Enhancing campus operations: Addressing transportation and parking issues at Lewis & Clark College

Bill Curtis

Associate Vice President of Student Life Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Lewis & Clark College

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of EAB.

Completing the Rising Higher Education Leadership Fellowship by EAB is a milestone in my role as the Associate Vice President of Student Life Operations & Strategic Initiatives at Lewis & Clark. This fellowship, characterized by biweekly seminars led by experts in higher education, has helped shape my professional journey. EAB is an organization that advises colleges and universities on best practices and provides support for specific issues or projects related to the student and campus community experience.

Throughout the fellowship, my cohort and I explored crucial topics, including addressing student loneliness, budget models, and future vision planning. Interacting with professionals from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada provided a valuable platform for engaging discussions and meaningful networking.

As part of the fellowship, I took on a project focused on enhancing college operations. Wanting to address practical challenges, I decided to delve into transportation and parking issues at Lewis & Clark. Recognizing the complexities involved, I developed eight strategies aimed at improving parking availability and identifying funding sources for enhanced transportation options. Below are the strategies:

1. Increase parking permit costs
2. Focused parking permits
3. Off-campus parking for first- and second-year students
4. Expansion of BIKETOWN zone
5. Expand remote work options for select departments
6. Optimize the Pio Express shuttle to enhance efficiency
7. Subsidize rideshare rides for second-year on-campus students
8. Promote carpooling with incentives

While tackling parking constraints at Lewis & Clark is undoubtedly challenging, my goal is to work closely with the Transportation and Parking office, gradually exploring the implementation of these strategies to enhance the overall student experience.

The EAB fellowship has been an enriching experience, allowing me to deepen my understanding of college operations and connect with colleagues on a national level. Moving forward, I am excited to continue my efforts to enhance the student experience at Lewis & Clark, and I am grateful for the valuable insights gained through this program. The knowledge acquired positions me as a thoughtful leader ready to positively impact higher education.