Work 101: How to Make Your Commute Easier

After a long break, the last thing anyone wants to do is gear up for a high-traffic commute. This year, resolve to make your commute a breeze by signing up for one of Chapman University’s rideshare incentives. 

As a Chapman staff or faculty member, you are eligible to participate in the Panther Plus Carpool Program and public transportation programs that are coordinated with OCTA and Metrolink. To learn more, read below or check out the Rideshare Incentives on HR’s webpage. 

Chapman U-Pass Plan for OCTA Bus Riders

• Good news—Chapman will provide a subsidy covering the first $30 of your monthly fares! The most you’ll be required to pay per month is $39, as the maximum in monthly fares for staff/faculty is $69.
• You’re required to make an initial deposit of $45 and maintain a minimum balance of $45 in your account each month as a cushion for your share of the fares. You can pay in cash or have your payments deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis.  As HR receives your ride details from OCTA, an email will be sent to you indicating the amount of your next pre-tax payroll deduction (or the amount you must deposit), which will bring your account balance back up to $45. Your U-Pass card will be deactivated if your balance reaches $0.00, but you can obtain a new U-Pass card by paying the minimum of $45. Here is the Staff / Faculty U-Pass Request Form.
• Visit OCTA for detailed information about routes and schedules!

Metrolink Corporate Quick Card Program

• This program provides you with the option of purchasing a discounted monthly Metrolink pass. The cost of a monthly pass will vary based on the distance traveled to the Orange (Main) Campus or the Irvine (Rinker) Campus station.
• Chapman will provide a subsidy of $100 toward your full monthly ticket fare! To sign up for the CQC program, complete the Metrolink Pass Request Form and turn it in to the HR Office. (You can scan and email the completed form to hroffice@chapman.edu.)
• Note: Faculty, staff and administrators utilizing the tuition discount benefit are not eligible to receive the commuter student rate for the purpose of rideshare incentives.

Panther Plus Carpooling Program

Two staff members or faculty members who are committed to carpooling at least three days a week, Monday through Thursday, for one full academic year are able to participate in the Panther Plus Carpool Program.

• Each member has to purchase a Presbyterian Lot/West Campus Structure Permit and purchase a minimum of two permits, but the carpool group doesn’t have to just be two members. Just keep in mind—only members who purchase a permit will be given a hangtag with parking privileges on non-carpool days.
• To get a carpool hangtag and/or annual parking permit, you must register your vehicle online at chapman.nupark.com/portal and buy the Presbyterian Lot/West Campus Structure Permit.
• Once you’ve purchased the hang-tag, you need to submit your purchase receipt and a Carpool Permit Application to HR for approval. Also, carefully review, sign/date the Rules and Regulations and turn it in to the Office of Human Resources, along with your registration form. The HR Office is currently located on the second floor of Wilkinson Hall.
• The Primary Contact will be issued the Carpool Hangtag as well as the Presbyterian/West Campus Hangtag. The permits will be mailed, so make sure you confirm your address when registering your vehicle online.
• Enrollment in this program is available August‐March each academic year, but no refund is given for fees paid prior to enrollment in the program, unless annual permit fee was paid in full at time of purchase.

Carpool Parking Privileges and Regulations

• The Carpool Hangtag needs to be displayed on your vehicle if it’s parked in the carpool space. Additionally, it’s only valid on days you ride with the other members in your carpool group.
• Parking is available in Carpool Preferred Reserved Spaces in the Barrera Structure, Knott Studios Lot or Lastinger Structure. These spaces are available on a first‐come, first‐serve basis. If the Carpool Preferred Reserved spaces are occupied, your carpool group can park in any non‐reserved space in the Barrera Structure, Knott Studios Lot, Lastinger Structure, Rinker 9401/9501 Lot or the West Palm Industrial Complex Lot.
• On non‐carpool days, each member with a valid permit is required to park in any non-reserved space in the Presbyterian Lot or West Campus Structure. At the Rinker Campus on non-carpool days, the permits will be valid in the 14725 Alton Parkway Garage or the 9702 Lot.

For additional information about these services, feel free to email HR at hroffice@chapman.edu or contact them by phone at (714) 997-6686.