Confusion seems to be the theme of Dec. 5, the first day of finals at the University.
Students who expected to receive free passage on the Golden Panther Express were surprised to find that bus drivers were still swiping Panther IDs.
The Student Government Association at the University has been working out the details to fully fund the Golden Panther Express, a University shuttle service administered by the Department of Parking and Transportation, during the first two days of finals of the fall 2011 semester – Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.
Since the Oct. 21, SGA had planned to set aside $3,000 from its newly formed University Wide Contingency Reserved Account, as per the new Accumulated Cash Budget Account Policy, which wasn’t officially passed until the Dec. 2 University Wide Council meeting.
Due to the new ACBA policy not being approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs Rosa Jones in time for finals week, at the Dec. 2 U-wide meeting, the council voted upon, and approved, the usage of the campus specific councils’ executive discretionary funds to fund the $3,000 necessary to provide passengers with complimentary passage of the GPE during the first two days of finals – $1,500 respectively coming from the Student Government Council at the Biscayne Bay Campus and the Student Government Council at the Modesto Maidique Campus.
UPDATE: According to SGC-MMC Vice President Sanjeev Udhnani, there was “a miscommunication” between the bus company, American Coach, and the Department of Parking and Transportation.
Starting the next scheduled departure, students will not be charged for rides until Wednesday, Dec. 7. Those who were charged are to be issued a refund to their FIU One Cards.
As more details become available, story will be updated.