Undergraduate Students can enjoy free access on any bus or train operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. The program, known as U-Pass, short for “Universal Pass,” enables students to ride the RTA anywhere, at any time. A $47.50 activity fee is automatically billed each semester on their bursar account. Utilization of the U-Pass program is not limited to only University-related activities.
Important Notes:
- All undergraduate students have the U-pass fee applied for this program. No exceptions. Students must get a new U-pass sticker for both the fall and spring semesters.
- U-pass stickers must be placed to the opposite side of your photo on your CWRU ID.
- U-pass stickers will be issued to Undergraduate Students at the Student Services Center located on the first floor of Tinkham Veale University Center (11038 Bellflower Rd). The Student Services Center is open 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday.
How To Ride
Graduates Students can enjoy free access on any bus or train operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority if their school has opted to participate in the program. The program, known as U-Pass, short for “Universal Pass,” enables students to ride the RTA anywhere, at any time. A $65 activity fee is automatically billed each semester on their bursar account. Utilization of the U-Pass program is not limited to only University-related activities.
Important Notes:
During the Spring 2022 semester, Graduate Student Council (GSC) worked with student government presidents from each school as well as GSC General Assembly representatives to organize the vote on the RTA pass for public transportation. These student leaders voted for an “all-in” RTA pass for graduate and professional students (with a few exceptions). This vote was shared in the Graduate Student Council Newsletter on April 11, 2022.
The “all-in” approach allows for a reduced price charged to CWRU students providing unlimited access to public transportation in the Cleveland area. Students pay $65 per semester in the 2023-2024 school year. An RTA Transportation Fee will be automatically billed each semester on a student’s financial account in the Student Information System (SIS).
Exclusions from the RTA fee are allowed for graduate and professional students taking fully remote classes or graduate and professional students with academic activities, such as instruction, research, etc., outside of Cuyahoga County.
For students assessed an RTA fee that have academic activities, such as instruction, research, etc., outside of Cuyahoga County, they may petition to waive the RTA fee each semester by completing a Campus Group form (link available here). The current semester form must be received by January 26, 2024. Access Services will process the request and respond directly with the student.
Graduate and professional students may pick up the fall RTA pass sticker from their school’s designated office. An email communication will be sent with additional pickup information (date and location). Students must be registered for fall classes before a RTA sticker is issued - please allow 24 hours after registration to pick up a RTA sticker. Designated university staff will place the sticker on the student’s Case ID card.
Frequently Asked Questions - Graduate and Professional Students
What is the RTA pass program?
The program, known as U-Pass, short for “Universal Pass,” enables students to ride the RTA anywhere, at any time. For graduate and professional students, the $65 fee is automatically billed each semester (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) on a student’s financial account in the Student Information System (SIS).
Are any programs excluded from the RTA pass program?
Graduate and professional students explicitly in online programs and programs outside of Cuyahoga County are excluded from the RTA pass program. Therefore, the fee will not be charged to those students.
When and where can I pick up the RTA pass sticker?
Graduate and professional students may pick up the RTA pass sticker from their school’s designated office. An email communication will be sent when the sticker is available for pickup with additional pickup information (such as date and location).
I do not reside in the Cleveland area; can I waive the fee?
Graduate and professional students taking fully remote classes or graduate and professional students with academic activities, such as instruction, research, etc., outside of Cuyahoga County may petition to waive the fee each semester by completing a Campus Group form (available here). The current semester form must be received by January 26, 2024.
I am a part-time student; can I waive the fee?
Part-time graduate and professional students cannot waive the fee unless they are an online student or a student with academic activities, such as instruction, research, etc., outside of Cuyahoga County. A petition to waive the fee each semester may be made by completing a Campus Group form (available here). The form must be received by January 26, 2024.
I submitted a petition to waive the RTA fee; when will my request be reviewed?
Access Services will review requests in the order received and respond directly to the student. Once approved, a waiver will be posted to the student’s financial account in SIS within 3 business days. No cash refunds are issued by Access Services.
I am an employee, am I eligible for the RTA pass program for graduate and professional students?
Employees taking classes at CWRU and utilizing tuition benefits are not eligible for this RTA pass program. The $65 fee will be removed when the tuition waiver is posted to their SIS student financial account. Please visit the Access Services website for the monthly RTA pass program for faculty and staff.
How To Ride
All eligible faculty and staff (employed for at least 30 days) may purchase a monthly RTA pass via payroll deduction. This deduction is made with pre-tax dollars, giving employees a tax benefit of up to $200 per year.
Full-time employees earning less than $54,000 yearly, or part-time employees earning less than $27,000 yearly, are also eligible for 55% percent off the normal cost of an RTA pass when purchasing, with the University subsidizing the remaining 45%. All passes must be purchased at Access Services.