Transportation for Civic Activities & Community Engaged Classes
NOTICE
Due to limited capacity through the FM carpool service, we are unable to accept transportation requests that require a professional driver except for needs related to signature Civic Education and Innovation activities such as Service Leadership Work-Study (SLWS) or Community Engaged Learning Classes. Please direct any questions to Susan Sanning, Associate Dean and Director of Civic Education and Innovation.
Enterprise Carshare Program
The College is partnering with Enterprise on a car share program. Faculty, staff, and students 18 and older are able to rent a car. Two cars are available in the parking lot east of Mears Cottage/Campus Safety. You must complete an Enterprise application in advance and pay a $25 membership fee (refunded on your first rental) to become a CarShare member. Allow 5-7 business days for your account to be approved and activated. With prior approval, the CEI team may be able to reimburse students for civic travel using the carshare program. Please direct inquiries to Susan Sanning, Associate Dean and Director of Civic Education and Innovation.
To apply, visit the Grinnell College Car Sharing site.
Grinnell College Facilities Management (FM) Carpool Program
While transportation through the FM Carpool Program is not guaranteed, there are steps you can take to better ensure transportation for your service experience.
IMPORTANT: Applications for FM carpool transportation must be made 5 business days prior to your trip.
Who can apply for Service Transportation?
In order to qualify for transportation funding and logistical support, you must:
- Be a faculty member teaching a community engaged class, OR
- Be a current degree-seeking student at Grinnell College; and
- Be traveling for a service or community engaged class purpose;
- Have met at least ONCE with a CLS adviser – either an exploratory or career community adviser;
- Be traveling to a location that is not easily walkable; and
- Be traveling in a group of 2 or more.
- Extenuating circumstances may be considered. If one person will be traveling alone or the location is nearby, prior approval must be obtained from a member of the CLS Service & Social Innovation staff
Vehicles used are part of the College’s carpool fleet. The CLS covers charges.
FM Carpool Options:
Least Flexible:
Request a professional FM driver
Expectations:
- Time for pick up or drop off are not flexible.
- Destination or pick up location may not change.
- Drivers may be used for groups of 2 or more volunteers.
- If you cancel at the last minute or do not show up, student coordinator is billed for unfulfilled requested time for the driver.
- Professional drivers are paid for a minimum of 2 hours of work.
Instructions:
Apply for service transportation and support by filling out the Service Transportation Form at the bottom of the screen.
Select non-student driver.
Most Flexible:
Become a certified FM student driver (or faculty drive their own class)
Expectations:
- Student drivers may be used for groups of 2 or more volunteers.
Student Driver Eligibility:
- There are different age restrictions for different distances.
- Students must be at least 19 years old for trips within the Grinnell city limits and
- 20+ years old for trips outside Grinnell.
- Drivers must have had a clean US drivers record for the past two years (no moving violations).
- Drivers must complete a certification process through Facilities Management.
Instructions:
To become a student driver fill out the Grinnell College Driver Application and email a copy to Jess Lease (leasejes@grinnell.edu). Please cc Ryan Solomon (solomonr@grinnell.edu) so that we have a record of your application. If you need assistance you may either email Jess or call her @ 641-269-3333.
If you are eligible, becoming a certified student driver enables you to:
- Drive yourself for SLWS activities;
- Be a volunteer driver for your service groups;
- Become a paid driver for the college.
Apply for service transportation and support by filling out the Service Transportation Form below.
Submit name/s of student driver for the group.
Moderately Flexible:
Identify certified student drivers
Expectations:
- Student drivers already a part of the volunteer project will volunteer their time to drive.
- Students drivers requested to drive outside of their own volunteer project, may be paid through FM, and as approved by CLS
- Student drivers may be used for groups or 2 or more volunteers.
Student Driver Eligibility:
- There are age restrictions for distances that a student driver can go.
- Students must be at least 19 years old for trips within the Grinnell city limits and 20+ years old for trips outside Grinnell.
Instructions:
Request service transportation and support by filling out the Service Transportation Form above.
Submit name/s of student driver for the group.
What happens if I am late or do not show up without communicating?
- If you miss your ride — you pay! Your account will be charged the full cost of your transportation if you are a no-show.
- Misuse of this service might result in not being able to use this service again in the future.
What if I have an emergency?
- We understand that emergencies happen and sometimes Grinnell College carpool rides need to be cancelled.
- Emergent circumstances include death, fire, major illness, etc. A paper that needs to be written is not an emergency. It is a time management issue!
- If an emergency arises during business hours call Jessica Lease in facilities management at 641-269-3300 between 8:00am and 5:00pm. In addition, email the CLS letting us know why you called FM and cancelled your ride.
- If an emergency arises after business hours please call Campus Safety at 641-269-4600 to let them know about the situation AND send Jessica Lease an email (cc’ing the CLS) explaining the circumstances.