WSSU goes paperless with new eBills process

 Starting April 15, the refund and billing process at Winston-Salem State will have a new look. Students will begin receiving and viewing their bills online via eBill.

The new eBills will allow students and authorized users of their choice to view balances as well as estimated financial aid more timely and efficiently. The University will abandon the U.S. postal service and send monthly eBills through student e-mail accounts. 

"eBills will make it easier for students to know their standing with the University," said Carrie Barnes, director of Billings and Receivables.

With the new system students will have access to regularly updated account information.  eBill will help students keep informed about any outstanding debts they may have with the University, including library fines and parking citations. 

Students' authorized users may make electronic payments. This will permit parents access to billing information that would otherwise be unobtainable without face-to-face contact required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

WSSU is one of several area schools that have opted to go paperless. 

Wake Forest uses eBill and Forsyth Tech also has a similar system in place that allows students to access and pay their school bills online. 

Other area colleges and universities such as Salem College are in the process of developing their own eBill systems. 

The paperless system itself is economical and eco-friendly.

A process that has been a long time in the making, eBills will help to cut costs at WSSU by saving on postage. 

With all the billing statements that are sent each semester, if 500-600 are mailed, at least 100 or more are returned to the University. At a cost of 42 cents per letter, the cost of postage adds up to a minimum of $420 each time the letters are "snail mailed."

"It really adds up," said Debra Mack, account technician in the office of Billings and Receivables.

If a student does not receive an eBill, it's up to him or her to contact billings and receivables. Failure to receive a billing statement does not excuse any students from their financial obligation to the University. 

As long as students are enrolled at the University they will have monthly eBill updates sent to their campus e-mail address.  

Once students have registered for classes it's their responsibility to make the  arrangements for payment by the scheduled deadline.

"eBills are the bomb," said Fern Johnson, WSSU Collections.

The first eBills will be sent by the first session of summer school.