As UTRGV adjusts to the COVID-19 crisis, different measures have been implemented to accommodate a student-less campus, including prorated reimbursements for parking permits.
In an email sent Tuesday, University Marketing and Communications informed students about the decision to reimburse them for their parking permits.
“UTRGV understands the difficult circumstances the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has placed on all of us, and we thank you for your hard work and dedication during these uncertain times,” the email states. “To help mitigate some of your financial burden, UTRGV will offer pro-rated reimbursements to students who purchased parking permits. The pro-rated amount will cover March 17, 2020, through the end of August 31, 2020 for annual permits.”
Patrick Gonzales, associate vice president for University Marketing and Communications and UTRGV spokesman, said students should start seeing their reimbursement in their accounts by next week.
“[Students, faculty and staff are] not using their permits,” G0nzales said. “I mean, it’s pretty simple when we send the students home and send … most of our staff to work from home, you know, the permits are no longer valid. You’ve paid for something that is no longer needed. So, we thought that based on that and based on the fact that these are difficult times and people are struggling financially as well, that anything we could do would help that situation.”
Enforcement of zoned parking on UTRGV campuses and off-campus sites will be temporarily suspended until further notice, according to the email.
The Rider tried to contact Rodney Gomez, executive director for UTRGV Parking and Transportation Services, via email Thursday but was unsuccessful.
UTRGV will also stop payroll deduction for employees for campus parking permits beginning the payroll check date of April 1 to Sept. 1.
If parking permits were paid as an annual lump-sum, no action will be required and faculty and staff who made the purchase will still receive a reimbursement, according to a Tuesday email sent to UTRGV employees.
“If you are a direct deposit employee, you will receive a direct deposit for your reimbursement,” the email states. “If you are not on direct deposit, a reimbursement check will be mailed to your home address on file.”
Employees have the option to donate their reimbursement or apply their payroll deductions to the Student Emergency Fund.
“The purpose of the Student Emergency Fund is to provide limited, last resort, financial assistance to currently enrolled students who are experiencing a sudden emergency, accident, or unforeseen event that requires additional emergency monetary assistance in order to support their ability to stay enrolled and focused on their academic career,” according to the UTRGV website.
The Student Emergency Fund is currently being used to assist those who have been most affected by the pandemic, according to the email sent to employees.
For more information about the Student Emergency Fund, click here.
