Financial aid service under construction

In the continuing effort to improve and enhance service to Winston-Salem State students, the Office of Financial Aid has implemented new procedures and has been working on ways to improve communication.

Robert Muhammad, director of financial aid, said he has a direct phone line and an open-door policy.

The office is also working on a new website to provide students with better insight of the financial aid process.

 The financial aid verification begins March 1.

 "The first [financial aid] award will be posted no later than April for new and current students," Muhammad said.

Often a delay with students' financial aid is the verification process.

"One out of every three students makes a mistake on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid," he said.

 "One small thing done on the FAFSA can cause a student to be selected for verification."

Muhammad said that students need to apply early

and provide accurate, truthful information to FAFSA.

Muhammad said that the information provided by students [during the verification process] determines how long it takes the student to receive an award package.

He said getting prepared for the academic school year is a year-round process.

"Communication with the [Office of Financial Aid] department is not the best, but it is improving," Jonathan Watson said.

Watson is a junior birth to kindergarten education major from Raeford, N.C.

Erika Tillman said she has had problems this year with her financial aid.

"I turned in all my paperwork for verification. I was there and I asked the lady if she could tell me if I was missing anything," Tillman said.

"A week later, financial aid called me and told me I needed something else."

Tillman is a senior special education major from Asheville.

Financial aid information is sent to students by email, "snail" mail, and through Banner Rams accounts.

Muhammad said that the staff has found through the one-stop shop [early semester student support services process] and talking with students that they [students] are unaware of what they are missing because they fail to check their email or do not know where to find information on Banner Rams.

"We are rethinking ways to communicate with students," he said.

"Part of our mission is to begin to educate students on what we can do for them."

 "The WSSU Financial Aid Office is not perfect, but we are working to ensure that all students' needs are met," Muhammad said.

"Students should be assigned to a financial aid adviser like classes," Watson said.

 "So you [students] stay with the same person and they know what is going on with your financial information."

Students complain about their documents being lost or misplaced by the office.

"They lost my papers after I faxed them and handed them in their hand," Watson said.