As we approach UMBC's 50th anniversary celebration this weekend, the university wanted to make you aware of some upcoming changes involving campus parking which may impact you.

Construction of The House of Grit Community Festival, which begins Wednesday evening, will require us to close Lot 8, across from the Performing Arts and Humanities Building, on Thursday, Sept. 15 and Friday, Sept. 16. This closure may cause some challenges for students commuting to campus, particularly on Thursday, as we temporarily allow crossover parking to the affected permit holders.

To alleviate issues stemming from this closure, additional parking will be available on Thursday to the campus community at the Southwest Park & Rideoff of Rolling Road and in UMBC's Satellite Lot at the South Campus Research Park. UMBC transit will provide continuous shuttle service from both locations to the main campus throughout the day, until 10 p.m. For real-time location of shuttle buses please download our UMBC Transit Tracker mobile app.

In anticipation of these parking changes, we recommend students allow extra time during their commute to factor in any potential delays. Faculty and staff are aware of the situation and have been asked to be flexible to accommodate those whose commute may be impacted by these temporary changes.

Thank for your understanding as we work to create a memorable 50th anniversary celebration weekend for our students, faculty, and staff and the thousands of alumni, family, and friends who will join us for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Mark Sparks, Chief of Police