Game changers: how Lafayette College balances academics and athletics with Uber

At Lafayette College, athletic and academic excellence live side by side. 

Located in the city of Easton, Pennsylvania, this NCAA Division I institution has one of the oldest college football programs in the country, 4 national championships, and a storied legacy of athletic prowess. 

To say the Leopards are busy would be an understatement. With 600+ students juggling 23 sports, the days are packed: rigorous academics from 8am to 4pm, followed by full evenings of practices at the sprawling Metzgar Fields Athletics Complex for outdoor teams. The last thing anyone needs to worry about is transportation. 

Thanks to its partnership with Uber for Business, Lafayette College ensures that student athletes can seamlessly transition from classes to practice—and between campuses—without missing a beat.

Before collaborating with Uber, the shuttle system from Lafayette’s main campus to the Metzgar Athletics Complex ran at a strict 15-minute frequency between 3pm and 9pm, with multiple stops. This rigid schedule and staggered class dismissals often resulted in student athletes missing the shuttles and arriving late to practice. What’s more, shuttles would frequently run empty. 

In September 2024, Lafayette College partnered with Uber to enhance the existing services with on-demand rides. Now Leopard student athletes can request Uber rides according to their own schedule, directly to the Metzgar Complex. Plus, the Uber platform’s pay-per-performance model ensures that the college pays only for the rides students actually take. No more empty shuttles or scheduling mishaps—just a cost-effective, efficient transportation solution that makes life easier for students and administrators. 

“A lot of institutions are taking deep dives into what they’re spending money on, and our [old shuttle system] was one of those things where we saw opportunities to be more cost-effective, rather than wasting gas from 3pm to 9pm,” says Andrew Foster, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations. “The cost of the shuttle has been literally 10 times the cost of what we’re spending using the Uber platform.”

Medical appointments are a crucial part of any athlete’s journey, especially those performing at a high level. Lafayette College Athletics uses Uber to make sure students have flexible and reliable transportation to X-rays, MRIs, and physical therapy sessions, keeping the Leopards performance-ready. 

“Before our partnership with Uber, we’d try to find an athletic trainer to drive [student athletes] to appointments or have kids book in their own apps and submit for reimbursements,” Ryan Callahan, Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations, explains. “We schedule rides [with] the Uber platform now. It’s been great getting athletes to places quicker and easier.”

The Uber for Business dashboard gives administrators full operational control, allowing them to adjust program parameters, track spending, and monitor trip activity with ease. And with the Central tool, department administrators can schedule rides for staff, coaches, and guests who don’t have the Uber app—a popular feature with the staff, says Callahan.

At Lafayette College, student athletes are empowered to excel in every aspect of their college experience, on and off the field. With the support of Uber, Leopard students can seamlessly connect between their academic and athletic commitments, while administrators can focus on what really matters: shaping the next generation of exceptional athletes and leaders.

Interested in offering rides to your students, faculty, or staff with Uber? Uber for Business can help you create a program tailored to your needs. Visit uber.com/higher-education to learn more.