President Obama’s Visit: Parking, Traffic, and Logistics

The University of Hartford will welcome a sitting president for the first time in its history today (Monday, April 8) when President Barack Obama delivers an address to students, faculty, and staff, and invited guests of the White House.

President Obama's speech will take place in the Chase Family Arena at the Sports Center. Doors to the Sports Center will open at 2:30 p.m. for those who have tickets.

In his remarks, President Obama is expected to continue asking the American people to join him in calling on Congress to pass measures to reduce gun violence.

President Obama's historic visit to the University will be simulcast at various locations across campus, and his remarks also will be streamed live on whitehouse.gov.

Officials have been working to balance the daily life of the University with necessary security needs created by President Obama’s visit. Please note the latest information below (see campus map for reference).


Closings and Cancellations

• Classes are canceled between 3 and 10 p.m. today (Monday). The University is otherwise open during this period, however, those who do not have tickets to the Presidential speech or other pressing business on campus during this time period are strongly encouraged not to come to campus.

• The deadline to drop a course, change to or from pass/no pass, and change from credit to audit status has been pushed back to Tuesday, April 9.

• The University Bookstore will close at 1 p.m. today.

• The Fitness Center in the Sports Center will close at 10 a.m. today and will not resume regular hours until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9.

• Health Services and Campus Physical Therapy are closed today. Click here to locate available health resources.


Parking, Traffic, and Road Access

• Students parked in Lot N were asked to move their cars to any available, legal, non-reserved parking spaces in Lots A-F. Lot N will remain unavailable for student parking until 8 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Cars assigned to Lot N must be returned there by noon on Tuesday, April 9.

• All cars parked in lots from Regents Park East to Village Apartments 7, including the rear of Regents (known to students as the blinky lot) will not be able to exit or enter these lots from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. Anyone needing to move their vehicles during this time should park in another lot before 10 a.m. on Monday. Cars may be parked in any legal, unreserved spot in lots A-F.

• Cars can also park in the K lots, however, entry and exit from K lots will be prohibited between 3 and 5 p.m. on Monday, therefore anyone needing to move their vehicles during this time should not park in the K lots.

• On Monday, no cars will be allowed to park in any spaces between the K-lots and N Lot. This means no parking in front of or behind the Complexes, in Lots L and M, the Commons loading dock area, and the Sports Center staff lot. Faculty, staff, and students who usually park in these spaces can park in available spaces in K and F Lots or in any legal, non-reserved parking spaces in any lot on campus. If parking is not available in those lots, call Public Safety at 860.768.7985 for direction to available parking.

• From 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, parking is available at the Unitarian Church, 50 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Shuttles will run from the church to campus. Shuttles will run again from the end of the event until no longer needed.

• At least two separate stoppages of traffic on campus and on surrounding roads are expected between 4 and 6:30 p.m. Monday. If you typically enter or exit campus during this time, please plan to do so earlier or later.

• All students, faculty and staff should carry their University photo IDs on Monday. Especially on the residential side, you may be asked to stay off certain sidewalks, show ID or comply with other restrictions. Please comply with these and other requests that have been communicated to Residential Life staff and student residents.