U-Pass

Cleveland State is pleased to support the popular U-Pass program. The U-Pass allows ALL MAIN CAMPUS students to ride free of charge on all Greater Cleveland RTA buses and rapid trains during a semester. Student accounts will be charged $25 to fund the program. The program was first implemented at the request of Cleveland State’s Student Government Association (supported by a vote of the student body) in Spring 2005. A second referendum was put on the ballot in Spring, 2009 to measure continuing demand for the program and for support for a proposed extension of the program to summer term.

The ballot resulted in an 86% approval to continue the program with a charge of $25 for all full and part-time main campus students during fall and spring semesters. In addition, 81% of voters approved that the program be extended to summer sessions.

Greater Cleveland RTA and CSU Administration will negotiate a new agreement for the U-Pass program that will begin Fall Semester, 2009. Included in these negotiations will be a decision process to determine whether or not the University will proceed with extending the program to summer enrollees – a decision that would not be implemented until summer, 2010. The University will continue to administer the U-Pass program by posting charges to student accounts and managing the distribution of the U-Pass sticker.

How to Get a U-Pass (Fall and Spring semesters only, cost is per semester)

• You must be a student enrolled for one or more credit hours on the main campus.
• Present your valid CSU VikingCard ID to a cashier in the Cashier's Office (Main Classroom, Room 115).
• Your account will need to be paid in full or you must enroll in the Budget Payment Plan.
• After validation a U-Pass sticker will be affixed to your VikingCard ID.

Policies and Regulations

• A $25 fee is billed to each student to support U-Pass (cost is charged per semester).
• Students must get a new U-Pass sticker every semester.
• This program is not available for Summer Term.
• A replacement U-Pass can be obtained at the U-Pass office for a fee of $35 throughout the semester. This does not cover the cost of a VikingCard ID replacement. Replacement of the Viking Card ID will be an additional $15.
• If you drop all your classes, return with your Viking Card ID to the Cashier’s office within 30 days of dropping to have the U-Pass sticker removed. Students may be charged a $150.00 fee if the U-Pass sticker is not removed after all classes are dropped.

Benefits to Students

• The immediate benefit for all CSU students should be a lessened demand for on-campus parking as students choose to take public transportation.
• Students who drive to campus have the opportunity to use RTA transit to travel on ALL ROUTES ANYTIME throughout Cuyahoga County, including downtown, to the airport etc.

Commuter Advantage for Faculty and Staff
This program allows eligible Faculty and Staff to purchase RTA monthly bus passes via payroll deduction. The payroll deduction option means that the expense for the pass will be paid with pre-tax dollars and can provide employees with a tax benefit of up to $200 per year. You also have the convenience the automatic payment for the pass.

Sign up for Commuter Advantage. Click here for more information about the RTA Commuter Advantage program.