Parking
Regulations
Though parking is limited on the Main Campus during college operating hours, members of the College community are permitted to have automobiles on the campus subject to the regulations contained in this document. Motorcycles, mopeds, and hoverboards are not permitted on the Main Campus. (See Motorcycles.)
The following parking regulations apply to all students and employees of the College and pertain to all parts of campus (including Alumnae House). Automobile regulations also apply to any rental car brought onto the campus.
- All New York State vehicle and traffic regulations must be followed when driving on campus. The campus speed limit is 15 mph.
- Parking is permitted in authorized parking spaces only. These spaces are marked with white lines. No parking is permitted where there is a yellow line on the curb, on sidewalks, within ten feet of fire hydrants, across walks or building entrances, around Main Circle Drive, or in any area marked “No Parking.” The Arlington Fire District has designated all areas outside of legal parking spaces as fire lanes.
- No parking is allowed on the grass or other unpaved/marked areas.
- Please note that many spaces have specific restrictions, which are posted on nearby signs and must be abided by. For example, employees and students are not permitted in those areas designated “Visitor Parking,” “Admission Parking,” “House Advisor Parking,” and “House Fellow Parking.”
Registration
Everyone must register for a parking decal online using the vehicle registration form.
Changes—for example, a new vehicle or new license plates—must be immediately reported to Parking@vassar.edu.
Students are charged a vehicle registration fee. Fees are discounted according to financial aid percentage. If you are receiving financial aid, please indicate that information in the notes section of the registration form. Fees can be found in the Tuition and Fees section of the Student Financial Services website.
Upon submission for a parking decal, you are acknowledging that you have read and understand the parking rules and regulations.
Student Parking
Daytime/Weekdays
Students must park in their assigned parking space weekdays from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. They are NOT permitted to park on the Main Campus during this time. Exceptions can be found in the Accessibility and Loading/Unloading sections below.
Evenings/Weekends
Between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and on weekends, students may park on the Main Campus, except for specially designated spots, including House Fellow and House Advisor spaces and accessibility/disability spaces.
Main Campus Includes
- Property located within Chapel Gate, Main Gate, North Gate, and Manchester Gate (including Main Drive, Athletic Fitness Center, and Walker Field House parking)
- The spaces on Raymond Avenue, along the College wall between Main Gate and the Chapel entrance
- The Kendrick Lot across from the Main Campus.
Students with parking permits are assigned designated, numbered parking spots. In general, the southernmost section of the South Lot is designated for registered student vehicles, but there are special arrangements:
First-Year Students
First-year students are not allowed to bring vehicles to campus. This restriction will apply to sophomores in addition to first-year students beginning with the incoming Class of 2029.
Students Who Live in Apartment-Style Residences
Students residing in the Town Houses (TH) and Terrace Apartments (TA) will be issued parking passes for their designated parking lots.
- Town Houses: Long-term parking in the TH parking lots is restricted to those cars with “TH” parking decals.
- Terrace Apartments: TA residents are allotted one numbered parking space per apartment on Terrace Lane. Overflow parking is available in the South Lot. Terrace Lane parking is eliminated during the winter months. Alternate reserved parking is provided at designated locations during this time.
Any student vehicles left/stored on campus during the Winter and Spring Breaks must be parked in the South Lot. The only exception will be Terrace Apartment vehicles that must be parked in assigned winter spaces in the Golf Course lot.
Employee Parking
Administrators, faculty, and staff may park one vehicle on the Main Campus except where there are specially designated parking spaces, accessibility/disability spaces (a valid permit is required), and the Admission Parking area. The northern section of the South Lot also contains designated parking for registered employees.
Accessibility
Any student or employee vehicle displaying a valid accessibility permit may be parked in any designated accessibility space, excluding House Fellow spaces and Admissions accessibility spaces. If an accessibility space is not available, vehicles with valid accessibility permits may park in any legal parking space. Valid permits include state-issued license plates and placards, and permits issued by the Town of Poughkeepsie. Members of the College community with a documented temporary condition that impairs their mobility may request a temporary disability parking permit from Health Services or the Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (formerly Disability and Support Services).
Loading and Unloading
Loading/unloading passes are available at the Campus Safety Office located at 2500 New Hackensack Road and the Campus Response Center located just inside the front entrance of Main Building. The spaces near each residence hall designated as loading zones—not in other parking areas—may be used for this purpose and for a period of up to 20 minutes, with 4-way flashers on. It is the responsibility of students to inform their guests of this regulation.
Vehicle Storage
Storage of vehicles is not permitted on the Vassar campus.
Employees who reside on campus or who are traveling for Vassar College business purposes must obtain permission for extended parking from the Parking Office by emailing parking@vassar.edu. Instructions will be given on where to park and a special pass will be issued.
Students who wish to store their vehicles on campus over the summer or winter break must obtain permission for extended parking from the Parking Office by emailing parking@vassar.edu. Instructions will be given on where to park and a special pass will be issued.
