USER RESEARCH PROJECT

THE QUESTION

How might we improve student parking and transportation on JMU’s campus to make it less stressful?

THE INSIGHT

Parking has been a persistent complaint among students on college campuses, JMU is no exception. Of their 22,000 students, 17,000 are upperclassmen and can bring their cars to fight for the 3,000 available parking spaces spread among the 5 parking decks across campus.

Students are currently frustrated that they are required to pay $300 for an annual parking pass, without guaranteed parking. Students want to know that they will be able to find a spot to park on campus without worrying that they will be late to class or get a ticket for last minute parking.

 

THE HYPOTHESIS

If there was a website that conveyed a better navigation system for JMU students to easily find an available parking space or other form of transportation based on when and where they have class, then students would be able to get to class on time without the worry of getting a parking ticket.

SURVEY RESPONSES

94% Believe JMU needs more student parking

On a scale of 1-10, 71% rated the difficulty of parking to be a 7-10.

77% of students have gotten at least one ticket on campus.

INTERVIEW RESPONSES

They should add meters or another way to find out if there are parking spaces in the lots around campus.

A way to see all parking and transportation services all in one place.

Transforming some of the staff/faculty parkin into student parking during the busier hours of the day.

Making parking passes cheaper since parking is not guaranteed for students.

We need a list of the best times to get to the parking decks, by day, to avoid driving around and around, “sharking spots.”

THE PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS

  • The goal of the website is to be a better resource to students trying to park and use transportation on campus.

    • Give parking information as well as be an outlet for students to give requests to the university regarding parking policies.

    • Show parking deck meter numbers, a detailed map of strictly commuter parking lots, and a map of bus rounds with their updates.

    • Work with JMU’s parking service to be a place where students can buy parking passes and dispute and pay parking tickets.

    • Listed times of the busiest time(s) of day to park at each deck, by day.

    • Recommendations on the best strategies to get a spot in a lot or deck from current and past students.

Class

SMAD 203

Client

James Madison University

Year

Fall 2021