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July 23, 2018 |
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Dear Faculty and Staff: Several weeks ago, we announced the Illinois Tech Strategic Improvement Initiative, which is charged with identifying opportunities to provide stability and durability to university finances. In that announcement, I said we would notify you of the steps being taken to achieve these goals, and today I am writing to notify you that Friday, August 10 will be the last day that the university will fund the shuttles between Downtown Campus, Moffett Campus, Rice Campus, and Mies Campus. This decision was made after careful consideration and a close examination of data and trends. Though we know some in our community may disagree with this decision, the unfortunate reality is that ridership levels and associated costs are not sustainable. For instance, currently the shuttle cost is approximately $460 per month for each individual rider, which amounts to a total cost of $550,000 per year. Several other public transit options can accommodate individuals traveling from downtown to Mies Campus. For those traveling from Union Station and Downtown Campus, Mies Campus is accessible via the Green Line “L” from the Adams and Wabash Station or via the Red Line “L” from the Jackson Station. Further, the #1 Bronzeville/Union Station CTA bus provides direct access to Mies Campus from Union Station, which may be the most cost effective option using the Link-up pass available for purchase through WageWorks. Union Station riders may also consider walking to the Metra LaSalle Street Station and taking the Rock Island Metra. This would be a free option for anyone with a monthly Metra train pass. For those traveling from Ogilvie Transportation Center, Mies Campus is accessible via the Green Line “L” station at Clinton and Lake. Visit the Chicago Transit Authority website (transitchicago.com) for more details about “L” and bus travel. Students, faculty, and staff who wish to drive to Mies Campus as a result of this change should visit the Parking Services page to review options. Permits can be purchased online via MyParking. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may wish to make changes to their WageWorks pretax transit elections as a result of this change. WageWorks allows for the direct purchase of transit passes and/or loading of funds onto a WageWorks Commuter Card, which acts as a credit card for transit passes. Elections changes for the month of September must be made by 10:59 p.m. CST on Tuesday, August 10, by logging in at wageworks.com or calling 877.924.3967. Individuals may elect up to $260 per month for transit expenses. Additional information can be found on the WageWorks website. The Strategic Improvement Initiative website has now launched. You must be logged in to the myIIT portal to view the site. For information regarding the shuttle bus change please visit this website. The website will be used to track projects, celebrate successes, provide feedback, and announce changes throughout campus. In closing, I want to emphasize that we do not take this step lightly. It comes only after determining that this change and future reforms will allow the university to better invest in our mission of providing a world-class education and promoting cutting-edge research. We regret the inconvenience that this decision may cause students, faculty, and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding. Sincerely, Michael Horan, Vice President for Finance and Administration |
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