Computer problems that forced some students to wait weeks last semester before receiving financial aid look to be largely resolved, with only about $6 million in loans and grants remaining to be distributed this semester.
Most of that money will likely post to students' accounts within the next week as students continue to register for classes.
Some students' financial aid may be withheld until they are registered for the required number of units, which is causing many of the current delays, said John Nametz, director of financial aid.
On Monday, just under $42 million in loans had been posted for the spring semester, $5 million more than last year and about 90 percent of the likely semester total, said Nametz.
Only about $1.5 million in grants remain to be posted. Though the Office of Student Financial Aid doesn't track grants by semester, Nametz said about $29 million had been distributed this year, a nearly $6 million increase from last year.
On Jan. 5, the office posted about $62 million in financial aid to students' accounts, the largest single disbursement day in UA history.
The large distribution marks a sharp change from last semester, when barely $43 million in grants and loans had been posted to student accounts more than a week into school. Financial aid officials said that problem was caused by a transition to a new computer system that distributed the money.
Many of the system's problems have been solved, and Nametz said he believes money is now being distributed more efficiently than he's ever seen.
"So far I'm in better shape this semester than I've ever been in terms of dollars and numbers and percentages," Nametz said. "I'm really pleased."
Last semester, lines at the financial aid office stretched out the door of the Administration building. But on Monday afternoon, the mood was more subdued, as only about a dozen people were in line, many with questions unrelated to delays in aid distribution.
Pamitha Vasanthan, a management information systems junior waiting in line, said she needed to ask if financial aid would cover a class she was going to audit. She had already received her regular check for financial aid.
Casey Van Zutphen, a biochemistry senior, said his check had already been mailed, but he needed to request more money. He had only been waiting in line a few minutes, a sharp contrast from last semester.
"Last semester, I was here when school started, and the line was two hours long," Van Zutphen said.
Nametz said he talked to about a dozen students waiting in line, and that he's noticed more people checking to make sure there aren't problems with their aid.
"Students are, at a higher rate, (asking), 'Hey, is everything OK?'" he said.
Meanwhile, about 125 people were waiting on Monday for responses to e-mail inquiries about the status of their financial aid. That number was down from about 170 on Thursday, and Nametz said that students should expect a response to any questions within two days.
If students haven't received aid, it might be because of questions over the number of units they've enrolled in or other class issues, Nametz said. But if people are still waiting for financial aid, they can apply for a temporary loan in the financial aid office.
Students must come to the office in person, Nametz said. They will fill out a form and then receive a promissory note, which they can exchange for cash in the Bursar's Office.
Those loans were popular last semester when more students were waiting for aid, but several dozen people have still taken them out this semester.
As of Friday, 86 people had taken out these loans, said bursar Suellyn Hull.
"We're estimating there are another 50 in the pipeline," she said. "It is substantially down from what it was last semester."