Violations and Fines
Illegal parking is a serious safety hazard as it obstructs the movement of emergency vehicles, and endangers pedestrians by overcrowding narrow roads. Illegally parked cars of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and their guests are subject to fines and towing at the expense of the person reclaiming the car. Should you loan your vehicle to anyone, you are responsible for any tickets received and will be billed accordingly.
Fines will be imposed for the following violations:
- Parking in an accessibility/disability space without a proper permit
- Driving on walks or on grass
- Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane
- Parking on grass
- Parking across walks or building entrances
- Exceeding the campus speed limit
- Failure to register a car
- Use of motorcycles, mopeds, or hoverboards on the Main Campus
- Failure to observe a stop sign or other traffic control device
- Parking in a zone marked “Tow Away” (in addition to towing costs)
- Other illegal parking
- Failure to display the current Vassar decal
- Failure to report a change of license plates
- Parking in a House Fellow/House Advisor space
After the third citation, all vehicles will be placed on the Parking Tow List for the remainder of the academic year. Those who registered their vehicle with the College will receive an email notifying them of their Parking Tow List status. All vehicles on the Parking Tow List are subject to tow if found in violation again. Additionally, further violations will result in a $50.00 assessment (plus any parking fines and tow fees). Vehicles with excessive outstanding tickets or in violation after being towed once may be towed off campus and storage fees will apply.
Appeals
Appeals of parking tickets may be brought to the Campus Safety Office or made online by filling out an appeal form. Severe or repeat violations may be referred to the College Regulations Panel for further disciplinary action.
Snow Events
During snow events, our campus roadways and parking lots must be cleared to accommodate the daily operations of the College. To enable effective and safe snow removal operations, no parking is permitted on Main Campus and in other designated areas during declared snow parking bans. Employees and students will be informed of snow parking bans via email and text message. At the end of the snow parking ban, a second text and email will be sent notifying you that the parking restrictions have been lifted. [See Weather Hotline and Alerts.]
Snow Event Parking Restrictions
- Main Campus: NO parking is allowed on campus roadways (including Josselyn Roadway, Main Campus Drive, and Doubleday Lane) or the following parking lots: Athletic and Fitness Center, Walker, Kenyon, Noyes, Cushing, Josselyn, Jewett, Quad Houses, Baldwin, Ely, Main Circle, Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film, Skinner, and Doubleday Lane.
- Town Houses: TH residents who park around the center circle and lots 1, 2, or 3 should move vehicles to the Prentiss Field parking lot. Vehicles should be left there until after the storm. When you are notified that the snow parking ban is lifted, you must vacate the Prentiss Field lot.
- Terrace Apartments: Terrace Lane parking is eliminated from December 1 of each year through the end of Spring Break. Signs are posted on the roadway to ensure all are aware of the alternate parking arrangement. Alternate parking is provided in the Golf Course parking lot and numbered signs are placed to designate parking spaces.
If you are parked in any of the restricted areas during the declared snow parking ban hours, your vehicle will be towed at your expense. Bicycles that are not properly stored in the storage areas provided or chained to a bicycle rack will be removed by Facility Operations. Contact Campus Safety at (845) 437-5221 to retrieve your bicycle.
Weather Hotline and Alerts
In preparation for an emergency, we ask that you please take the time to update your crisis contact information with your current cell phone number. Instructions on how to view and update your contact information can be found on the Crisis Communication System web page. (Note: you will need to log into the service desk site to view this page.) For updates, students will be directed to email the Registrar's office at registrar@vassar.edu and employees will be directed to Workday. Know that it may take several days for phone number updates to reach the emergency communication system so you should do this as soon as possible. If you need assistance updating your information, please contact the service desk at x7224 or via email to servicedesk@vassar.edu.
Please check the Alerts web page or call the Campus Emergency Information & Weather Hotline (845) 437-7755)for information on administrative office delays and cancellations.
Bicycles
All bicycles must be registered with the Campus Safety Office by filling out the online bicycle registration form. Decals are issued at the time of registration.
- Electric bicycles and other transportation devices that require recharging are not allowed in campus buildings. Transportation devices with large lithium batteries are prohibited inside any Vassar facility.
- Bicycles must display the current College decal. Unregistered bicycles may be confiscated when in violation of regulations.
- Bicycles may not be ridden at night without a light and a reflector.
- Bicycles may not be parked near an exit, across a walk, or chained to railings/entrances.
- Bicycles may not be parked in such a way as to obstruct a handrail. Bicycle storage rooms are available in many residences. Bicycles may be placed in student rooms during winter and spring vacations.
- Bicycles may not be brought into any College building other than residences. They may not be brought or left in a part of these residences where they would create a safety hazard or would violate fire regulations.
Any bicycle obstruction/impeding access to buildings, walkways, or roadways may be removed by Facilities Operations or Campus Safety. A $50.00 fine will be imposed when such violations occur.
Motorcycles
The College does not permit motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, or similar vehicles to be used on the Main Campus. They may only be parked in the exterior lots (South Lot, North Lot, and in the area of the Town Houses and Terrace Apartments. No motorcycle, moped, or other gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle may be taken inside any College-owned building.
Take the Safety Shuttle After Hours
We urge all campus community members to utilize our nightly safety shuttle, which makes regular stops seven days per week.