Facilities

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