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Commuting to Carthage

Two students unwind lakeside in Carthage's famous red adirondack chairs.

Still a home away from home

30%

of Carthage undergraduate students commute to campus.

About 30 percent of Carthage undergraduate students commute to campus, instead of living in the residence halls. While Carthage does have a four-year residency requirement, undergraduate students who live with their parents/legal guardians within 30 driving miles of Carthage may commute to campus. Being a commuter doesn’t mean you can’t get the full college experience.

Get Involved!

Get involved in as much as you can on campus.

  • Attend Carthage Kick-Off Days at the start of every academic year.
  • Join clubs and organizations.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Read The Bridge, keep up with the online calendar, and look for activities on The Harbor.
  • Stay on campus between classes.
  • Consider purchasing a Commuter Meal Plan so that you can join friends for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner.
  • Get familiar with important resources and spaces on campus, such as the Semler Fitness Center in the TARC, Hedberg Library, and the Campbell Student Union.
With more than 130 clubs and organizations, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

With more than 130 clubs and organizations, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Every semester, Carthage hosts an Involvement Fair, where students can explore on-campus clubs.

Every semester, Carthage hosts an Involvement Fair, where students can explore on-campus clubs.

Consider staying on campus between classes to study with friends...

Consider staying on campus between classes to study with friends...

...or for the lake view!

...or for the lake view!

Take advantage of all campus facilities, including the student health center.

Take advantage of all campus facilities, including the student health center.

Campbell Student Union features a comfortable campus living room, space to eat and study, foosball and pool tables, a theatre, student ar...

Campbell Student Union features a comfortable campus living room, space to eat and study, foosball and pool tables, a theatre, student art gallery, and convenience store.

 

Getting to Campus

Commuter student permits allow parking in designated commuter lots. All commuting student vehicles must have a hangtag displayed on the rearview mirror facing frontwards. Commuter parking permits are not valid for overnight parking. (“Overnight parking” is defined as starting at the time when the residence halls close to visitors.)

All full-time commuter students (defined as enrolled for 12 credits or more in any given term) must purchase a permit. Commuter permits are available without charge to part-time students.

More information about campus parking policies can be found on the Office of Public Safety website.

The City of Kenosha No. 4 bus stops on campus regularly Monday-Saturday. The No. 4 bus makes stops at Glenwood Crossings (Pick ‘N’ Save, Walgreens, McDonalds, and other stores/restaurants); Downtown Kenosha; Meijer; and more. On campus, the bus stops near the main entrance of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Natural and Social Sciences. Visit the City of Kenosha website for specific route schedules

Before each semester starts, practice timing your driving or public transportation route to campus based on your class schedule. We recommend adding an extra 15 minutes for the first week of classes due to high volumes of traffic and occasional congestion on campus.

When traveling to and from campus, we encourage you to pay close attention to local weather forecasts and prepare for inclement weather. All students should keep their emergency contact information and preferred method of communication up to date to ensure receipt of emergency notifications of severe weather. Contact information and preferences can be updated any time through Workday.

Prepare for your commute by getting an oil change, tune-up, and tire rotation before classes start to ensure your car is in working order. Look into roadside assistance options in case of flat tires and uncharged batteries. Always have an ice scraper, extra wiper fluid, and other vehicle essentials in the trunk in case of emergencies. Look into rewards programs at local gas stations to find ways to save money on commuting costs.

 

Services for Commuter Students

Commuter Meal Plans can be purchased as needed in blocks of 25 or 50 throughout the academic year. Commuter Plan Meal Swipes can be used in The Caf and Lentz Do Lunch. Commuter Plan Meal Swipes expire at the end of the academic year. Birdie Bucks can be added to commuter student ID anytime via the GET App. Birdie Bucks are accepted at all dining locations on campus, including Starbucks.

Commuter Plan A 25 Meal Swipes for $250
Commuter Plan B 50 Meal Swipes for $450

All Carthage resources are available to commuting students. Click on the links below to learn more.