Commuter students juggle a lot: making a place for themselves academically, making social connections and getting involved on campus. Campus life is not just for those students living in the residence halls or student apartments! It’s for commuters and their families, too.

Adult and Commuter Student Services

Within the University, there is an office dedicated to adult and commuter students and serving their unique needs.  They offer many resources for students that commute to campus, including

• A commuter lounge with couches, microwave and refrigerator
• Quiet study area with computers
• Complimentary hot beverages
• Monthly e-newsletter
• Seminars with topics of interest to commuter students
• Transportation Information (Bus schedules, Carpool information)
• Commuter Student Association (CSA)

For more information, please visit their website by clicking here.

Parking on Campus

General parking is available on campus and a permit is included in the cost of tuition.  Students will receive a permit in the mail prior to their first semester of classes.  If registered before the deadline, students will receive subsequent permit stickers for the remaining semesters that they are enrolled.  If students would like to park in priority lots, including the parking garages, they will need to apply for a priority parking permit with the Parking Services office.  These spots are limited and students should apply as soon as possible for these permits.

To help with the congestion of parking, the university has established the Blue Line, an on campus bus service that transports students to different points on campus.  Students can ride for free during operating hours.  

Nighttime Transportation (Tiger Patrol)

Students that are on campus at night and who do not feel comfortable walking to their car or dorm can call on Tiger Patrol.  It will pick up students all around campus and escort them to their car or to their residence hall.  Normal hours for the Fall and Spring semesters are from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am seven days a week. Students can call on Tiger Patrol at 901.678.HOME (4663).

Parenting a Commuter Student

You can help your student get the most out of college life with the following tips:

• Attend Parent Orientation when your student attends New Student or Transfer Orientation. Even if you know the University, if you have another child at the University, or if you work at the University, your attendance will show your child that you value his or her college experience and his or her choice of schools.
• Encourage involvement. Students who are more engaged on campus tend to stay and finish their degrees than those who feel on the fringe of things. So, encourage your student to visit that free lunch at Career Services, attend the informational meeting at The University Center, or to check out one of over 100 registered student organizations on campus. Trying things outside the classroom can help your student feel more a part of campus life.
• Don’t expect to see a lot of your student. Your student will have a full plate with school, work and other involvements. So, if he or she doesn’t come home for dinner, maybe it’s because a classmate invited him out for a bite. It’s important that your student is making those campus connections.
• On-Campus Jobs: Most commuter students work, but there are benefits to working at an on-campus job. Even if wages are less than they could earn off campus, the support of college-based supervisors and the time on campus are beneficial.
• Provide a quiet, comfortable place to study. College studies require more time and effort than high school ever did. Your student may be spending several hours of study time for every hour that he or she is in class. Your student will need time and space to study effectively, without interruptions.
• Support your student’s efforts. If he or she is playing in the U of M Jazz Band, go to the concerts. Attend athletic events, programs that they helped to coordinate, conferences he or she worked on because your support means a great deal, even if your student doesn’t always show it.
• Stay involved. Get to know more about the activities your student has gotten involved in so you stay connected to your student.
• Encourage your student to find a commute partner. Students who carpool with classmates will meet new friends, have a more enjoyable commute and feel more connected to the U of M