Back to school looks very different this year, and most colleges are seeing students for the first time since quarantine began in March. As students return to campus for the fall semester, universities are tirelessly preparing to combat the spread of COVID-19. In addition to sanitizing and investing in social distancing signage, a few colleges are sending branded masks to their students. The University of Georgia mailed masks with its logo to all incoming students, along with a letter detailing the new campus rules surrounding the virus. Additionally, The University of Georgia, along with many other universities, has partnered with ParkMobile to provide a contactless parking option on campus to further reduce the spread of germs. Students are now able to secure and pay for parking right from their mobile phones with the ParkMobile app.

Colleges across the country are quickly realizing that contactless mobile parking is no longer just a convenience, but a necessity in the midst of the pandemic. ParkMobile has signed contracts with a record number of universities in the last two months alone, including several SEC schools. The University of Alabama launched with ParkMobile in August, enabling students to find parking at more than 350 spaces on the Tuscaloosa campus. On August 17, the app launched at Louisiana State University with over 650 spaces. Mississippi State also launched in August, representing over 12,000 visitor spaces. ParkMobile already has a large presence in the Southeast, with more than 600,000 monthly app users. The amount of users in this region has grown by 125 percent in the last two years.

ParkMobile is the leading provider of smart parking solutions in North America. The app provides a safe and easy way for students and visitors to pay for parking on campus. University leaders are encouraging everyone to download the app and use it as an alternative to pay stations. To use the app, users enter the zone number posted on stickers and signs near the pay station and throughout the parking lot, select the amount of time needed and touch the “Start Parking” button to begin their session. In select areas, users can even extend their parking session time right from their phones. Contactless parking minimizes the spread of the virus by eliminating the need to touch the meter.

Although the start of this semester is a bit uncertain, colleges and universities are doing everything they can to keep students safe and in class. Partnering with ParkMobile to provide contactless parking is a great step towards minimizing the spread of the virus. Using the ParkMobile app reduces the stress of paying for parking and eliminates unnecessary exposure to germs. In addition to books and school supplies, students heading for college this fall will need lots of sanitizers, masks, and the ParkMobile app. From everyone at ParkMobile, we wish students a safe and successful school year!