Results

2025 U-Pass Referendum

Following the release of the provisional results in the 2025 U-Pass Referendum on 20
February 2025, the U-Pass Referendum is yet to be finalized.

Yes	1818	92.50%
No	147	7.50%
Abstain	41

2025 U-Pass Referendum Question

Do you support the continuation of the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) subject to the following conditions:

• The U-Pass would provide unlimited usage of regular transit systems in Edmonton, Strathcona County, and St Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Beaumont, and Route 747 (airport route) within the participating municipalities’ service area during the Fall, Winter, and/or Spring/Summer (May-August) terms to all continuing graduate students enrolled in at least one course for credit in a term (includes thesis registrations);
• The cost of the U-Pass fee to each graduate student would be mandatory and set at $180.00/term in 2025-2026, $182.50/term in 2026-2027, and $185.00/term in 2027-2028 (for each of the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms), beginning 1 September 2025 and extending to 31 August 2028;
• Under certain circumstances, some graduate students would continue to be exempt or eligible to opt-out of the U-Pass program (below are excerpts from the current U-Pass agreement concerning exemption and opt-out provisions, with the addition of the pilot program exemptions.

Excerpt from the 2025-2028 U-Pass Agreement (addition of pilot program exemptions) The following graduate students would be exempt from the U-Pass program:

a) a Student who is not enrolled in any course for credit located on a University of Alberta campus within any of the Municipalities for that School Term;

b) a Student who is enrolled only in the Executive MBA program;

c) a graduate Student who is designated as an off-campus thesis student by the University; and

d) a Student who is enrolled only in a program of study offered by the University’s Faculty of Extension, which program of study leads to a certificate.”

The following graduate students would be eligible to opt-out of the U-Pass program:

a) a Student who has a valid Disabled Adult Transit Service (DATS) registration, Strathcona County Mobility Bus registration, or St. Albert Handibus registration, Spruce Grove Specialized Transit Service (STS) registration, Fort Saskatchewan Special Transportation Services Society (STSS) registration, or Leduc Assisted Transportation Services (LATS) registration; and is able to prove their registration with a valid photo ID card;

b) a Student who has a valid CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) registration and is able to confirm such registration with a valid CNIB-issued photo ID card;

c) a Student who is currently an employee of a transit system owned and operated by any of the Municipalities and is able to provide written confirmation on official letterhead of their employment at the beginning of each School Term; and

d) a Student who, pursuant to official University regulations, policies or procedures (as may be amended from time to time) respecting registration and fees assessments, has the option of being assessed the athletics and recreation fee or the health services fee by the University, and who is in a cooperative work experience program or work internship and who is registered only in one or more courses designated as “Work Experience” for that School Term, and who is either:

         i. For Fall and Winter Terms - fulfilling their course requirements outside the boundaries of the Municipalities for the majority of the School Term; or

         ii. For Spring/Summer Term – fulfilling the majority of their course requirements outside of the boundaries of the Municipalities; or

e) a Student who is enrolled at another post-secondary educational institution and is required to participate in a transportation program similar to the U-Pass Program (if any) being offered to students of this other post-secondary educational institution by said institution and the ”

f) a Student who is, or will be turning, 65 years of age or older during the relevant School Term, and who can provide documentation verifying the same;

g) a Student with a valid registration in the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program during the relevant School Term, and who can provide documentation verifying the same; or

h) a Student whose principal residence is outside of a 100km radius measured from the main campus on which their in-person courses are delivered, and who can provide documentation verifying the same.