Two vans help CMU students with transportation needs as part of their community engagement efforts.

Student Affairs › Community Engagement & Leadership Development › Student Community Engagement › Community Engagement Vans

Community Engagement Vans

When engaging in community, transportation may be a challenge for many of our organizations, departments or offices. To support these efforts, the office of Community Engagement and Leadership Development manages manages two minivans, which may be reserved and used by CMU student organizations, departments, and offices to carry out their missions. The vans are available to all eligible student and staff drivers for official organizational purposes, with the only requirement being that they are returned with a full tank of gas. The vans are not available for overnight use.

Community Engagement Vans usage includes:

Transporting teams for direct service on a one-time or recurring basis
Picking up supplies for a fundraising or educational program
Transporting teams to an off-campus retreat center for team building
Transporting donations to a local nonprofit or community partners

Priority will be given to organizations, departments or offices reserving the vans for community engagement purposes.

How to Reserve the Community Engagement Vans

Van requirements and procedures must be met before reserving. Requirements include:

1. Any organization member may complete the Community Engagement Van Reservation Form and Driver Registration Form.

The Van Reservation Form is used to reserve the van for organization use and must be completed for each desired trip.
The Driver Registration Form is used to register any drivers who will be operating the van and only needs completed once every academic year. All drivers must complete this form prior to their Community Engagement Van reservation before a trip will be confirmed.

2. Anyone wishing to drive the Community Engagement Van must be at least 18 years old and have a valid US driver’s license.

3. All drivers must confirm the validity of their driver's license by completing the Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) process at least two weeks prior to travel. To initiate this process, please email requesting MVR approval to drive a Community Engagement Van. You will receive an automated email with a form to complete. Once completed, MVR approval is valid through the end of the academic year, unless a driver renews their driver's license or receives a new driver's license. MVR approval must be completed each academic year and is required by the Community Engagement and Leadership Development office for van use authorization.

4. The Driver Safety Training Canvas Course is an additional recommended resource.

Both Community Engagement Vans are Chrysler Pacificas.

Van one seats seven total passengers, including the driver.
Van two seats eight total passengers, including the driver.

The middle and rear rows of seats fold down in both vans to allow for expanded storage capacity.

The Community Engagement Vans will be allocated on a priority basis, depending on the type of activity for which the organization is reserving them. This prioritization will primarily apply when there are competing reservations on the same day. Top priority will be given to organizations involved in student community engagement activities, like transporting students to a local nonprofit to volunteer or participate in an educational opportunity, or dropping off donations to a non-profit organization, for example. The Office of Community Engagement and Leadership Development reserves the right to adjust or cancel a reservation within two weeks of the scheduled date if a higher-priority request arises.