Students now have until Wednesday to pay tuition without being charged a late fee

Students have an extra day to pay tuition, before they are forced to fork over an extra $50.

This is the second time that the Bursar's Office has extended the date when students will be penalized for late tuition payments.

These extensions are the result of difficulties implementing a new computer system that has also delayed the distribution of millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships.

"We are giving the students the benefit of the doubt and giving them an extra 24 hours," said UA Bursar Suellyn Hull.

Although the official tuition payment deadline for all students is still Aug. 26, late fees will not be assessed until Wednesday, Hull said.

The office was concerned that students might not understand the motivation for the changes that affect tuition payments this year.

"Three things contributed to the confusion this year. A change in tuition date, a change in location for the (bursars) office, and this new system (Matrix)," said Hull.

This year's tuition payment deadline was three weeks later than usual, according to Hull, and the Bursar's Office's new location added to the confusion caused by recent problems with the computer system, Matrix, that distributes financial aid and scholarships.

Hull said the problems with Matrix were unavoidable.

"With any new system you'll have problems with volume and training," she said.

Years were spent tweaking shortcuts into the SIS system öö the computer system replaced by Matrix öö and according to the bursar it will take time to fine-tune this system as well.

"We have to rebuild short cuts. Things are going to take awhile," Hull said.

Some financial aid and scholarship students were still awaiting checks from the university yesterday.

Other students faced delays as a result of system overload, when they tried to access Web Pay, the service that allows students to pay tuition on line, Hull said.