U-Pass

On February 5th to 11th 2021, we have asked our students to vote on this referendum on whether or not we continue the U-Pass program with the negotiated agreements. With an overwhelming 28.2% turnout of students voting, NAIT students have decided to extend the U-Pass program for another 4 years with 77.2% of those students voting YES. Thank you to everyone for participating in this referendum!

Click here to learn more about the U-Pass referendum.

No, NAIT students do not have the option to purchase a Spring and Summer U-Pass. There are alternatives offered by ETS and other transit providers for these terms. Please check ETS’ website for the most up-to-date information on alternative programs to see which ones you qualify for.

U-Pass applies to every student taking at least a single credit on-campus course at NAIT, regardless of whether they are part-time or full-time.

This includes Academic Upgrading students who are considered credit students.

Apprenticeship students, students who take all of their classes 100% online (meaning they will never need to come to campus for any reason, such as an exam), and students whose courses begin after our exemption deadlines will not be charged the U-Pass fee. (Exemption deadlines are always the last Friday in September and the last Friday in January at 4 pm).

It depends on when you withdraw from NAIT. If you withdraw/drop your eligible on-campus credit course(s) before the deadline, your U-Pass fee will be credited to your NAIT financial account. If you withdraw after the deadline you would not receive a credit for the U-Pass fee. For more information about credits/refunds please contact the Student Service Centre.

To activate your U-Pass, eligible students should follow these steps:

1. Confirm you are enrolled in an on-campus credit course that begins before the deadline (the last Friday of September/the last Friday in January of the respective term).

2. Confirm you have paid your U-Pass fee.

3. You must have a OneCard/Student ID card that is from fall 2021 or newer.

4. Go to your MyNAIT Portal and click “On campus” on the left hand side of the home page. Then click “OneCard” then “U-Pass” then “U-Pass Registration” Here you will enter the number on the front and back of your card. If done correctly you should see 3 green check marks. It can take up to 24 hours for your U-Pass to become active. You can also watch our video on how to activate at the top of our website: naitsa.ca/upass

5. Check naitsa.ca/upass for the most up-to-date information on the U-Pass program. For any card related questions please contact one@nait.ca

6. To use your U-Pass, simply tap your OneCard on a card reader or proof of payment area when using the bus or LRT in the service areas.

7. Enjoy your ride!

Keep in mind it may take up to 24 hours to activate the U-Pass from the MyNAIT Portal to the transit authorities. Transit operators and staff are aware this is a new technology and that some bugs could happen at the beginning. If your card does not work, the driver or Peace Officer might require you to provide further proof of validation for your enrolment in the U-Pass program. It is the student’s responsibility to contact ONE@NAIT.CA at their earliest convenience to solve this issue. More information on how to contact them can be found at NAIT.CA/ONE. OneCard staff will troubleshoot with the student and advise if further steps are required to fix the issue.

If you are not eligible for the U-Pass, you may wish to look into purchasing monthly ETS bus passes from the Shop AT NAIT bookstore. Shop AT NAIT has youth passes available for $72.50 for students or individuals 24 or younger, who wish to purchase them. Transactions must be made in-store and require proof of identification and/or NAIT enrollment.

For more info about ETS fares, CLICK HERE.

You can also look into cycling, as NAIT has BIKE LOCKERS.

You can check out COMMUNAUTO (ride sharing) as well as NAIT Parking permits.

NAIT PARKING options.

Parking Note: If you choose to park at Kingsway Mall to go to classes, the security guards patrol the area and will issue tickets to those who are not working or shopping at the mall.

Students that can request a fee exemption from U-Pass are:

Transit Staff: Students with a valid staff card from Edmonton Transit, Strathcona County Transit, St. Albert Transit, Leduc, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, and Fort Saskatchewan.

DATS / SCAT / HANDIBUS: Students who have a valid DATS/SCAT or St. Albert Handibus registration card. However, ETS will accept the U-Pass on DATS, therefore you may wish to keep the pass in that case.

Double Enrolled: Students who are double enrolled at NAIT and another U-Pass partner school (University of Alberta, MacEwan University, and NorQuest College)

Practicum/Co-op/Placement/WIL:

• You are on your practicum for 8 weeks or longer during the U-Pass term assessment dates.
• Your practicum location is outside the service areas (outside of Edmonton, Strathcona County, St.Albert, Leduc, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, and Fort Saskatchewan).
• Your practicum begins prior to the term’s exemption deadlines: Fall 2024: September 27, 2024 at 4pm, Winter 2025: January 31, 2025 at 4pm. 
• Separate applications must be submitted for each individual term. In order to submit your request, you must upload a letter from your program office indicating student name, OneCard, dates and the city of placement.

