Full-time Carleton students may have noticed a jump in their tuition this year as the mandatory student bus pass (U-Pass) has come into effect.
The $290 fee was automatically included in tuition fees for full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least 1.5 credits per term, while fees for graduate students are determined by their status in their program. Part-time students are not eligible.
“The U-Pass is a pilot program,” said Dina Skvirsky, vice-president (student issues) with the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA).
It was approved in a referendum held by CUSA and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) last February, but in order to continue the pilot program, Skvirsky said, students will have to vote again in another U-Pass referendum in February 2011.
“Outside of using it to get to school, I think it will be convenient for running errands in the winter, like going to the laundromat or grocery store,” said Elizabeth Aho, a third-year communications student. “Hopefully it will save me money since I won’t need to buy bus tickets or pay a fare each time.”
According to the Carleton website, the U-Pass will be valid from September 2010 to April 2011, and can be used on any regular, express or rural express OC Transpo buses, O-Train or ParaTranspo services.
ParaTranspo service for rural areas will require an extra fare.
Students who are going on an international exchange, have designation with the Canadian Institute for the Blind, live in Quebec, or are conducting research or participating in an internship outside of Ottawa for at least 60 days may apply to be exempt from the program.
Students who drive to school or live on campus will not be exempt.
“They didn’t make it clear that it was all-in or all-out. So instead, all these people who pay enough tuition fees that drive or walk are spending more money,” said Breanne Bail, a third-year law and human rights student.
Bail also said she was frustrated that the U-Pass did not extend into the summer term.
Skvirsky said she is more than willing to address concerns or questions by students. However, the “exemptions have been agreed on and we’re not entirely sure we’ll open that again.”
Students will be able to claim a federal tax credit for $145 in each of the two tax years for public transportation and can download a receipt from Carleton Central in February, 2011.
More than 70 per cent of undergraduate and graduate students voted for a U-Pass last spring.
Skvirsky said students can express any concerns or opinions with CUSA.
“As with any program, there are going to be individuals who disagree, but at the end of the day 70 per cent of students approved the pilot program,” said Skvirsky.