Category Archives: 2026 2027

Surviving the First Week of Classes

Posted on by
Reply

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner. In just a few days every student will be back on campus walking, biking, skateboarding, and the occasional running around campus getting to classes and lunch. If you are new to campus your first week may seem a little intimidating and overwhelming and that’s okay. We were all there once too. Throughout my time at Embry-Riddle, I’ve come up with a few tips to help make that first day and week feel like a breeze. 

  1. Walk Your Schedule 
    • Before my first day of classes I always “walk my schedule”. I go through a walk to each classroom in the order I would during a normal school day. This helps you get acquainted with where your classes are and the easiest way to get to the next one. If you are a new student, this will help you from being late on your first day. 
  1. Put Your Schedule in Your Phone 
    • I would not survive without my phone. Not because of social media but because of my calendar. My calendar is my life……… seriously. My whole entire schedule for school, work, and social is in my calendar. I put my class schedule into my calendar with the location, title, and times.  I have my color coded as well as all of the clubs I am a part of. Most of us have our phones on us 24/7 so this is a quick and resourceful method to keep track of your schedule without having to carry around a paper. 
  1. Plan Your Lunchtime 
    • During lunchtime the Student Union can look a little chaotic. If you want Chick-fil-a I suggest going before 11 am and after 12:30 pm. That hour and a half in-between has a consistently long line. If you have the time to wait, go for it. However, if you only have 30-45 minutes in-between classes you most likely will not have time to wait. I personally bring lunch from home because I live off campus, do not have a meal plan, and it’s a lot cheaper. If you aren’t on a meal plan and want Starbucks, I recommend ordering ahead on the app so that by the time you get to the second floor of the union, it is ready for you. 
  1. Find a Quiet Place to Study 
    • Hopefully you don’t have too much homework your first week of classes but there are a few professors who see the first week of classes as just another regular week and give homework on day one. If you would like to have a quieter environment to do homework I recommend the third floor of the union, the library, or to reserve a study room. These are some of the best places on campus that I have found that have reliable Wi-Fi and low noise levels. 
  1. Don’t Wait till the Last Minute 
    • If you know you have an 8 am class do not wait till 7:45 to get up. Nobody wants to be rushed trying to get ready, eat breakfast and get to class. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to class so you can have a stress free week. 

I hope these few tips help make your first week on campus a breeze. Just remember to take it step by step. You are going to do great things! 

Tips for Parking on Campus

Posted on by
Reply

Parking on campus can often times be a difficult thing for both new and current students to navigate. Lot colors and parking regulations are always changing, especially with the impending construction of the new dorm building. With so many different colored lots and rules, it can be confusing to know who gets to park where. 

Here is a helpful breakdown of who gets to park in what lots, and some other tips you need to know:

Blue lots are for employees of the university, and can be found throughout campus near all major buildings. 

Yellow lots are for commuter students, and can be found near the college of Arts and Sciences, the Tomcat Annex and New Residence Hall 1.

Green lots are for resident students in the New Residence Halls, Apollo, and Doolittle. These lots can be found near the New Residence Halls, and behind the student Village in the paved lot.

Red lots are for all students who live in the Student Village, and can be found behind the green parking lot near the Courtyard Marriott and Corsair Building.

Most of the lots across the street near the athletic fields and near the ICI Center are all colored lots, which means anyone with a parking permit can park there. This is mainly filled with commuter students and some faculty during weekdays.

Additionally, blue lots become available for any permit color after 4 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. 

All colored parking permits can be purchased through your parking portal on ERNIE (just type parking in the search bar and it should come up). The passes vary in price depending on which color you are shopping for.

The parking garage has 4 levels. The first level contains pay to park spots, as well as a few pickup spots for mail in the mailroom. The other three levels contain reserved spots for students. To get a parking garage spot, you must email campus safety (Daytona.safety.request@erau.edu) and join the waitlist.

All permit decals must be placed on the bottom drivers side of your rear window. Additionally, all cars must be parked head in on all spots on campus. 

If you ever receive a ticket, you can appeal it through the Student Court within 10 days of receiving the citation. According to the court, a preliminary digital verdict will be issued and students have the opportunity to have an appeal hearing with the Student Court to potentially overturn the verdict.

Finally, if you are a student living at Eagle Landing, Onshore, Ten60, or Chanute, be sure to take advantage of the free SGA Shuttle to campus. The shuttles run from 7 AM to 8 PM, and pick up students outside the student union. This is a great way to avoid the headache and congestion that can come with finding a parking spot in the morning.

I hope these tips are helpful for all students, no matter if you are commuting or call campus your home. Let me know in the comments if you have any other parking related questions!

Favorite Beach Spots

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

If there’s one thing I love about Daytona, it’s being able to head to the beach to go relax whenever I want. There are so many beaches in Volusia and Flagler counties to go to, whether you just want to watch a sunrise or spend a whole day out in the sun. Here are some of my favorite beach spots that I’ve discovered in my two years at Riddle:

Tom Renick Park: This beach in Ormond is located about a half hour away from campus, and is perfect for an afternoon at the beach. This county park has ample parking, as well as a pavilion, showers, and restroom facilities. I first discovered this beach spot during the Orientation Beach Bash my freshmen year, and have been going ever since!

Flager Beach: This quiet coastal town is located right across the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast, and features many local restaurants and ice cream shops within walking distance. There is also tons of street parking on A1A, and a pier close by that has public restrooms. I love going to Flager in the evenings, grabbing a beachside dinner with my friends and then going to the beach to hangout as the sun sets.

Matanzas Inlet: This beach is located about an hour away from campus, and is perfect for anyone who is planning a full day out on the sand. This beach is larger and more secluded than the other two, and also has great locations for fishing off a nearby bridge. Parking is also located nearby. I went to this beach for a day trip on Easter, and it did not disappoint.

The Volusia County website includes a lot of good information about parking, fees, safety and more. I hope this blog let you to discover a brand new spot for a beach day this semester! Let me know your favorite beach spot in the area down in the comments.