The San Diego College of Continuing Education has launched a pilot program to provide free cab rides for students struggling with basic needs.
The college calls the partnership, with United Taxi Workers of San Diego, the first of its kind. Students will receive $100 transportation vouchers.
The initiative, set to begin in early February, includes a small cohort of up to five students. It is expected to expand to 100 students in the following weeks. Only those who have signed up for SDCCE CARES, which offers students basic needs support, are eligible.
The need is profound – 46% of SDCCE students have incomes of less than $10,000 per year and one in three is unemployed, according to the college’s Office of Institutional, Effectiveness and Research.
“It’s critical that we meet the needs of our students and meet the needs of our community,” said SDCCE President Dr. Tina M. King. “It’s also imperative that we work with an organization such as United Taxi Workers of San Diego, whose members live here and also will benefit from this program.”
United Taxi Workers of San Diego President Mikaiil Hussein agrees.
“This is about elevating everybody, our students, our workers, our community,” he said, noting that 94% of cab fares go directly to drivers and their family.
Colleges in the region, including SDCCE, have long provided students with discounted and cost-free bus and trolley passes. This is the first-time free cab rides are being offered.
The pilot evolved through discussions that began last summer between King and former San Diego Community College Governing Board member Peter Zschiesche, who works with United Taxi Workers of San Diego as a financial adviser and is a member of its board of directors.
The pilot program’s $10,000 cost is being funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office via its basic needs initiatives.
“This is not intended to be anyone’s primary mode of transportation,” cautioned SDCCE Dean of Student Services Michele Madrid Novak. “It’s meant for certain circumstances where a student can’t get to or from a campus.”
Udayan Tandon, who works with United Taxi Workers of San Diego and is a computer science doctoral student at UC San Diego, is putting the finishing touches on a new app, Ride United, for students taking part in the pilot to hail a participating driver.
Students will be provided with voucher cards, and cab drivers will mark the cost of each ride on the voucher. Each student taking part in the pilot only gets one $100 voucher. Tandon estimates the cost of a 5- to 7-mile cab ride at $15 to $20.
SDCCE has been getting the word out to students at spring semester welcome activities and via email.
“Of course, we can’t serve all of our students at the moment with this modest funding resource, but this is a good start and it will help,” said Madrid Novak.
