The ACU Police Department is preparing for Saturday’s commencement ceremony by ensuring that students and their families will have access to parking despite the construction near Moody Coliseum.

ACU Police Lieutenant H.E. Jenkins does not anticipate graduation resulting in the same parking conundrum that students faced during last week’s UIL track meet.

“We will not have the same worries we did during the track meet,” Jenkins said. “There should be enough on-campus parking for everyone because most students will be gone by the graduation.”

Jenkins also points to the fact that having two ceremonies will reduce parking issues.

The construction mainly will affect the Campus Center parking lot, Jenkins said. Jenkins encourages students and their families to park on the west side of campus in lots along Oliver Jackson Boulevard and Coliseum Way.

Two student workers will be stationed on the west side of campus to direct traffic and assist people as they park. Although Jenkins does not anticipate on-campus parking filling up, if it does, guests will be instructed to park along neighboring streets.

Handicapped parking will be available in the Teague Special Events Center parking lot. This will be the only parking lot blocked off and reserved for the event.

Faculty and students do not need to move vehicles for commencement parking because plenty of parking should be available, Jenkins said.

“This year we are using basically the same concept,” Jenkins said. “People should just anticipate the construction and everything should go over with success.”

Haley Buffington, junior interior design major from The Woodlands, says she does not remember having trouble parking at last years’ graduation.

“I think I will probably just walk this year just in case,” Buffington said.