Bryn Mawr students will able to acquire SEPTA Keycards for the upcoming semester free of charge through a new college program.
On Friday, August 16, the Bryn Mawr student body received an email from Karlene Burrell-McRae, Dean of the Undergraduate College and Dean Tomiko Jenkins, Dean of Student Life announcing that full-time students are now eligible to receive free SEPTA key cards for the upcoming school year. These keycards are made available through SEPTA’s Key Advantage UPass program, a program which according to the SEPTA website, “allows colleges and universities the ability to purchase deeply discounted All-Access Passes for students”.
The decision to begin participating in the SEPTA Key Advantage UPass program was made possible through a partnership with SGA, and “aligned with the College’s deep commitment to climate justice, sustainability, and a vibrant student experience that allows students access to explore Philadelphia and all surrounding counties”. By joining this program, Bryn Mawr joins many other local colleges and universities, including Swarthmore College, who joined in 2023.
Starting fall 2024, key cards will be available for use anywhere on SEPTA’s network of trains, buses, trolleys, and regional rail lines. 240 rides a month are allotted per keycard, amounting to approximately eight rides per day. The SEPTA keycard will be active during both the fall and spring semesters, but will be put on hold during off months (January, June, July). During off months, the keycard will still be active though it will require personal funds loaded onto it for continued use.
Any full-time Bryn Mawr undergraduate student who is not studying abroad or on leave is eligible for one of the new SEPTA passes, as well as graduate students who are not in the Continuing Enrollment (CE) category or on leave. The passes can be used for both internships and class assignments requiring public transport as well as social and co-curricular activities.
By giving out these passes, Deans McRae and Jenkins hope students will “take full advantage of [the] opportunity to explore everything the [Philadelphia] region has to offer!”. Cards will be available to be picked up at the Campus Center between September 3rd and 11th, with dates and times for undergraduate and graduate students posted on Bryn Mawr’s website.
