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Winter Quarter 2023 U-Pass Access and TGS Activity Fee

Dear TGS students,

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has once again agreed to make the TGS U-Pass program optional for Winter Quarter 2023 to provide added flexibility.

  • If you choose to opt in, your U-Pass will be activated (or issued) for the Winter Quarter and the $125 quarterly activity fee will be applied to your student account.
  • If you do not plan to use a U-Pass for the Winter Quarter, no further action is needed. Your U-Pass will be inactive, and you will not be charged the $125 quarterly activity fee.

Opt-in details for the Winter Quarter are outlined below. Depending on how often you plan to use your U-Pass during the Winter Quarter, it may be more affordable to pay the $125 quarterly activity fee for continuous service or to pay out of pocket. Please refer to this CTA fare chart to help make the decision that is best for you. 

Please email tgs-u-pass@northwestern.edu with any questions.

Sincerely,
Lauren-Ashley Buchanan, PhD 
Associate Director, Student Life
The Graduate School

Opting In for Fall Quarter

(Current U-Pass Users)

If you are an eligible* full-time TGS student and already have a U-Pass, please complete the Winter Quarter opt-in form by Wednesday, December 21.

We will activate your U-Pass on Tuesday, January 3 (or on the next business day if you opt in after this date) and the quarterly activity fee of $125 will be applied to your student account later in the quarter.

Winter Quarter 2023 begins on Tuesday, January 3, and ends on Monday, March 27. 

Opting In for Fall Quarter

(New U-Pass Users)

If you are an eligible* full-time TGS student and do not have a U-Pass, please complete the following steps to receive your card before the start of the Winter Quarter:

  • New U-Pass cards can take up to 2 weeks to create.
  • To ensure you receive your U-Pass on time, please:
  1. Submit your photo to the Wildcard Office by Friday, December 2.
  2. Make sure your current address is listed in CAESAR.
  3. Complete the Winter Quarter opt-in form by Friday, December 2.
  • You will choose to have your U-Pass card mailed to you or to pick it up at The Graduate School's Evanston office in Rebecca Crown.
    • Pick-up times are Monday  Friday from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:004:00 PM. (The office is closed from 1:00–2:00 PM for lunch.)
    • TGS will mail U-Passes the week of Monday, December 19 via USPS. Typically, the U-Pass arrives a few business days after mailing, but any returns may take up to 3 weeks to reach TGS. TGS is not responsible for any lost transit benefits in the case of a mailing delay.  
  • Once you receive your U-Pass, you will need to activate the card by following the instructions on the accompanying card sleeve.
  • We will then activate your U-Pass for the Winter Quarter on Tuesday, January 3 and the quarterly activity fee of $125 will be applied to your student account later in the quarter.

Winter Quarter 2023 begins on Tuesday, January 3, and ends on Monday, March 27.

Activation Deadlines 

  • To ensure your U-Pass is created and activated on Tuesday, January 3 (the start of the Winter Quarter), please complete the Winter Quarter opt-in form by Friday, December 2.
  • If you already have a U-Pass and are unsure of your Winter Quarter plans, you may opt in any time before Sunday, February 5, but your U-Pass will not be active until the next business day after you complete the form.
  • Once you choose to opt in and your U-Pass is activated, you will not be able to change your decision due to our contractual obligations with CTA/Ventra. In addition, per our contract, we will not be able to honor any new U-Pass activation requests for the Winter Quarter after Sunday, February 5.

U-Pass Eligibility

*Students enrolled in the BS/MS program, the Online Master of Arts in Counseling program through The Family Institute, TGS 512 (continuous registration), TGS 514, or a co-op internship are not charged an activity fee and are not eligible for a U-Pass. 

Questions?

Please email tgs-u-pass@northwestern.edu with any questions.