2008 Woodie Awards
Don't rely on SIUE to lead you by the hand
Megan McClure
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Opinion
It's two weeks before the start of the semester. Suddenly, you discover your class schedule is gone, or your housing reservation is no more. Perhaps you were one of the lucky few to, essentially, be deleted from the system altogether. Not the best way to start off the new school year, eh?
Granted, these issues could have been the result of a computer glitch or other error. But is it too harsh to say that, in many cases, these problems may have been the fault of the students themselves?
Apparently many of these students were under the impression that their bills had been paid on time through loans. However, the policies regarding student loans changed recently, and no student - at the very least, no returning student - should be able to claim they were not informed.
As the university prepared last spring for the switch to the Banner system, students were inundated by new information about upcoming changes. Signs throughout campus, some clearly warning, "BIG CHANGES ARE COMING," alerted students to changes in financial aid policies.
Staff members from departments in Rendleman Hall set up booths throughout campus last spring in case students had questions about the new system. For a few days, these same staff members stood in the stairway to the basement of the Morris University Center, ensuring each student received flyers describing impending changes. Although not every student may have seen these booths or received these fliers, each of them did receive at least one e-mail from the university explaining the situation.
Financial aid staff members cannot take each of the 13,000-plus students by the hand to lead them through the payment process. Once the widely publicized changes were made known and efforts were made to educate the student body, it became each student's responsibility to be certain bills were paid properly.
Granted, these issues could have been the result of a computer glitch or other error. But is it too harsh to say that, in many cases, these problems may have been the fault of the students themselves?
Apparently many of these students were under the impression that their bills had been paid on time through loans. However, the policies regarding student loans changed recently, and no student - at the very least, no returning student - should be able to claim they were not informed.
As the university prepared last spring for the switch to the Banner system, students were inundated by new information about upcoming changes. Signs throughout campus, some clearly warning, "BIG CHANGES ARE COMING," alerted students to changes in financial aid policies.
Staff members from departments in Rendleman Hall set up booths throughout campus last spring in case students had questions about the new system. For a few days, these same staff members stood in the stairway to the basement of the Morris University Center, ensuring each student received flyers describing impending changes. Although not every student may have seen these booths or received these fliers, each of them did receive at least one e-mail from the university explaining the situation.
Financial aid staff members cannot take each of the 13,000-plus students by the hand to lead them through the payment process. Once the widely publicized changes were made known and efforts were made to educate the student body, it became each student's responsibility to be certain bills were paid properly.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Lukus Keeling
posted 8/21/07 @ 1:10 PM CST
In the hallway of my Cougar Village apartment there are and have been many signs. One sign tells me of the Residence Housing Association, one about the Cougar BBQ, one of facilities management readiness to fix any problems that should arise. (Continued…)
current student
posted 8/23/07 @ 4:36 PM CST
My financial aid was not passed because something was not correct on my fafsa. I did not know something was wrong with my fafsa until my classes were dropped. (Continued…)
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