Eligibility

  • An iCard photo MUST be on file. Nothing begins until there is a valid iCard photo on file. Without a photo on file it doesn't matter what your OPT-status is.
  • Students MUST set their OPT-status to OPT-IN in the application: https://go.uic.edu/fall_upass  or   https://go.uic.edu/spring_upass (depending on the semester)
  • Once set, the status carries forward from Fall to Spring and also from Spring to Summer.  All students must opt-in again in Fall.
  • Students MUST be enrolled in 6+ credit hours (in fall or spring semesters)[in summer session, all full time undergraduate students (6 summer credit hours), all full time graduate students in the Graduate College and School of Public Health (5 summer credit hours), & all full time students in the College of Pharmacy‚ College of Dentistry‚ Doctorate of Physical Therapy‚ & College of Medicine that are assessed student fees (6 summer credit hours) are considered eligible]
  • Change to your enrollment take 24 hours to update across campus systems.
  • Students in some fee-paying special programs.
  • Students who opt-in but do not meet the minimum credit hour requirement are NOT eligible nor are they assessed the fee.
  • Students in other special programs that do not charge student fees are not eligible for the U-PASS program‚ nor are they assessed the fee.

 

Setting your OPT-status:

  1. Students have the option to utilize the U-Pass or U-Pass+ benefits, it isn't mandatory.
  2. In order to set your status, visit the OPT-application: https://go.uic.edu/fall_upass  or  https://go.uic.edu/spring_upass
  3. If the application produces a spinning wheel, it means you have not met one of the aforementioned eligibility requirements.
  4. If you wish to participate in the U-Pass (CTA) benefit, select U-Pass / If you wish to participate in the U-Pass+ (CTA+Metra) benefit, select U-Pass+
  5. If you select U-Pass+, you are asked to enter line and station information, but this is for Metra's informational context only. You will NOT be limited to a single station or single line (except the south shore line, which is not a part of the program)
  6. Changes made to your OPT-status take 24 hours to process.
  7. Changing your status does not mean the benefit will activate in real-time. (Attempted use of the U-Pass prior to the benefit being activated will result in the CTA charging you a fee.)
  8. If you believe there is an error with the account name provided during the U-Pass+ enrollment, and the Metra pass hasn't loaded into the Ventra app, contact the Metra directly for assistance - call: 312-MYMETRA

OPTING-OUT:

  1. Students have until a specific date to make changes to their status, this is typically 2 weeks after the start of a semester. Students who no longer wish to participate in the benefit can OPT-OUT before the OPT-OUT deadline, in order to see the CTA transit fee reversed/refunded.
  2. Students are NOT ABLE TO OPT-OUT AFTER THE DEADLINE. After the deadline, UIC pays Ventra for the active benefits and the program locks for the semester.