Tulsa World: TCC aid delay hampers students

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TCC aid delay hampers students
Up to 1,500 students were without money because of glitches.

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 12/9/2008 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 12/9/2008 2:36 AM

Some students at Tulsa Community College have had trouble paying bills and enrolling in spring classes because of significant financial aid delays.

A perfect storm of economic woes, computer glitches and record enrollment caused significant hang-ups, leaving as many as 1,500 students without money.

"There were changes that we planned and anticipated, and then there were changes that we did not," said Jan Clayton, acting associate vice president for student affairs. "It took a little longer than I would like for me to realize that."

In a recent letter to students and staff at TCC, President Tom McKeon said the difficulties have placed considerable strain on students.

"As president, I deeply regret the difficulties that planned and unplanned changes in our financial aid area have caused our students," he wrote. "I am very confident that because of the difficult path we have traveled this semester, our systems will actually be more effective for our students in the future."

The college is switching to a new computer system for tracking and processing student data, and staff members had to be trained on the new software. The creation of a financial aid call center also caused confusion.

Leah Price didn't get her financial aid until halfway through November, she said, and when she protested to the college's provost, she didn't get any response.

When the check finally came, it was for less than $5 because of late fees charged to her account.

"I didn't get any money to buy books or anything," Price said.

Clayton said those fees have been waived for students who had their checks delayed, but Price said college officials refused to forgive her fees when she requested it.

Chris Halladay began his transfer to TCC from the University of Phoenix in September. Financial aid employees at TCC told him to enroll, but the enrollment office said he couldn't sign up for classes because there was a nonpayment hold on his account.

Officials noticed the financial aid problem in August and were certain of it by October. The next month, TCC hired an external financial aid company to look at the college's method and help process the aid, Clayton said.

"It was the equivalent of almost doubling our financial aid staff," she said.

TCC spent $31,000 to assess its practices, and the contract for additional processing will be $15,000 or less.

In the meantime, account holds were lifted so students could begin enrollment.

The college began the process of becoming a direct lender earlier this year, when lenders began notifying TCC they would not be loaning to students. About 70 percent of the institutions TCC has used in the past stopped giving to college students. The demand for aid also increased by nearly 15 percent, Clayton said.

"That combined with this bubble of enrollment just really overwhelmed our staff and resources," she said.

Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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touitsmrs, (12/9/2008 7:08:05 AM)

"As president, I deeply regret the difficulties that planned and unplanned changes in our financial aid area have caused our students," he wrote. "I am very confident that because of the difficult path we have traveled this semester, our systems will actually be more effective for our students in the future."
Its okay just another semester in a persons life because TCC couldnt get their act together.... same with the semester before that and the semester before that. Its just peoples lives they are screwing with.. no biggie!

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TacoBelle, (12/9/2008 3:55:19 PM)

It's about time they did something about TCC's ridiculous financial aid system.

Last spring I had to wait until July (after I had already graduated) to get my student loan money. I called daily and finally found out from a very nice financial aid worker that my file had been sitting on somebody's desk for 3 months.

I transferred to OU-Tulsa this semester and was pleasantly surprised to have ALL of my financial aid directly deposited to my bank account the week BEFORE school started.

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