July 17, 2024 – Starting this month, Santa Fe College students in urgent situations will have access to free Uber rides, thanks to an innovative partnership with Uber. Eligible students will receive an Uber Voucher for two rides within 15 miles of Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus or its centers.
The program was created as part of the Safe Santa Fe initiative, a wide-ranging college program designed to support the on-campus safety of students, guests and employees. Eligible students will be identified by college staff on a case-by-case basis; there is no request or application process. Key staff have been trained on the new program to recognize when students would benefit from the vouchers.
“We are pleased to partner with Uber on an important initiative to support both safety and access to transportation,” said Ed Book, Chief of the Santa Fe College Police Department, who led efforts to secure the partnership. “Transportation is often a key concern for our students. In an urgent situation, transportation is vital.”
Similar partnerships exist at universities. While currently the program has a limited number of Uber Vouchers available, College officials will monitor the need for a possible future expansion.
Students will be provided with a code to be used in the Wallet section of the Uber app prior to requesting a ride. The Uber Vouchers can be used only for UberX rides, are non-transferable, and cannot be combined with other offers. Offer and terms are subject to change.
“Uber’s partnership will give our students an extra peace of mind in an urgent situation,” said Dr. Naima Brown, Vice President for Student Affairs. “It will let them focus on what they need to do, instead of how they are going to get there. Uber’s generous support will make a difference.’’