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  or  https://go.uic.edu/summer_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 and professional students in the Graduate College, UIC Law, 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.