By Lynelle Ward
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

The Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs recently started implementing a series of department changes in an effort to speed up the financial aid process time.

"I have a lot of changes planned but they have not all been implemented yet," said Lynda McKendree, director of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office. "The primary goal at this time is to make the process quicker."

When McKendree took over the department in July, the department was severely understaffed. McKendree said more than 1,000 files were waiting to be processed and many of those files were filed by the priority deadline.

Many students whose files had corrections or were subject to verification usually receive notification letters from the financial aid department to correct errors and provide information. Those students were not receiving timely notices because of staffing problems and this led to many incomplete files.

Cindy Fuson, sociology major, was selected for verification. She did not receive notice from the financial aid department until sometime in July. When she called for an appointment with a counselor, things were so backed up she could not get an appointment until Aug. 5.

Once Fuson completed her paperwork she thought things would get better, but on the first day of school she found that her paperwork was missing and the counselor she had seen previously was on vacation.

She left daily voicemails and notes for her counselor. After a week of waiting on her counselor to return to work, she was allowed to resubmit her paperwork to another staff member. Her counselor never returned to work.

"I feel if they had been more upfront with the students, there would not have been so much animosity toward the financial aid department," Fuson said. "They made the students scapegoats."

McKendree is working to try and improve the paperwork process in the office. There are approximately 150 files not completed at this time and many of those are applications that were recently filed.

The Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs also changed their Web site in an attempt to provide more updated information and make it more user friendly. The site offers downloadable forms and instructions.

One of the biggest changes is the addition of entrance and exit counseling session that can be completed directly on the Web site. Students were originally required to do entrance and exit counseling in the financial aid office and now they can do the counseling at home at their convenience.

McKendree would like students to be able to check their application status online in the future. She would also like to implement an electronic funds transfer system to expedite the turnaround time students have experienced.

"Basically everybody here is new," McKendree said. "Deshon Smith has been here for a year, so he is the oldest staff member. I've been here since July, and we have new counselos and secretaries. We are all new and learning as we go."

To help ensure there is no delay in applications, a student's file should be complete by the priority deadline of May 1. To have a complete file students must have completed a financial aid questionnaire, a complete and accurate Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and any required documentation needed if selected for verification.

"My advice for students is to apply as early as they can and follow up often to ensure all documentation needed is returned," McKendree said.

About one third of all applicants are selected for verification, McKendree said. She suggests that about two weeks after filing a FAFSA check the application status with the financial aid office to ensure the file is complete.

Missing information letters are sent out; but they can be delayed, so check often, McKendree said.

"Things have gotten better and I am finally receiving my financial aid," Fuson said.

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