Student Services launched the Share a Ride service before winter break to provide students with the ability to find or offer a ride home. While a limited students number took advantage of Share a Ride this semester, Manager of Student Services JoAnn Smith is confident that the service will become more popular once with more publicity.
A link on the Student Services website enabled students to submit requests or offers, which were then posted on a bulletin board in Dowling Hall. No one knows, however, if additional students got connections after seeing the bulletin board and bypassing the online request form.
Overall, 37 students used the service, but there was no way to calculate how many were able to arrange carpools since they were left on their own to contact each other. The disproportion between the number of students offering and seeking a ride - only six drivers posted on the website - may have posed an obstacle to users.
"I think once students are more aware of our commitment to provide all kinds of services to the students and that we listen to their suggestions, [then] this service could be successful," Smith said.
The idea for Share a Ride board came from a request of a student to Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs Kristine Dillon. Student Services then worked with a technology team to get the service accessible to students via their website.
"We thought if we could make it easier for students to indicate their willingness to either provide a ride or need a ride then that's very much in line with what we are trying to do - facilitate an improved environment," Dillon said.
The Share a Ride service will be offered for spring break, as well as for students leaving for summer recess.
