The University Student Union’s Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) is back and ready to help students get to campus this spring semester!
Starting at 10 p.m. today, Dec. 4, students who demonstrate financial need and still need a 2024-25 parking permit may apply online for one of 340 free passes available from the program. Selected students will be able to pick up their passes between Jan. 7-17, 2025. The program is offered by the University Student Union’s Board of Directors, which offers tips for navigating the popular program on its Instagram page.
We spoke with USU Board of Directors Chair Daniel López, a senior and public health major, and Vice Chair Marilyn Orantes, a graduate student in early childhood educational psychology, for more information on TAP.
Q: What is the purpose of the Transportation Assistance Program?
Daniel López: “Our purpose is simply to help students. Students are at the forefront of our decisions, programs and services. I wish we could provide parking passes for all students in need, but I know we are making an impact and a difference one student at a time. As a full-time college student and commuter, I truly understand that costs are difficult. Not only do we pay for gas, insurance and other bills, but we are still expected to pay a parking pass fee on top of it just to attend classes. I hope that our assistance program not only provides students with a sense of relief, but determination to continue working toward their degree.”
Marilyn Orantes: “We hope with this initiative that it [eases] the burdens of students. We are doing one initiative at a time, so that we can continue to provide assistance throughout students’ academic journeys here at CSUN. We are in some troubling times, financially, and we have heard feedback from students who would like a little tranquility — knowing that they do not have to make a heavy dent in their wallets to park on campus. We will continue to advocate and support Matadors!”
Q: What kind of response are you expecting from students?
DL: Since launching the program in 2023, “we have received a high demand [from] students applying for the program. Last year, we received over 1,000 applications within the first 48 hours of the application going live! We expect this demand again, if not more, as this is the third semester of this program. Due to the high demand, our application closes after the first 500 students apply, so we heavily emphasize the importance for students to apply as soon as the program application opens — Dec. 4, at 10 p.m.”
Q: Were transportation costs/struggles something that came up in a survey or in some other type of research? When did the planning start?
DL: “This initiative started during COVID, when the USU was trying to find ways to be more responsive in the virtual/hybrid environment. Our Executive Director, Debra Hammond, attended a conference put on by Project Rebound, and a speaker from CSU Fullerton talked about transportation being a basic need. The USU Board of Directors then reallocated $150,000 from reserves to begin the Transportation Assistance Program. [In 2023], one of the board’s goals was to create accessible grants and other support programs to aid students toward graduation completion. The TAP was launched in fall 2023 for students — we gave out 250 parking passes and 125 gas gift cards.”
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