LAWRENCE, KS, March 3, 2026 — HONK, a North American provider of contactless parking payment technology, has been selected by the University of Kansas (KU) to power hourly mobile parking payments campus-wide. Students, faculty, and community members parking on campus can now pay for hourly parking through HONK’s flexible digital payment platform — whether through the HONK app, by scanning a QR code for instant guest checkout, or via Text to Pay.
“We are committed to continuously improving the parking experience for our campus community and visitors,” said Shima McCurdy, Assistant Director of KU Transportation Services. “After careful evaluation, we selected HONK for its intuitive user experience, flexible payment options, and the ability to manage our parking operations more efficiently through a modern digital platform.”
KU parkers now have the flexibility to choose how they pay. (1) Drivers can complete their transaction through the HONK app with an account for faster repeat visits, (2) scan posted QR codes for instant guest checkout with no download or account required, or (3) use Text to Pay by entering a location code found on campus signage. All options support major credit cards as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, allowing drivers to pay in seconds using the method they’re most comfortable with.
One of the most appreciated features of HONK among campus users is the ability to extend a parking session remotely from their phone. For students balancing classes, studying, part-time jobs, and campus activities, this means parking adapts to their schedule — not the other way around. Instead of leaving a lecture or cutting a meeting short, parkers can add time in seconds and stay focused on what matters most.
“Higher education has become one of our fastest-growing markets,” said Matt Critchell, Chief Revenue Officer at HONK. “Campuses need flexible technology that supports students, faculty, visitors, and administrators without adding operational complexity. Our strong adoption across universities across North America reflects the trust institutions place in our platform, and we’re proud to bring that same proven approach to the University of Kansas.”
For KU Transportation Services, the HONK platform delivers real-time transaction reporting and full visibility into parking activity, along with self-serve administrative tools that allow staff to update rates, locations, and permissions in minutes. The system integrates with digital enforcement providers for instant payment validation and supports a hardware-light approach that reduces reliance on traditional pay stations while maintaining flexibility across campus.
About the University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is one of the nation’s leading public universities and takes pride in its mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities and make discoveries that change the world. With more than 31,000 students across five campuses, KU boasts 48 nationally ranked academic programs – including 10 ranked in the top 10 – and is home to major centers overseeing research in biomedical research, security and energy. KU also has nationally designated cancer and Alzheimer’s centers and the state’s only schools of medicine and pharmacy, which are vital to training healthcare providers. In fulfilling its mission of education, service and research, KU drives $7.8 billion in economic activity in Kansas, which includes KU activity in operations, construction and research, as well as the expenditures of KU startup companies, visitors, students and alumni.
