ABA SERVICES: WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE

With another busy academic semester ahead, ABA spent the first few weeks reaching out to students to help ease their transition to campus life.

Friday, August 26, was Move-In Day at the residence halls for freshman and returning students. With over 1,000 students moving in throughout the day, ABA offices were on the scene helping students adjust to their new surroundings. University Transportation and Parking Services (UTAPS) located a booth near the American River Courtyard, where they distributed residence hall parking passes and parking maps, and answered general questions.

Conveniently located next to UTAPS was the Zipcar booth, with company reps on hand to answer questions and promote interest in this new service. Zipcar has partnered with UTAPS to provide convenient and sustainable travel options to students. The partnership will allow students without a car to borrow one for quick trips around town. Initially, two cars will be available for use. Zipcar has identified Sac State as a transit hub; with bus line connections and shuttles to light rail, making the campus an ideal setting for their service. Another ten cars are located throughout Sacramento. For more information about the partnership between UTAPS and Zip Car, click here.

More than 1,600 students moved into the residence halls over the first weekend. For more information about Move-In Day 2011, check out the video produced by Public Affairs here.

Back at UTAPS offices, efforts were made to step up staffing during the week prior to the start of the semester, with volunteers from other ABA offices on hand to help distribute parking passes and answer questions. These volunteers took time away from their own work to help ensure that lines moved quickly in the UTAPS office.

Other ABA operations used similar express stations to improve service to students. The OneCard Office located tables in the Lassen Hall lobby to distribute commuter passes. (The passes allow students to travel on local public transit for free, a great convenience for students with limited budgets and travel options.) According to Gina Curry, University Bursar & Director of the Student Services Center, approximately 2,500 commuter passes were distributed during the first week.

ABA took advantage of other activities during the first week to reach students, with information tables set up at The WELLcoming Back celebration, or reopening of The WELL for fall. ABA OneCard, UTAPS, and Public Safety personnel joined intramural sports, student clubs, and other campus booths, helping students learn how to link the OneCard with a Well Fargo account, listing local businesses that offer OneCard discounts, and distributing commuter passes. UTAPS handed out maps and answered general parking related questions. Public Safety provided information and flyers on recent safety efforts, as well as services they offer to students.

Events like these are important to ABA departments and units that serve students. Many work behind the scenes, so these events allow ABA to promote their services so that students can utilize them.

Each semester, ABA looks to expand its services to assist more students, faculty, and staff, and this semester has been no different. Here is looking to another great academic semester!

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