2008 Woodie Awards
'Incompetence' growing at Financial Aid
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Opinion
I am writing this letter in response to Megan McClure's column titled "Don't rely on SIUE to lead you by the hand," published Aug. 21.
McClure advised us to take responsibility for our negligence in adapting to the new Banner system, which is a very nice thought.
However, I have a different perspective, because I have never in my entire life experienced such an incompetent group of workers that is the Student Financial Aid at SIUE.
On Aug. 6, I walked into the office to submit my files, and I handed my military DD214 form and my proof of residency to one of the representatives in the office. On Monday, I walked back into the office to inquire as to why it says online that I never turned in those forms, and I was told it was because they never received them.
So, even though I literally extended my hand with the forms in my grasp, only let go upon feeling the representative's equally firm grasp on the forms, and finally watched her set the forms into her lap, and in that transaction, my forms were lost. When students are being dropped from classes or having to suddenly come up with money they don't have because of someone else's error, perhaps it's time to construct a plan to fix things.
I am not the only one being affected by this incompetence. I know several other students who have struggled with Financial Aid. Some of them had to turn in forms twice because the first ones were lost. Others were dropped from their classes because they were freshman who were not given an explanation of the process. One student submitted his W-2 form and a signed tax return in the same envelope, only to be told later that they received his W-2, but not his tax form. He went to the Financial Aid office to explain he had submitted what they had requested more than 10 days ago, and while standing at the office, he saw the unopened envelope he had sent them sitting on a stack of papers. My case, obviously, is not the exception.
If I wanted to see a disappearing act, I would have enrolled in the School of Houdini, not SIUE. Now I have to try to regurgitate $3,000 by Friday, because none of my scholarships are worthwhile at this institution.
Nate Geist
Junior
Psychology
McClure advised us to take responsibility for our negligence in adapting to the new Banner system, which is a very nice thought.
However, I have a different perspective, because I have never in my entire life experienced such an incompetent group of workers that is the Student Financial Aid at SIUE.
On Aug. 6, I walked into the office to submit my files, and I handed my military DD214 form and my proof of residency to one of the representatives in the office. On Monday, I walked back into the office to inquire as to why it says online that I never turned in those forms, and I was told it was because they never received them.
So, even though I literally extended my hand with the forms in my grasp, only let go upon feeling the representative's equally firm grasp on the forms, and finally watched her set the forms into her lap, and in that transaction, my forms were lost. When students are being dropped from classes or having to suddenly come up with money they don't have because of someone else's error, perhaps it's time to construct a plan to fix things.
I am not the only one being affected by this incompetence. I know several other students who have struggled with Financial Aid. Some of them had to turn in forms twice because the first ones were lost. Others were dropped from their classes because they were freshman who were not given an explanation of the process. One student submitted his W-2 form and a signed tax return in the same envelope, only to be told later that they received his W-2, but not his tax form. He went to the Financial Aid office to explain he had submitted what they had requested more than 10 days ago, and while standing at the office, he saw the unopened envelope he had sent them sitting on a stack of papers. My case, obviously, is not the exception.
If I wanted to see a disappearing act, I would have enrolled in the School of Houdini, not SIUE. Now I have to try to regurgitate $3,000 by Friday, because none of my scholarships are worthwhile at this institution.
Nate Geist
Junior
Psychology
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Lucas
posted 9/04/07 @ 11:12 AM CST
This exact thing happened to me this summer as well. Everything worked out in the end for me though. Sorry to hear about all the trouble!
Zack Ziaja
posted 9/04/07 @ 12:40 PM CST
Finally. The dissention has reached a boiling point. I can say that in the 4 years of being at this university I have spent more time waiting in line or perpetually on hold at financial aid that it has actually eclipsed most all of my class attendance freshman year. (Continued…)
Nate Moran
posted 9/04/07 @ 2:26 PM CST
It took SIU almost 14 weeks for my student verification; this is absolutely unacceptable. Do they only have one person working on student verifications?
Lukus Keeling
posted 9/04/07 @ 2:32 PM CST
I brought up my issues to the director of the financial aide office who denies any type of wide spread problem. I told my personal story to the provost for academic and finacial affairs secretary who said I should speak with the provost. (Continued…)
Josh
posted 9/04/07 @ 5:33 PM CST
Yeah, I loved how the first edition of the school year had three fluff pieces that didn't represent the actual experiences of students. Talk about some hard hitting journalism right there. (Continued…)
Ziaja
Zack Ziaja
posted 9/05/07 @ 7:11 PM CST
I will preface this post by saying that this is only responding to the ignorance of Old Grad.
Yet again Old Grad it seems that your distaste for dissention shows your age, I complain because discussing the problem is the only road towards resolution. (Continued…)
Wow.
posted 9/10/07 @ 11:21 AM CST
Yes, the financial aid here is slow and a little messed up. But let me make two points that you obviously haven't considered:
1) Why would you put your name on these rants and postings? Not smart, especially if you are trying to get more money from them. (Continued…)
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