff spaces after 5:00pm Monday-Friday and weekends.

EV charging spaces are avaliable for use at the Reid Meter Lot and also the 3rd level of the parking deck. Spaces are reserved for EV changing vehicles only that are actively charging only. 

To see all of our available parking, explore our CAMPUS MAP

Visitors at a Football Tailgate in a parking lot

 

Visitor Parking

Visitors are encouraged to park in the metered parking lots across campus. Use the ParkMobile! app to pay from anywhere online, receive notifications before a meter expires and extend time to avoid parking tickets. Guests may also utilize the marked visitor parking spaces or they may stop by the Camp Building to obtain a visitor parking pass.

More on Visitor Parking

Students on Campus

 

Student Parking

Students, faculty and staff must register their vehicle with the parking operations office in order to park on campus.  Specific parking areas are designated for students by class status. Students should apply for a parking pass at the beginning of each academic year.

More on Student parking

Faculty and Staff on Campus

 

Faculty and Staff 

Faculty and staff may register their vehicles to obtain parking permits anytime, and permanent staff and faculty parking permits are non-expiring. An employee is defined as a person who is paid by the University or a private contractor such as Aramark, is listed as an employee in Human Resources or in Academic Affairs, and is not at the University primarily for their own educational advancement.

MORE ON FACULTY AND STAFF PARKING

A Cat-Tran bus on campus.

 

Cat-Tran Services

Cat-Tran, the Catamount On-Campus Transportation System, is a student-supported service offered through Parking and Transportation.

With Cat-Tran, you're never more than a few minutes away from the center of campus!

More on CAT-TRAN routes

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