Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology announced Wednesday the creation of 300 specialty parking stalls to accommodate tractors, semi-trailers and various other heavy-duty vehicles for residential and commuter students.

The stalls are conveniently located outside the main OSUIT residence halls, the Student Union, most academic buildings and Covelle Hall, the primary campus recreation facility.

"The majority of OSUIT students come from small towns and rural areas across Oklahoma," said Jake Murphy, assistant vice president of admissions and enrollment. "So, it makes sense to allow them the option of leaving their pick-up at home and commuting via tractor or combine harvester for their convenience."

OSUIT Vice President of Operations Chris Benge reports these specialty parking stalls have been in the works for some time, but having them in place by April 1 of this year has long been a priority.

"We've heard from students who have been driving the Kubota, John Deere, or Komatsu since they were in grade school, well before getting their driver's license," Benge said during today's unveiling ceremony. "It's something we've heard for years, so to be able to make this a reality for our students is really something special."

"It's really great!" reports Mark Rosewater, a third-semester student in the NAEDA Agricultural Equipment Technician AAS program. "I lost my truck keys last week and almost missed my Hydraulic Systems class. Our tractor has a push-button ignition, so I can just hop in and go!"

Plans to allow students to commute via ATV, dune buggy and horseback are also in the works. Commuting via lawn tractor will remain against OSUIT policy.

NOTE: This article is an April Fools’ Day joke from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. 

This story isn’t real, but our students really are experts on tractors, big rigs and virtually every other kind of vehicle in the barn or on the road.

Learn more about the transportation and heavy equipment programs at OSUIT.