1. Purpose of Vehicle Policy: This policy was established in 1992 by a task force of students, faculty and administrators. A vehicle policy is necessary for maintaining an organized, accessible, and safe campus. There is no fee to register vehicles under the following guidelines, unlike most campuses. However, the fine for not registering is substantial. 

2. Vehicle Registration: Each student is responsible for registering his/her vehicle with the Security Ofice within the first five school days of the new semester. This includes all Greek students regardless of residence, off-campus students and on-campus students. Students will need a photocopy of their vehicle registration from the State Department and their license plate number. Registration of a car brought to campus later in the semester should be made the first school day the car is on campus. No charge is made for registration completed within the specified times. Additional charges will be incurred for unregistered vehicles for which the owner must be identified via a State Bureau of License search.

3. Parking Sticker: A vehicle will not be considered registered until the issued sticker is permanently attached. Upon completion of the registration process, students will be given a parking sticker, which must be permanently adhered to the rear window of their vehicle or at the far end of the rear passenger window and must be clearly visible from the outside. If the rear window is tinted, the sticker may be placed in an alternate location. All student parking stickers expire at the end of each academic year.

4. Parking Rules: A student will qualify for one of three categories for parking: On-Campus, Off-Campus/Commuter or Simpson.

A. On-Campus Parking Status: From 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, vehicles with on-campus stickers are to park only in the lot assigned to their residence (dorms, residences, Greek houses, etc.) or in the following designated commuter lots: northwest corner of N. West and College Streets (Lot #7), southwest corner of N. West and Galloway Drive (Lot # 21), northwest corner of N. West and Galloway Drive (Lot #11), Sports Complex main lot (Lot #17) and the gravel lot across from Lot #17 (Lot #18B). Seasonal lots will be open weather permitting. On-campus stickers must be obtained by all students residing in residence halls (except Simpson), all Greek houses, honorary houses and students residing off-campus within the boundaries of Montgomery Street on the north, Salem Street on the east, and Carleton Road on the south and west.

B. Off-Campus/Commuter Parking Status: Off-campus students (all students not living in the described on-campus perimeters listed above) will be issued a commuter sticker for their vehicles. Commuter students may park in the following designated lots: northwest corner of N. West and College Streets (Lot #7), southwest corner of N. West and Galloway Drive (Lot #21), northwest corner of N. West and Galloway Drive (Lot #11), southeast corner of College and Union Streets (Lot #17), southwest corner of N. West and College Streets (Lot #20).

C. Simpson Parking Status: Only students who reside in Simpson Dormitory may park their vehicles in the rear (West) Simpson lot, the spots designated for Simpson residents in the North Simpson lot (#10) and the Fowler Building lot (#8) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Simpson Dormitory residents who register their vehicles will be issued a special parking sticker identifying them as authorized to park in the Simpson parking lots.

D. Faculty/Staff/Administration Parking: Faculty/staff/administration will be issued parking stickers designating their vehicles accordingly. During regular business hours, Monday through Friday, faculty/staff/administrators may park in Lot #13 (Dow lot–white curb section only); Lot #12 (Dow lot–northeast corner of Galloway and West Streets if not reserved for Dow patrons); Lot #19 (new lot on Hillsdale Street behind Mu Alpha House); Lot #3 (northeast corner of College and West Streets); Lot #6 (southeast corner of College and West Streets); Lots #4 and #5 (accessible via Manning Street) or any lot open despite construction. Lot #9 (near Bookstore) is for faculty/staff/administration and for non-College visitors who are utilizing the Bookstore.

E. Additional Parking: Two new lots, #20, on the southwest corner of College and West Streets, and #21, on the southwest corner of West and Galloway Streets, may be used by faculty/staff/commuters and off-campus students who are outside the perimeters listed in Paragraph A above.

F. Campus Visitors: Official visitors to the campus will be issued a special, temporary parking tag and will be directed to appropriate visitors’ parking areas. Visitors’ temporary parking tags may be acquired at Central Hall Switchboard, Dow Conference Lobby, the Security Office located in the LaMar Fowler Building, or the Admissions Office.

G. Vendors/Contractors: Vendors/contractors will be issued a visitor’s pass on a semester-by-semester basis. These visitor passes will be issued at the Security Office.

5. Exceptions and Special Circumstances:

A. Student Injury: A student having an injury requiring crutches or curtailed walking may apply for a temporary parking permit at the Security Office located in the LaMar Fowler Building (a doctor’s note may be requested). The injury pass does not allow you to utilize a reserved ADA handicapped parking space. These must be reserved for those who have the State-issued permit.

B. Health Center: Students utilizing the Health Center may park at the Center during the time of visit only.

C. Dow Center: Both Dow Center parking lots are off limits to all students at all times.

6. Parking Violations/Fines and Vacation Procedures:

A. Parking Fines: Parking fines are $20 for the first seven days; $25 thereafter.

B. Students whose cars are not registered and who are ticketed: These students will have a $35 fine for the first seven days and $40 thereafter for non-registration as well as an additional parking fine if such occurred.

C. Reckless Driving: Students driving on campus in a manner that endangers others will be subject to a fine issued at the appropriate dean’s discretion.

D. Fraudulent use of a parking sticker: This will result in a $30 fine as well as any additional fine incurred.

E. Towed Cars: Cars that are towed will be towed at the expense of the student who will incur the parking fine as well.

F. Cars left over break: Students wishing to leave their cars on campus between semesters and during breaks must register their intent with the Security Office, which will then direct them to leave their cars in the lot that has been designated the “vacation lot.” This will allow the other parking lots to be plowed after snowfall and will better ensure Hillsdale College’s ability to protect student vehicles.

7. Appealing Parking Violations/Fines: To appeal a vehicle ticket, the fine must first be paid before an appeal can occur. The original paid fine will be refunded if the appeal is upheld. The appeal form is available in the Security Office located in the LaMar Fowler Building. After the form is completed and submitted to security, security will make written recommendations to the Dean of Men’s Office for a final decision on the appeal. The decision of the Dean of Men’s Office is final.