Volunteers:
COAR provides transportation to and from some our off-campus weekly programs. Most programs pick up volunteers at the Bell Tower or the University Center. Check with the leader of the program you are interested in to find out exact pickup times and locations.
Program Leaders:
In order to provide transportation for your volunteers, council leaders are required to be van certified. More information about student van familiarization can be found through UMW Parking Management. You need to fill out an application to become van certified. If you are not yet van certified, ask a COAR staff member to help you with this process during your office hour.
If you are already van certified, you will need to reserve vans with Facilities Services or COAR (if you are using the COAR minivan) – you do this by emailing the graduate assistant or COAR staff. This should be done at the end of each semester so that the COAR graduate assistant can submit the van requests during the break, between semesters. This will ensure that you have vans reserved at the beginning of each semester.
Please read the entire page before continuing to the COAR Van Request form at the bottom. It is important to understand the restrictions and requirements before requesting the vehicle.
COAR Minivan
COAR has its own minivan for use by COAR staff and council. Other campus groups can also request use of the van when it is not being used for COAR purposes.
The van is a silver Honda Odyssey minivan. It is parked in the Steam Plant lot (on Thorton and College streets). The van has a dedicated parking space marked with a blue placard that says “CCE Van.”
Who can drive the minivan:
In order to use the COAR minivan, all student drivers must have gone through van familiarization through Parking Management or made other arrangements with the Associate Director of the Center for Community Engagement to be trained. UMW employees do not require training. All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license. All drivers are insured by the UMW insurance policy.
How to reserve the minivan:
You can request the minivan by speaking with COAR staff or the Director of the CCE. The COAR Van should be used for in-town trips only. Please request at least 3 business days in advance.
Preference is given in the following order: 1. COAR programs; 2. Center for Community Engagement programs, events, and meetings; 3. All other university uses on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to pick up the minivan:
After you reserve the minivan for a specific day and time, you will be contacted with information to pick up the keys. Keys are located at the Center for Community Engagement (Suite 320 in the University Center). The vehicle will be in its designated spot unless other arrangements have been made.
How to fill up the minivan with gas:
If you are low on gas during business hours (9 AM to 5 PM – Monday through Friday), please fill up the van at Facilities Services. Facilities Services is located behind the Battlegrounds Athletic Fields off of Hanover Street. They have their own gas pump and gas is provided at no charge to your program. Check in at the front office for the key to the padlock that is on the pump. Drive around to the back of the building into the fenced in area. The pump is located in the far left corner. Unlock the padlock at the pump and fill up the tank. Relock the padlock and return the key to the front office.
If you need gas while away from UMW, please refer to the Voyager card packet in the glove compartment. There is a card you can charge gas to as well as instructions on which stations you can purchase from. More information about this is provided in your van familiarization training.
Emergency Roadside Procedure:
Refer to the packet of Voyager information in the glove compartment. There is a phone number (866-857-6866) to call and instructions to follow after you call. Please save this number on your phone in case you lock/lose the key.
UMW Facilities Vans
Who can drive UMW Facilities vans: In order to use the university vans, all student drivers must have gone through van familiarization through Parking Management. UMW employees do not require training. All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license. All drivers are insured by the UMW insurance policy.
How to reserve the UMW Facilities vans for a COAR program: Speak to Kasey, COAR staff, or the Director of the CCE to reserve a van. This process should be done as early as possible. The CCE can reserve vans for your weekly volunteer programs.
How to pick up a Facilities van: Pick up the key packet at the Facilities main office during business hours (9 AM to 5 PM – Monday to Friday). In your key packet, you will find the number of the van you will be driving. If you will be departing UMW after business hours or on a weekend, go to Facilities by 4 PM on the last business day before you will be taking the van. Example: if you will depart UMW at 7 PM on Thursday, go to the Facilities office to pick up your key packet by 4 PM on Thursday afternoon. If Facilities is closed when you drop off the van, leave the key packet in the dropbox on the front outside wall of the building. More information on van location, pickup, and drop off will be provided in the van familiarization training.
How to fill up the Facilities van with gas: If you need gas while away from UMW, please refer the Voyager card packet in the glove compartment. There is a card you can charge gas to as well as instructions on which stations you can purchase from. More information about this is provided in your van familiarization training.
Emergency Roadside Procedure:
Refer to the packet of Voyager information in the glove compartment. There is a phone number (866-857-6866) to call and instructions to follow after you call. Please save this number on your phone in case you lock/lose the key.