Long Distance:

If you are a practicum student please request a practicum letter from your program office and apply under the practicum exemption. Please see details of the requirements for the letter under the practicum exemption.

Students who live greater than a 100km radius away from NAIT campus where their in-person classes are delivered can request a U-Pass exemption.

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Program: Any student with a valid AISH program registration can apply for the U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term. Please contact your AISH worker, or visit HERE to request an AISH verification letter.

Seniors: If you are a student who is turning 65 years of age during the term, or you are already 65 or older, you can apply for the U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term.

NAIT Full Time Permanent Staff: For more information, please see the NAIT Staff portal.

If you are a practicum student please request a practicum letter from your program office and apply under the practicum exemption. Please see details of the requirements for the letter under the practicum exemption.

The U-Pass can be used on transit providers in Edmonton, Strathcona County, St. Albert, Leduc, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, and Fort Saskatchewan. If a student lives further than a 100km radius away from NAIT main campus where their in-person classes are delivered, they can apply for a U-Pass exemption. Please check the map below to view areas outside a 100km radius from NAIT’s main campus. If you fall under this category, you must submit an exemption request form, including an upload of proof of residence (utility bill, driver’s license), prior to the applicable deadlines for both the fall and winter terms.

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Program: Any student with a valid AISH program registration can apply for the U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term. Please contact your AISH worker, or visit HERE to request an AISH verification letter.

Seniors: If you are a student who is turning 65 years of age during the term, or you are already 65 or older, you can apply for the U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term.

Yes. Any student with a valid AISH program registration can apply for the U-Pass exemption. Please contact your AISH worker, the AISH WEBSITE to request an AISH verification letter. Please submit an exemption request form which includes an upload of your AISH verification letter, prior to the APPLICABLE DEADLINES for both the fall and winter terms.

If you are a student who is turning 65 years of age during the term, or you are already 65 or older, you can apply for the U-Pass exemption by the deadline for that term. Please submit an exemption request form, including your proof of age uploaded document, before the applicable deadlines for both the fall and winter terms.

If you meet one of the categories for exemption, click our exemption button at the top of this page and fill out the required information before the terms deadline.

Do you want to submit an online exemption request? Before completing an online form and submitting an exemption request, please read and agree to the following terms and conditions.

Submission of an online form indicates:

• An understanding that it is solely the responsibility of the student whose name and identification number (the student) is on the form to ensure that the form has been received by the NAITSA Service Hub/representative;
• An understanding that the information provided is required in order fulfill the purpose of the form;
• Authorization and consent to the use, release and exchange of said information between the educational institution, the student organization, the U-Pass Committee, ETS and other participating service municipalities to be used solely in connection with the administration of the U-Pass;
• Confirmation that all the information provided is accurate; and falsification of any information provided by the student is considered to be a serious form of fraud.

If the student’s U-Pass exemption request is approved, their access to public transit through the U-Pass will be cancelled immediately and they must arrange other forms of payment for transit access.

U-PASS AUDIT:

You may be asked to provide documentation that qualifies you for an exemption in-person at the office. NAITSA performs random audits of their requisitions and submitting an online exemption request acknowledges that you are aware you may be randomly selected to present physical proof, in-person, at our office. Failure to comply with the audit automatically declines your submission request.

The advanced technology inside the newly revamped OneCard can be sensitive to the care of the card itself. Be sure to not punch holes in the card, do not bend it, and especially don’t attach your OneCard to the back of your cell phone while it is charging! This will destroy the chip in the card and you will have to purchase another OneCard.

If your OneCard with your activated U-Pass becomes lost or is stolen, you can freeze your U-Pass access online via the MyNAIT Student portal. Log in to your one web account first by going to one.nait.ca/oneweb. Click on the tab at the top “Account”. Then click “Activate/Deactivate”. Once it is frozen, you can then replace your OneCard if you cannot find your existing one.

To replace your OneCard, you must pay a $25 replacement fee at the OneCard office and the staff there will print you a new card. For the most up-to-date information, location, and hours of operations, visit the OneCard web page.

When you have your new OneCard, you are then able to reactivate your U-Pass via the MyNAIT Student portal.

• BEAUMONT
• EDMONTON (INCLUDING THE LRT)
• FORT SASKATCHEWAN
• LEDUC
• SPRUCE GROVE
• ST. ALBERT
• STRATHCONA COUNTY