Forward thinking is what will ensure the University of Mississippi’s growth will not overwhelm Oxford and Lafayette County, and it appears looking ahead is something the school is doing continuously.

Mike Harris, director of parking and transportation, has an immense job. It’s just his third year on the job and he has developed a strategy that will get the school past the 2020 school year.

At a school that used to have more beds than parking spots, and a school that’s population is growing by leaps and bounds, Harris’ job is a daunting one. His efforts to decentralize parking, create a more pedestrian-oriented campus by using buses instead of cars, and look several years down the road are paying off. His working hand in hand with the University Police Department also ensures enforcement is all on the same page.

Harris’ job is likely a thankless one and one that requires him to field a lot of complaints from people who need and want parking and need and want out of tickets. We appreciate him forging ahead with a complicated situation and making life easier for students, commuters, faculty and staff and all the residents of Oxford and Lafayette County.