On February 18, 2021, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) announced that all eligible UTM students will be given partial refunds for their U-Pass mandatory fees.
In collaboration with the UTM Association of Graduate Students (UTMAGS), the UTMSU released a membership advisory discussing their agreement with MiWay, Mississauga’s public transport agency.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic and the decrease in student riders, MiWay has agreed to a $95.00 rebate for students who were charged for the U-Pass service during the Fall/Winter 2020-2021 school year,” read the advisory.
As a result of the novel coronavirus, 83 per cent of classes have been moved online in the past year. It is also advised that students don’t go to campus unless for extenuating circumstances.
The $95.00 rebate will be sent to all eligible student’s ACORN accounts. U of T will apply the refund to unpaid charges on ACORN, and students who don’t have any charges will be sent a direct deposit or be asked to submit a refund request to info.studentsaccount@utoronto.ca.
Any students who only attended classes in the Fall semester will be eligible for the partial refund, but the money return will be less. As stated on the UTMSU U-Pass rebate statement, “To ensure that the money is returned to you in a timely manner, transferring the rebate via ACORN is the most efficient way.”
Moreover, the UTMSU has decided to suspend the 2021 Summer U-Pass program for any students planning to take classes during the summer.
Instead, “The UTMSU will be administering transit bursaries from May to August to support undergraduate students who choose in-person or hybrid summer classes,” continued the union’s membership advisory.
The UTMSU transit bursary will be advertised during the Spring and Summer 2021 terms. Plans have yet to be decided for the Fall/Winter 2021-2022 U-Pass program and are scheduled to be announced in April to ensure proper measurements and planning take place.
With the ongoing pandemic challenges, UTMSU is striving to find the best solution for students to get the most of their education and resources at UTM. The rebate will be applied to students’ ACORN accounts no later than February 28, 2021.
For more information, students are encouraged to visit the UTMSU website and contact the U-Pass program (upass@utm.ca) for additional assistance.
