Travel
Travel Services
Soon after your student has been accepted by Chemawa and has received an official notice from the school registrar, the travel office will contact your student to arrange travel to the school. No travel will be made without all paperwork being on file with the school office. Dates and times for travel are coordinated with school start dates. The student travel coordinator’s telephone number is (503) 399-5721 x1286.
Travel will be made from the home address on the student application only. Students will travel when scheduled. If circumstances do not allow for travel at the scheduled time, please be aware that travel will only be rescheduled one time. Any fees for rescheduling after the one exception will be the responsibility of the parent/student/guardian.
Chemawa receives funding to provide four trips for your student:
- One trip to school
- One trip home for winter break
- One trip returning from winter break
- One trip home at the end of the school year
Chemawa does not receive funds for Thanksgiving, Easter, or spring break travel, nor does Chemawa receive travel funds for bereavement situations and cannot fund travel for these events. Holiday and end of year travel will be made to the location that students came from at the beginning of the school year. The only exception to this policy is if there is an official change of home address on file with the registrar.
Modes of travel used by Chemawa vary depending on cost, time, and convenience. The three major modes of travel include:
- Train – Amtrak makes a connection to Salem, Oregon. The Amtrak station is approximately 20 minutes from the school campus.
- Bus – Greyhound Bus lines have a fully staffed bus depot in Salem. The bus depot is open until 8 p.m. nightly. The bus depot is approximately 20 minutes from campus.
- Airlines – Salem, Oregon, maintains minimum local airline service. The Portland International Airport (PDX) is located approximately 50 miles north from campus. Shuttle services are available from the airport to Salem.
Travel Tips
All travelers need photo identification with an expiration date, such as a state identification card. Beginning in May 2023, all travelers 18 years of age or older will be required to possess a Real ID to fly. This would include a federally recognized, Tribal-issued photo ID or a state issued driver’s license or identification card complying with Real ID protocols. Travelers are advised to carry snacks and should have enough cash for meals on the trip.
Luggage Tips
Most travel vendors will allow one carry-on bag and one small personal item at no charge. Chemawa will pay for one standard (not oversize or overweight) checked bag each trip. Additional bags or fees are the responsibility of the student. Depending on the mode of travel, the checked baggage will have weight and size limitations. In cases where the luggage fee is unable to be pre-paid, reimbursements will be made only with a receipt and will be made to the student. Most airlines only accept debit or credit cards to pay for luggage.
All travel vendors prohibit the transportation of weapons and controlled substances, and typically have limitations on the transportation of perishable items. Chemawa is not responsible for personal property. Any personal items left behind at the end of the year will be disposed of appropriately.
Law Enforcement and Travelers
Travelers are reminded that all federal and state laws apply to student travelers while in travel status. In the event a student traveler violates a state or federal law while in travel status, the traveler is subject to the requirements of the law. Chemawa has limited responsibility for the traveler.
If a traveler is removed from the bus, train, or airline for a violation of the law, the traveler and guardian is responsible for the student and responsible for securing continued travel. Students violating state or federal laws while in travel status to or from Chemawa will be subject to the school disciplinary process, which may include revocation of admission and immediate return home.
Voluntary Travel Information
Chemawa recognizes that there may be occasions when students will travel outside of the school paid travel times. In this case, we require as much advance notice as possible, no less than two weeks. Students will need to provide the travel coordinator the paid itineraries (both common carrier and shuttle if to airport), parent permission letter and school leave authorization form (located in the academic office) before transportation to the shuttle stop or train/bus station will be scheduled.
Holiday Travel Tips
Chemawa will provide one complete round trip travel for winter break. Students taking time away for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Spring Break will need to follow student checkout procedures. Students traveling on personal checkout status will be required to pay for their own travel, including the cost of traveling between Salem and Portland, Oregon.
Shuttle Service
Chemawa does not provide shuttle service for students with personal checkouts. If the student and/or family are arranging the travel, the cost and responsibility of the arrangements for the shuttle service is also the responsibility of the student/family. Groome Transportation serves the Salem to Portland airport route.
Bereavement Travel
In the event of a need for student travel for a bereavement situation, Chemawa Indian School is not funded and cannot pay for this travel. Families are urged to contact their Tribal social service office for assistance.
In bereavement situations, families are asked to contact the Student Service office to coordinate student notification and seek grief counseling support for their student.
Other Travel
Chemawa does not provide trips home for cultural events or breaks. In order to have transportation provided to the airport shuttle or train station, students must fill out a school leave authorization form along with their itinerary (both shuttle and airport), parent permission letter and teacher signatures to the travel coordinator. Once signed, the transportation department will schedule the ride to the shuttle. Shuttle fees are the responsibility of the student/family.
There are times when colleges will sponsor students to visit their campus without Chemawa staff. This will be approved, provided that the parent releases Chemawa from liability arising from the visit. A school leave authorization form, parent permission slip, agenda, and sponsor contact information must be provided prior to releasing the student for the visit.
Year End Travel
Travel at the end of the year is set to an official date on the school calendar and coordinates with the end of classes. Students requesting to leave earlier than the established finals dates will need to submit a written request to the assistant principal who will be required to approve the early travel, in writing, prior to May 1 before travel arrangements are made. Students will only be checked out with parents/guardians. Leaving before finals may impact final grades and will only be approved in extreme circumstances. Families will be responsible to pay for return travel if it is requested before the established travel dates.
We encourage families to support their graduating seniors at the ceremony at the end of the year. The school will provide a listing of local motels and transportation services that the family may choose to hire for the event. Chemawa cannot pay for travel or lodging, provide local transportation, or pick up/drop off at the airports. These expenses are the sole responsibility of the graduates’ families. Chemawa will make every effort to match student itineraries with family flights within established budget constraints. We must receive family flight information by May 1 to coordinate travel reservations.
Students are reminded that leaving school before the end of any term may result in losing some or all credits for that trimester.
