Michigan State University runs a large campus parking operation, with a small team behind the scenes keeping it all moving. Cole Nichols, MSU’s Parking Coordinator, has watched that operation evolve for years, working alongside Passport in a partnership that has grown with the campus itself.
Building Something New, Together
MSU’s partnership with Passport goes back to 2018. Before going fully digital, staff worked long shifts collecting, sorting, and counting coins and cash from meters across campus, on top of maintaining the kiosks that kept everything running.
The Passport team has visited campus, helping implement signage and hand out flyers to get the word out as students and staff got used to a new way to pay for parking. What started as a small rollout in a handful of lots has grown into something much bigger, and it happened because both sides were willing to build it together.
“It’s nice to have somebody who understands your needs, who’s been there, and who knows every issue that’s ever come up.” – Cole Nichols, Parking Coordinator, Michigan State University
What started as a small rollout in a handful of lots grew quickly. Students and returning visitors adapted with little pushback once the change was made, and that early comfort has carried forward as the university has continued to expand where and how the technology is used.
A Working Relationship, Not Just a Vendor
Nichols points to one thing above all when he talks about why the relationship works: the people behind it. Anything that comes up gets forwarded straight to his Client Success Manager, Rob Jones, who he credits with always finding solutions and getting things accomplished.
“Passport’s been a really easy partner to work with,” Nichols says. “Anything we’ve ever needed or asked for has always been taken care of.”
That responsiveness is what Nichols comes back to when describing what sets Passport apart. Having an attentive support team who genuinely cares, in his experience, makes all the difference.
No Signs of Slowing Down
Asked what he’d tell another parking coordinator on the fence about a long-term technology partner, Nichols doesn’t hesitate: do it. The payoff outweighs any initial hesitations, and adoption tends to come faster than people expect once the change is actually in place.
“It’s been a great relationship for us, and I’m excited to see what else we can do with Passport to help us optimize,” states Nichols.
MSU’s parking operation is still evolving, with more of the campus shifting to modern payment methods each year. Eight years into the partnership, that’s the throughline for MSU: a relationship that’s kept pace with the university’s needs, and one built to keep going.