Here’s some news from Metro CEO Art Leahy’s daily email to staff. As of this Monday, the I-TAP program for USC students has been expanded to include grad and professional students. I-TAP (Metro’s Institutional Transit Access Pass) provides full-time college students at participating campuses with specially priced Metro passes at a reduced rate or at no cost, depending on the agreement with the particular college.

“On Monday, October 17, 2011, USC’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate, in partnership with USC Transportation and our agency, launched the I-TAP program for all full-time, fee-paying graduate and professional degree students. For $25, students can now purchase a discounted pass which will allow unlimited rides on Metro bus and rail lines from October 17, 2011 through December 16, 2011. Students will save at least $45 during this nine-week program, due to a sponsorship by L.A. Live and by utilizing semester student fees which subsidize the cost of a TAP card. Full-time students can pay a $25 co-payment fee, plus a one-time $5 card fee on a first come, first serve basis. On the first day of sales, approximately 400 – 500 cards were sold. This TAP card is usable for several semesters and may be re-loaded with a regular Metro pass after graduation.”

There’s also a post with a few more details — Discounted Metro Tickets Available for Grad Students — on the Annenberg TV News website.