On a weekday morning at Carleton, many cars weave into available spots around campus. For students with on-campus vehicles, that simple task of parking was the result of weeks of filling out application forms and dealing with policy nuances, limited spaces and practical challenges.
For student driver Bryce Bernstein ’26, his experience with student parking started long before his first semester with a car. “I applied very early, before the email asking students to apply was even sent,” he says, revealing how competitive the application process can feel to students trying to secure a spot.
In Bernstein’s case, the journey from wanting a parking permit to actually parking on campus was relatively smooth, but that’s not always the norm: there is a broader debate among Carleton students about how parking is managed and enforced.
Securing a parking permit at Carleton starts with the application, an online process reviewed by Tammy Anderson in the Dean of Students (DOS) office. Anderson approves or denies requests, and she also assigns students to specific lots. Jim Bushey, the parking security officer at Carleton, said that “students may park only in the assigned lot on campus Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As soon as you’re approved, that’s the only place on Carleton property you can park during those hours.”
Bernstein recalls that his experience with the application itself was easy.. “The application itself was pretty straightforward, but students should have their license plate number on hand when filling it out.”
For his own permit, Bernstein cited a practical and personal reason for needing a car: “[I said] I needed it for trombone repairs… and also recreation.” Both extracurriculars and family ties are the main reasons many students apply for parking permits.
According to the official Carleton College Security Services parking page, “all student and faculty/staff motor vehicles are required to be registered with the College,” and “students are restricted to their assigned parking lots during weekdays” throughout the academic year. The site also notes that parking availability is less plentiful between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, a window that overlaps with most classes and student routines.
The website’s information is not just a suggestion: enforcement is real. Bushey notes that the security office constantly enforces the posted parking policy, especially in areas such as fire lanes, handicap spaces, and visitor parking at the admissions office. Students may use any legal spot after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and throughout the weekend, but violations of posted signs are considered a policy breach.
“Security’s role in parking is pretty much just enforcement of the parking policy,” Bushey said, adding that after permits are approved, “[he is] the person that assigns a permit to the student.” He notes that “around 321 permits have been assigned so far,” showcasing just how few parking permits have been assigned even on Carleton’s small campus.
Bushey also outlines the boundaries of campus authority, particularly with regard to parking outside of Carleton’s campus: “Students should be aware of the city of Northfield’s parking rules and that is not something security knows about or is involved in.” For instance, the city’s winter parking ban (no vehicles on city streets from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. between Nov. 15 and March 15) is enforced by the Northfield Police Department, not campus security. The fine is $50 and increases to $70 if not paid within seven days. Appeals must be filed with the city’s police department.
This separation between campus jurisdiction and municipal rules can be confusing for students who park overnight or on streets surrounding the campus. While the college can control parking on its property, city policy still matters for students driving every day.
“When it comes to cost,” Bernstein admits, “I don’t remember, but it was somewhere around $100,” a cost that he felt was “a little steep given the parking is quite inconvenient.”
On campus, “getting my pass and starting parking” wasn’t difficult, Bernstein says, but he notes that the location of his assigned spot at the Rec Center isn’t the most convenient. “It’s pretty out of the way. It’s manageable, though.” This is where cost and convenience intersect. Students often pay a premium not just for the right to park, but for the privilege of parking conveniently.
Once they have a permit, students settle into the logistics of moving their cars. For Bernstein, that means using his car once or twice a week and almost never moving it from spot to spot.
“I have never struggled to find a spot,” he says, perhaps because his permit comes with a guaranteed space. But he also raises a common point of confusion: “The parking rules are quite clear except for no formal definition of what counts as on campus. I do not know where I can park my car other than my assigned parking spot.”
That uncertainty reflects the complexity of campus parking maps, signage and policies that change depending on day, time and location.
While some students may see parking as a perk, for Bernstein, the biggest benefit of having a car has been recreational: “It’s nice to be able to get away from campus from time to time and see what the cities can offer.” He says it hasn’t drastically changed his daily routine, but adds that being able to access off-campus life is a big advantage, especially in rural or small-town college settings.
The structured nature of Carleton’s parking policy is rooted in the college’s desire to manage limited space, a challenge faced by campuses everywhere. On the one hand, rules ensure that safety and access are prioritized; on the other hand, students often feel restricted by limited availability and unclear boundaries.
According to the official campus security website, “parking at Carleton is a shared venture between visitors, students, faculty, and staff.” It also clearly warns that parking is typically less available during the busiest parts of the day, reinforcing the need for students with cars to plan and adapt accordingly.
Bernstein hasn’t received any tickets or warnings, but he’s aware of the consequences of violating policy and of the delicate balance the college tries to strike between flexibility and order.
When asked if he’d apply for a permit again, his answer is a clear “yes.” “If you have a car, bring it if you can. I wouldn’t go and buy a car just to have one at Carleton, though.”
For the college as a whole, the challenge remains: how to provide access to those who need it while maintaining fairness, clarity, and order.
