To: The West Chester University Community
From: Todd E. Murphy, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Date: December 2, 2024
Subject: M2 Parking Lot Reopens Today
Dear WCU Community,
Units for Matlack Court have begun to arrive for occupancy by returning students in
fall 2025 and are being placed in temporary staging upon arrival. Effective today,
M2 Parking Lot (40 parking spaces) has reopened to WCU commuting students and employees
with valid parking permits from now through the spring semester.
Please refer to the updated map for details regarding Matlack Street & Carter Drive
parking available to all those in our University community with valid parking permits:
Matlack Court Updated Parking Map as of December 2, 2024 .
If you hold a Commuter (“C”) parking permit or an Employee (“E”), you are permitted to park in the Matlack Street Parking Garage, 100 E Campus Drive,
located by Swope Music Building.
This garage is a tiered parking lot and does not have gate arms.
All vehicles must display their valid Commuter or Employee parking permit when utilizing
the garage.
Updates will continue to be sent as the project moves forward.
Sincerely,
Todd E. Murphy
Vice President for Finance and Administration
To: The West Chester University Community
From: Todd E. Murphy, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Date: November 14, 2024
Subject: Update RE Matlack Street & Carter Drive Parking Availability
Dear WCU Community,
As shared, we are launching the steps needed to begin adding on-campus housing. Matlack Court will be the name of our temporary prefabricated modular housing community for returning
students.
As a reminder, M1 Parking Lot will close on Friday, November 15, to prepare the site
for Matlack Court. The attached map details Matlack Street & Carter Drive parking that will be available to WCU commuting students and employees with valid parking
permits from November 15 through the spring semester.
Please note the following:
- Matlack Parking Garage (400 parking spaces) will remain available to WCU commuting
students and employees with valid parking permits.
- M Lot (437 parking spaces) will remain available to WCU commuting students and employees
with valid parking permits.
- A new surface lot (46 additional parking spaces) has been added at 204 Carter Drive
for WCU commuting students and employees with valid parking permits. Since our last
communication, 10 additional spaces have been added to the original plan.
- Q and R Lots on South Campus will function as general overflow parking areas for all
valid parking permits.
- Additional shuttle times will be added to transport passengers from the areas of Carter
Drive, Matlack Parking Garage, M Lot, as well as Q and R Lots.
We will continue to provide periodic updates as the project moves forward.
Sincerely,
Todd E. Murphy
Vice President for Finance and Administration
To: The West Chester University Community
From: Todd E. Murphy, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Date: November 1, 2024
Subject: Temporary Modular Housing Update
Dear WCU Community,
We are moving ahead with plans to add much needed housing on campus and are taking
the first step. You may remember that we announced in September that West Goshen Township
approved the University’s request to add short-term housing on campus in an innovative
way — prefabricated modular housing configured in a court-style environment that will
provide single-occupancy amenities for 100 beds and double-occupancy for 28 students.
We will now begin to prepare M1 Lot for the arrival of our short-term housing that
will be available for fall 2025 occupancy. Working closely with WCU Campus Police,
Parking Services, and Facilities, accommodations have been made as we prepare to close
M1 Lot on November 15 through the spring semester. The following is some important
information to be aware of.
M1 Lot & Parking
The University has been especially mindful of commuting students in its planning.
Please know that Matlack Parking Garage, which houses a total of approximately 400
parking spaces, will be available to commuting students and employees with valid parking
permits. Having recently launched an independent parking study during the busiest
days/times on campus, the University learned that 20% of Matlack Parking Garage had
available parking spots, including those located on the top level. Exploring the use
of all floors in Matlack Parking Garage is encouraged. Hourly/daily rates are not
charged.
The University will also add 36 parking spaces at 204 Carter Drive, which is located
directly across from M1 Lot. Commuting students and employees with valid parking permits
will be able to park in these spots.
Q and R Lots on South Campus will function as general overflow parking areas for all
valid parking permits.
Additional shuttle times will be added to transport passengers from the areas of Carter
Drive, Matlack Parking Garage, as well as Q and R Lots.
Arrival of Modular Housing
WCU’s modular housing will arrive in two phases, November 18 through December 30:
- During Phase One (November 18 through December 6), modular housing units will be temporarily
staged at M2.
- During Phase Two (December 5 through December 30), modular housing units will be temporarily
staged behind 201 Carter Drive.
Returning Students May Apply for Fall 2025-2026 Modular Housing
The WCU 2025-2026 Returning Student Housing Application process is open now through November 8, 2024. The modular housing community will be available
for selection for fall 2025 occupancy in the same manner as other WCU managed residence
halls/apartments.
Our modular housing community will provide the necessary swing-space needed to begin
deferred maintenance projects on other on-campus housing units while we pursue authorization
to renovate existing buildings or add something new for a greater number of beds.
As was shared earlier in the semester, as these long-term plans are reviewed by our
local municipalities and hopefully approved to come to fruition, our short-term modular
housing will be removed within five years.
This is an exciting time for our University. As more information becomes available,
we will be sure to share.
Sincerely,
Todd E. Murphy
Vice President for Finance and Administration
West Chester University
From: WCU President
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024
Subject: Student Housing Update
Dear West Chester University Community,
As we plan our future, our time is now. I write to share wonderful news that the first
step toward adding more housing on campus has just taken place. On Tuesday evening,
West Goshen Township approved the University’s request to add short-term housing on
campus in an innovative way — prefabricated modular housing configured in a court-style
environment that will provide single-occupancy amenities for 100 beds and double-occupancy
for 28 students. Single rooms will each have a full-size bed, private bathroom, as
well as a TV, mini-refrigerator, and microwave. Double-rooms will be fully furnished
and have a hallway bathroom. In addition, a community building will include mail pick-up,
washers/dryers, vending machines, and an office for a Residence Hall Coordinator.
A late-night shuttle will also accommodate and serve the residents of this community.
Housing a total of 128 students, the temporary modular housing community will reside
on the M1 Lot adjacent to the M parking garage on Matlack Street.
You will be happy to know that we are currently finalizing a comprehensive facility
master plan that identifies opportunities to add to, as well as improve, our existing
infrastructure. As part of the plan, our court-style modular housing will provide
the swing-space needed to begin deferred maintenance projects on other on-campus housing
units while we pursue authorization to renovate existing buildings or add something
new for a greater number of beds. As these long-term plans are reviewed by our local
municipalities and hopefully approved to come to fruition, our short-term modular
housing will be removed within five years.
We are excited and thankful that West Goshen Township has approved this short-term
housing option that many students speak quite favorably about at other colleges and
universities. While we have much more work to do to add more permanent on-campus housing
than we have currently, this is a start. We will continue to move forward boldly and
with our students’ best interests at the forefront of all our actions.
Yours,
Lorraine Bernotsky, DPhil
President
West Chester University
