If selecting housing for students that is not at the site, transportation needs to be arranged. If public transportation is available, that is great. Please buy a pass for the student to use for the 8 weeks. Sometimes having the student bring a car is the only solution. In this case, the number of students who can consider the site is limited, and we may not be able to find a student for you.
Challenges
Alumni families live in suburbs and sites are in the city and there is no public transportation. Arrange car pool with alums who commute into the city. Give the student a bike to ride to the nearest public transportation station, within a reasonable distance.
Clubs require a student to bring a car for transportation to and from the site. Be sure to give gas money to the students since they have no income while at the site. Please take into consideration the length of the student’s commute when determining their gas stipend. Some students have long commutes and the gas money can go quickly. Perhaps determining an amount per mile is helpful.
Some Clubs give students a car to use. Be sure to inform the student if the car is only for transportation to and from the site, or if they can use it outside of work time. The students are not covered by the University’s insurance when driving the car of an alum. If your Club will give the student the use of a car, be sure to indicate on the Club Commitment form that you require a student who has a driver’s license.
Renting a car for the student has been done as well. Note the students are not covered by the University’s insurance when the rental car is arranged by a member of the Alumni Club.
Some Clubs ask that only one of two SSLP students bring a car. Students have car pooled, even when living with different families. It is much more likely to find one student with a car for your city, than two.
Creative Ideas Currently in Clubs
The Boston Club requires 2 of their 3 students to have cars and for years has given the students money for gas.
The Southeast Virginia Club and other Clubs ask one family to host both students so they only need one car to travel to the site.
A number of Clubs have found the solution of having students live at or near the site, as discussed above. The challenge in this situation is to still have active interaction between the student and members of the Alumni Club.
Please contact Andrea Smith Shappell with any questions.
