Information for Summer Session Students
Summer Session Parking Permits
Detailed information about Summer Session parking permits is available on the Summer Session Parking Permits page.
The Student Transit Fee
In 1972, the students of UC Santa Cruz voted to create a new mandatory fee to fund unlimited, fare-free rides aboard the public transit buses of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SCMTD). UCSC was possibly the first university in the nation to fund public transit in this manner, and has served as a model for similar student fee measures introduced at the University of Washington, CU Boulder, and UC Berkeley. Over the past forty years, UCSC students have supported increases to the quarterly Student Transit Fee in ten of twelve ballot measures. Besides providing fare-free ridership on METRO buses, these funds support the operation of Campus Transit's Day and Night Shuttles, the late-night Night Cire transit service, and the Disability Van Service. The Student Transit Fee is part of each student's UCSC quarterly registration fees.
The Santa Cruz Metro and UCSC TAPS Transit Bus Systems
Santa Cruz Metro Buses: METRO buses operate throughout Santa Cruz County. Regular service is provided between downtown Santa Cruz and the campus, using various routes including Laurel Street (Route 16), Bay Street (Route 19), High Street (Route 10), and Western Drive (Route 20/20D). Many students who reside off-campus use METRO buses to commute to and from campus. Campus residents use METRO buses to get to downtown Santa Cruz and other local destinations.
UCSC Shuttles (TAPS Transit): During summer session the campus transit system operates one daytime route (the Loop), and three nighttime routes (the Loop, the East Night Core and the West Night Core). During summer session UCSC shuttles operate Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Student ID Card Bus Pass
Through an agreement between the University and METRO (SCMTD) students that display a valid UCSC ID card ride METRO buses fare-free; Student Transit Fee funds pay for student rides on METRO buses.
A valid summer sticker is required to ride METRO buses. Continuing students may pick up a summer validation sticker at the Summer Session Office, 140 Hahn Student Services Building (map). Starting the first day of classes, new students should take a photo ID and enrollment verification to the ID Card Office (map) to obtain a UCSC Summer Session ID card. The ID Card Office is located on the first floor of the Bay Tree building, (831) 459-2990 or idcards@ucsc.edu.
