Announcements 

Find out the latest about the U-Pass program.

2024 Winter Term U-Pass Update

Posted: Nov 20, 2023

Eligible NorQuest students have now been enrolled in the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) Program for the 2024 Winter term. You will see a charge…

2023 Fall Term U-Pass Update

Posted: Aug 27, 2023

Eligible NorQuest students have now been enrolled in the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) Program for the 2023 Fall term. You will see a charge…

Full-time and part-time NorQuest College students who have been assessed the Students’ Association fee, who are taking classes within the Edmonton city limits and/or have an in person practicum are eligible for the U-Pass. The U-Pass is mandatory for all eligible students and administered by the Students’ Association of NorQuest College.

See Fees

All eligible students will automatically be enrolled in the student Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) Program. The mandatory U-Pass provides unlimited usage of regular services (excluding special event, contracted and charter service) in the following areas:

All qualified students are automatically charged a U-Pass fee for the Fall Term (Aug 25 – Dec 31), Winter Term (Jan 1 – Apr 30) and Spring/Summer Term (May 1 – Aug 31).

2024 Winter U-Pass Important Dates

  • Mon, Jan 22 @ 4 pm: Winter term U-Pass opt-out deadline
  • Aug 25 – Dec 31: Fall term U-Pass in effect
  • Jan 1 – Apr 30: Winter term U-Pass in effect

Please note: U-Pass opt-outs do NOT carry forward and must be submitted each individual term. No exceptions will be made for opt-out requests received after the deadline each term.

During the opt-out period, only 2024 Winter term opt-outs will be processed. Details for the 2024 Spring/Summer term opt-out period will be announced at a later date.

Terms & Conditions

  • The U-Pass is non-transferable and may only be used by the student to whom the U-Pass is issued;
  • Edmonton Transit Service, Beaumont Transit, Fort Saskatchewan Transit, Leduc Transit, Spruce Grove Transit, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona Transit reserve the right to verify the validity of any Student’s U-Pass;
  • Any student who fails to comply with the rules, regulations, policies and bylaws of Edmonton Transit Service, Beaumont Transit, Fort Saskatchewan Transit, Leduc Transit, Spruce Grove Transit, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona Transit respecting ridership may have their ridership privileges revoked without refund of the U-Pass Fee; and
  • Edmonton Transit Service, Beaumont Transit, Fort Saskatchewan Transit, Leduc Transit, Spruce Grove Transit, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona Transit reserve the right to modify their respective transit routes and schedules;
  • The Fall Term U-Pass is valid from Aug 25 to Dec 31. The Winter Term U-Pass is valid from Jan 1 to Apr 30. The Spring/Summer Term U-Pass is valid from May 1 to Aug 31.

FAQs

Why is the U-Pass mandatory?

U-Pass is a group discount program for students. In order to be able to offer a large discount the overall cost must be spread over a large group. Therefore, ALL students in the eligible group must participate to get the discount.

NorQuest students voted in favor of continuing and expanding the U-Pass program with the new 4 year negotiated agreement as part of a referendum in March, 2021. The overwhelming majority of students who voted (90.9%!) were in favor of continuing the U-Pass for full-time students while 86.9% of those that voted supported the addition of eligible part-time students to the program.

Who is eligible for the U-Pass?

Full-time and part-time NorQuest College students who have been assessed the Students’ Association fee who are taking classes within the Edmonton city limits and/or have an in person practicum are eligible for the U-Pass. The U-Pass is mandatory for all eligible students and administered by the Students’ Association of NorQuest College.

How much is the U-Pass? How are fees collected?

The U-Pass fees are collected by NorQuest College on behalf of SANQC. If you want to confirm that you have been assessed the U-Pass fee, please check your fee assessment or your MyQuest account for details for the appropriate terms.

The fees for the U-Pass will be assessed for each Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer terms that an eligible student is registered.

As part of the most recently signed agreement, the cost of the U-Pass will be:

  • 2021-22: $180 per term (Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer)
  • 2022-23: $180 per term (Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer)
  • 2023-24: $180 per term (Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer)
  • 2024-25: $180 per term (Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer)

That’s right, the cost of the U-Pass won’t increase in price until at least 2025-26! Compare that to the cost of a ETS monthly pass (currently $100 per month) and that’s a savings of $220 per term!

How do I activate my U-Pass on an Arc card?

