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Joshua Sills/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Student wait in line that stretched out the door an toward the elevators at the Financial Aid office. Students who have not yet received their financial aid or their scholarship checks should not be concerned about the tuition payment deadline.
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By Ian Musil
Arizona Summer Wildcat
Monday August 25, 2003
Because of problems with a new computer system, the Office of Student Financial Aid was scrambling late last week to distribute millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students who still need to pay for tuition, books and other expenses.
By Aug. 21, the financial aid office had distributed $21.7 million in scholarships and financial aid. That number is $8 million less than the $30.1 million doled out at the same time last year, said John Nametz, director of financial aid.
Officials at the office said problems implementing and using a new computer system called Matrix, which will distribute financial aid and scholarships, caused the unexpected delays.
"This darn thing (Matrix) is complicated. We are figuring out that it's smarter than we are," Nametz said.
Lines spilled out the doors of the financial aid office Thursday afternoon. Officials at the office said they were seeing about one-third more students than usual.
Most students had general questions not specifically linked to the aid distribution problem, but some, particularly graduate students and undergraduates on scholarship, were confused by the delays in their accounts.
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If you're still missing your financial aid:
You will not be billed late fees for a late tuition payment.
You can apply for a $500 credit at the UofA Bookstore.
Pick up a form at the Office of Student Financial Aid. Present the form at the bookstore counter. Bring the form back to customer service to receive credit to your account.
New Tuition Payment Deadline: August 26
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"I called 15 times and my stipend is still not credited," said audiology graduate student Tami Scott, who says she needs the money to buy books. "It's just frustrating there's no one to talk to."
"I called a lot and came up from Phoenix," said Chris Leigh, an environmental hydrology and water resources freshman, "I don't know why the money hasn't been credited."
Gary Booker, director of the Matrix project, could not comment on the problems the financial aid office is having with Matrix , but he said that individual offices are responsible for their own Matrix software training.
Booker is confident the problem will pass as kinks are worked out and said the benefit of the system will outweigh the inconvenience.
"Development and implementation of any system is a difficult prospect, especially difficult in this kind of effort," said Booker. "Union construction was an inconvenience for students, but now that it's finished we are all benefiting."
Students who have not yet received their financial aid or their scholarship checks should not be concerned about the tuition payment deadline.
The Bursar's office will not be filing late payment charges for students who depend on aid and have not received it, Nametz said.
"Automatically, late fees are delayed until the next billing cycle if you haven't received your financial aid or scholarships," said Bursar Suellyn Hull.
Nametz said the staff in the financial aid office is working hard to get everything right. He emphasizes the importance of double-checking everything when it comes to the distribution of grants and aid.
"Staff are going nuts sending money out," Nametz said. "We have to make sure everything is right, before we send checks out."
