Commuter Students

What does it mean to be a commuter? Do you live in a residence hall? If you answered no, then you are indeed a "commuter student." The image that most people think of when they hear the word "commuter" is of someone who lives in the suburbs and must drive a long distance in bad traffic on the highway to work everyday. Commuting to Kent State University may entail catching a bus or riding a bike, walking, rollerblading or driving a car to campus. Essentially, if you live off campus, we consider you to be a commuter. Nationwide, over 87% of college students commute to campus, so you should know you are not alone!

Whether or not you adopt the term "commuter" as your identity, we hope that you will investigate the useful resources in our office. The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) is committed to enhancing your college experience and helping you succeed in both your academic and out-of-class endeavors at Kent State.

Commuter students are the majority at Kent State. There are about 25,000 students here, of which approximately 6,500 students live in university-owned housing which leaves about 19,500 students who are commuters.

Commuter students are diverse in many ways: age, racial/ethnic identity, family status, working status, how you get to campus, distance you commute, living arrangements and so forth. In spite of all the differences, commuter students do have common concerns. Time management, balancing multiple roles, getting to campus and getting connected to campus life are all issues that face commuter students. The Center for Student Involvement is here to help you face those issues head-on! Stop by our office in room 226 of the Kent Student Center or the Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization (COSO) in room 124 of the Student Center, to find out what we can do for you!

Advice for the new commuter Kent State student

Transportation

The biggest concern of new commuter students during the first few weeks of school is where do I park and how do I get to class. The best way to address this concern is to get all the information you need ahead of time so that you are prepared for your first day of class. Here is how you do it:

• Contact Parking Services for permit purchases (if you haven't already) as well as to attain a map indicating where you would park for the fall.

• Contact Transportation Services for information regarding the Campus Bus Service including routes and times. Many students will have not used public transportation before they come to campus so becoming familiar with the Kent State system will be important to getting through those first few days.

• Decide your route and alternate routes before you get to campus on the first day. This way you are aware of how long it takes for you get to Kent State and how much time you will need to get to class using the Campus Bus Service.

• Avoid Summit St during the hours of 10 am 2 pm. While this is the most direct way to get to the University, it is also the busiest as it cuts through the heart of campus. The traffic tends to become very congested on Summit St. and may result in you being late for class. We would recommend you use Main St. to get to the University and then use your map to get to the Summit East lot where all commuter freshmen will be parking.

• Give yourself extra time that first week. The first week of school is usually pretty chaotic and many persons will be coming to campus for the first time. Therefore, your travels could be delayed with the increased traffic and general confusion from some of our students. Start your day a little earlier so that you can manage all that happens on that first day.

• If you have the opportunity to visit campus before school starts and map out where you classes actually are in relation to where you will park and the distance between classes, that should aid in your transition those first few days.

Getting connected

The second biggest concern of commuter students is feeling disconnected to the campus and not having all the information/resources they need to be successful. The best and most effective way to avoid this potential problem is to do the following:

• Attend all orientation activities. This program is your best opportunity to get the resources you need to be successful at Kent State University as well as meet other students. Contact the Center for Student Involvement at (330) 672 -2480 or visit the Student Orientation.

• Go to the Student Center. The Kent Student Center is the hub for countless student activities. It also houses great places to eat, a cyber cafe, a student credit union, and much more.

• Join the Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization (COS0). This is a student organization whose membership is both commuter and off-campus students. COSO sponsors numerous activities as well as represents commuter and off-campus students on various University committees. If you have a problem or want to meet other commuter students, contact COSO.