Looking to activate your U-Pass? Follow these steps:

  • You can check to see if you’re eligible for a U-Pass by checking your MyQuest. If you’re eligible, you’ll see a fee for the U-Pass on your financial statement.
  • If you already have an Arc card, you can keep using it. If you need an Arc card, visit myarc.ca for information on where to purchase one.
  • Go to your MyQuest, where you will see the Arc icon/Activate U-Pass tile. Click on it and follow the instructions to activate or replace your Arc card which will load your U-Pass to your Arc card. Please note, if you’re a returning student who had an activated U-Pass the previous term, your new U-Pass may already be automatically activated for you. Please check the status of your U-Pass in your MyQuest to see if it is active.
  • Once you have completed this process, it could take as little as 15 minutes or as long as a few hours to activate. Once your U-Pass has successfully been added, you can start using your Arc card for transit.
  • To use your U-Pass, tap your Arc card on the card readers when using public transit in the service areas. You will either tap your card in the “Proof of Payment Area” on the LRT platforms or upon boarding.

*Please note: U-Passes can only be given to the student who the charge is applied to. Under no circumstances can a U-Pass be issued on a students’ behalf, whether it’s to another student, friend or family member.

Do I need a new Arc card?

If you already have an Arc card, you DO NOT need a new one! You can use the same Arc card with your new U-Pass.

If you need an Arc card, visit myarc.ca for information on where to purchase one.

What if my Arc card doesn't work after I have activated my U-Pass?

Please keep in mind that it could take a few hours for the U-Pass to activate on your Arc card after you register it. If you are experiencing issues with your card, please stop by the SANQC Office (1-114, SCFL) or email students.association@norquest.ca and we will help you resolve the issue.

What if my Arc card is lost or stolen?

If your Arc card with your activated U-Pass becomes lost or stolen, here’s what you do:

  • Purchase a new Arc card. Visit myarc.ca for information on where to purchase one.
  • Go to your MyQuest, where you will see the Arc icon/Activate U-Pass tile. Click on it and follow the instructions to replace an Arc card which will transfer your U-Pass from your lost or stolen card to your new Arc card.
  • You will not be charged a U-Pass replacement fee like there was with the previous sticker process!
  • As you’ll notice, this is almost an identical process to when you activated your first Arc card. Replacing a lost or stolen card to access your U-Pass again is just that easy!

Who can apply to opt-out?

  • Students with a valid Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) registration, Strathcona County Mobility Bus registration, St. Albert Handibus registration, Accessible Transit Service (ATS) registration, Fort Saskatchewan Special Transportation Services Society (STSS) registration or Leduc Assisted Transportation Services (LATS) registration. Must be able to prove their registration in the service being used by providing their registration card during the opt-out process. ETS will accept the U-Pass on DATS so you may want to keep the U-Pass in that case.
  • Students with a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) registration and is able to prove their registration with a valid CNIB-issued photo ID card.
  • Students who have a practicum outside of the service area for longer than eight (8) consecutive weeks during the term. Must provide a letter from your program that indicates the student’s name, student ID as well as the dates and location of the practicum.
  • Students who are currently an employee of a participating transit system and is able to provide written confirmation on official letterhead of their employment at the beginning of each term.
  • Students who are registered and have received a U-Pass at another participating institution. Proof of U-Pass payment including your name as well as the term the U-Pass payment is for is required.

In addition, as part of a pilot project, the contract the following students will be able to request an exemption:

  • NorQuest students 65 or older during an academic term and can provide government issued picture ID to verify.
  • NorQuest students receiving financial assistance from Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program immediately before an academic term begins. Please contact your AISH worker or visit here to request an AISH verification letter.
  • NorQuest students whose principal residence is outside of a 100 km radius from main campus. To qualify for this exemption the student must provide proof of residency (utility bill in the student’s name, driver’s license, etc).

Any student meeting any of the above criteria can apply for a U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term. Contact us at students.association@norquest.ca or call 780.644.6250 with any questions you may have.

How do I check to see if I reside further than a 100 km radius from campus?

To see if you are eligible for a U-Pass exemption based on residing more than a 100 km radius from campus, perform the following steps:

  1. Go to Google Maps
  2. Search for your address then right click on the pin the map provides.
  3. Select “Measure distance” from the drop down list that appears.
  4. Now search for “NorQuest College Edmonton Campus”
  5. Zoom in as much as possible.
  6. Left click on the campus and a line should appear showing you the distance from your residence to the campus.
  7. If this distance is over 100 km, you may be eligible to opt-out of the U-Pass program.

If you believe that you are eligible for this exemption, visit the SANQC Office (1-114) in the Singhmar Centre for Learning. You will need to provide proof of residence during the opt-out process such as a utility bill in your name, a driver’s license, etc.

For an idea of what areas are within a 100 km radius of campus, check out the graphic below.