Student Basic Needs/Project GO!

The Pantry is an on-campus resource that assists students in their pursuit of success. See below or visit your campus Student Engagement office for more information.

Eastern Campus: ESS 1303

The Pantry is open Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Students may visit once a week and take up to 10 items (11 with their own bag). To access the food bank, visit ESS 1303 or, if closed, the Dean of Student Affairs office. 

Metropolitan Campus: South Concourse (MMTA G083)

The Pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Students must be enrolled in at least one course per semester and present a valid Stomp Card for access. Students may visit once a week and take up to 15 pounds of items per visit. Interested in donating? See a list of donation suggestions for the Metro Campus Pantry.

Western Campus: Lower Galleria (near the vending machines)

The Pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Pantry is closed whenever Tri-C announces closures.

Students may visit once per week and shop up to 15 pounds of items per visit. See a list of donation suggestions for the Western Campus Pantry.

Westshore Campus: SLT 120 (across from the Campus Police)

The Pantry is available for students enrolled in classes during the current term. When classes are in session, students can visit the Pantry Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. or schedule an appointment by calling 216-987-5458 or emailing Lindy Finucan. See a list of donation suggestions for the Westshore Campus Pantry.

Tri-C has partnered with Cuyahoga Job and Family Services, Invest in Children and Starting Point to link Tri-C students and employees with child care options, as well as early care and education resources and benefits in the community.

The Tri-C Community Health and Wellness programs provide programming for students, employees and community members at Tri-C's Metro and Eastern campuses. Through the programming, students gain hands-on training and experience while servicing the community. 

If you need health insurance:
Low-income students may be eligible for Medicaid insurance at little or no cost. Please contact our benefit navigators for assistance.  

Balancing school, work, family and a social life can seem overwhelming. Many free services are available at Tri-C and locally to help relieve academic, career and personal pressures. Numerous helpful online resources are also available for those in need. Consult with a counselor if you have any questions. If you are interested in joining Active Minds, a student organization that strives to destigmatize mental illness and promote mental wellness, visit the Student Life or Counseling Center on your campus to learn more.

Being a college student is never easy, but when they're also faced with housing challenges, it can be overwhelming.

Benefits Access/Project Go! housing resources focus on students who are homeless or have housing insecurities. The program has information about housing resources and can connect students to various community agencies for assistance. Each campus has a designated safe space that is private and confidential. Students can be connected to housing resources through the Benefits Access/Project Go! program location in the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office on each campus. 

Student parents can now apply to CHN Housing Partners for the Louise C. Stokes Scholar House. Located at 2551 Community College Ave., this housing unit offers two- and three-bedroom apartments within walking distance of the Metro Campus. View this flyer for more information.

Tri-C is pleased to support the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Student U-Pass program. U-Pass, which is short for “Universal Pass,” allows Tri-C students to ride free of charge on all Greater Cleveland RTA buses and Rapid Transit during all academic semesters and sessions. The College administers the U-Pass program based on the agreement between Tri-C and RTA.

Only registered and paid credit students enrolled in one or more credit hours at Tri-C are currently eligible for the U-Pass program.*

U-Pass by Mail Enrollment
Eligible students must reserve a U-Pass during registration. When the RTA U-Pass box appears, select “Yes” to reserve a U-Pass or “No” if you don’t need one.

If you select “Yes,” a U-Pass will be mailed directly to your home address once you’ve registered and paid for your classes.

Availability
Fall and Spring Semesters: All eligible students enrolled for the fall and spring semesters will receive their requested U-Pass via the U.S. Postal Service to the address on file with the College Registrar’s Office. You can update your mailing address on my Tri-C space through the “Student” tab.

Summer Session: To be determined. When a determination on the program is made, students who have registered and made payment arrangements will be notified via email.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for specific distribution dates.

Eligibility*

• You must be a student enrolled in one or more academic credit hours at Tri-C.
• Your student account must be paid in full.
• You must have authorized financial aid to cover your full tuition, or you must have a tuition payment plan in place to cover your tuition.

*The following students are not eligible to participate in the U-Pass program: students who are enrolled in only online classes, students who take classes that meet exclusively off campus, and Program 60 and College Credit Plus students.

Policies and Regulations

• The U-Pass is free for all eligible credit students. These are students with one credit hour or more per semester or session who have opted to receive a U-Pass and have made payment arrangements.
• Students who opted to receive a U-Pass will receive a new U-Pass each fall and spring semester via the U.S. Postal Service. You can update your mailing address on my Tri-C space through the “Student” tab. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for specific distribution dates. Students who enroll and make payment arrangements after the mailing date for the fall and spring semesters can pick up their U-Pass at any Campus Enrollment Center.
• Students enrolled in the summer session who opted in and made payment arrangements can pick up their U-Pass at any Campus Enrollment Center. No U-Passes will be mailed during the summer session.
• The U-Pass must be placed on your Stomp Card in the middle of the card, either above or below the student name and S-Number, depending on the current card design. Do not cover your photo, S-Number, name or magnetic stripe. Do not place the U-Pass on the back of your Stomp Card.
• The U-Pass is only valid when properly affixed to your Stomp Card during the specified dates of each semester and session.
• The U-Pass program generates no revenue for the College. As a result, Tri-C personnel do not have the authority to grant special exceptions for noncredit students or faculty and staff of the College. There is no fee for students who are eligible for the U-Pass with one credit hour or more per semester.
• College faculty and staff are not eligible for a U-Pass, even if they are enrolled in a course at the College, as their first assignment with the College is that of an employee.

Please note: The U-Pass is intended only for the student who is registered for the current semester or session at Tri-C and is only valid when properly placed on that student’s official Stomp Card. The U-Pass is nontransferable. Fraudulent U-Pass usage may result in disciplinary action by the College. Students who withdraw from the semester or session or change their schedule are no longer eligible to participate in the U-Pass program and must return the U-Pass to their Campus Enrollment Center within five business days of their schedule change.

Benefits to the Students

• The program greatly reduces transportation costs for students by saving on gas and other vehicle-related expenses.
• The U-Pass provides easier access to the campuses.
• The program supports Tri-C’s sustainability commitment by lowering traffic volume and air pollution.
• All Tri-C students can use the public transportation at any time during the fall or spring semesters or the summer session. You can use RTA transit to travel on all routes anytime throughout Cuyahoga County, including downtown, to the airport, to a ballgame, etc. Your utilization of the U-Pass program is not limited to only College-related activities.
• RTA availability provides a backup mode of transportation for students (for example, car troubles, poor weather, etc.).
• The program benefits all Tri-C students by helping reduce parking demand on campus.
• Students will have another option to participate in cocurricular programming, such as trips to theaters, concerts, museums and other venues.
• Students can utilize RTA to travel to internships and off-site practicum sites associated with their on-campus learning experiences.

To plan your trip or learn about RTA services, visit the RTA website or call the RTAnswerLine at 216-621-9500.

The Student RTA U-Pass is nontransferable. Improper use of the pass will result in confiscation and/or prosecution.

Tri-C's Hope's Closet
Hope's Closet is an on-campus career wardrobe space coordinated through Tri-C's Women in Transition program. Tri-C administrators and staff, along with other faculty and professionals throughout the community, donate business attire and accessories to the closet to benefit both women and men. These donations are then made available to participants of the Women in Transition program, the Campus Career Centers, Veteran Services and the greater student body of Tri-C who desire to dress for success. Learn more about Hope's Closet.