UK’s Student Government Association is restarting its parking coupon program, giving students free parking in campus visitor lots.

The service provides all UK students with up to 15 hours of free parking in the Gatton Student Center parking lot or William T. Young Library lots. Parking in these areas costs every driver $2 per hour. Through this program, anyone with a linkblue ID can save up to $30. 

Students can apply online through the SGA website. Once they submit the application, students will receive a coupon code within five business days that can be used at the on-campus pay stations. All codes expire on May 5, 2023. 

Michael Hawse, a former president of SGA, began the program in 2021, fulfilling his campaign promise to provide UK students with free parking coupons.

Kiley Alcorn, a graduate student, currently serves as the SGA’s interim director of campus services. She helps students with accessibility and services on campus. Last semester, as assistant director of campus services, she supported projects like the Wildcats Market and Coats for Cats program.

Alcorn said students’ interest in the program increases each semester. 

“I think we gave away close to 400 coupons last semester, so … the interest in getting these coupons is getting bigger,” Alcorn said. “Just since (the program reopened) literally a week ago, already 150 people have signed up.”

Freshman Kauner Shacklette expressed much interest in taking advantage of the program’s benefits. Shacklette confirmed that the lots where students could redeem coupons worked well for him, calling the program “perfect.” 

SGA promotes the program through social media and, according to Alcorn, intends to raise more awareness by advertising it on signs around campus. 

Alcorn said SGA has plans to provide students with more free services.

“We actually are trying to figure out a way to give students money to use the laundry machines in dorms, so they don’t have to pay for them,” she said.