Students Anticipate Rapid Refunds

---

   As early as 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24, University of Arkansas – Monticello students began lining up for their refund checks at Harris Hall in the Adams Room. 

   Prior to this year, students received checks through the cashier’s office on the second floor of Harris, but university officials moved the location to the first floor of Harris Hall in an attempt to simplify the process of disbursement for students.  

Photo by Nancy Stephan

Harris Hall - Students line up at Harris Hall to receive refund checks during the first disbursement Jan. 24.

   Nevertheless, at noon when the first checks became available, students found the halls chaotic. People lined the halls front to back, left to right as far as the eye could see in hopes of gaining their refunds as quickly as possible.  

   UAM student Robert Forrest arrived at Harris Hall at 9 a.m., Wednesday to wait for his refund. He became the first person to receive a check at noon.  

    “It’s like waiting in line for a ‘Star Wars’ ticket,” Forrest said. “Only getting your refund check is much better.”  
 

Picture by Nancy Stephan

Harris Hall Parking - Not a parking place within walking distance of Harris Hall was available during refund check disbursement hours.

   After four years experience, senior Sarah Reed opted to wait and come back later rather than stand in line and fight the crowds.  

    “It’s so crazy in there,” Reed said. “They’ve called in the campus police.”  

   When asked why she didn’t have the university mail her refund in order to avoid all the confusion, Reed said her permanent address is in Texas and it seemed senseless to change her address at this stage of the game. 

   Assistant Controller, Lindy Hester said the university printed over 1,500 checks for refunds to students on Jan. 24.  

    “We changed the location to the Adams Room in order to better serve the students and improve the disbursement process,” Hester said. 

   In the future, to receive checks quicker and easier Hester offered the following suggestions: 

·        Students can contact the cashier’s office by telephone, fax or online through Campus Connect and request their check be mailed to them. 

·        The cashier’s office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. 

·        If students paid with Visa, Discover, MasterCard or American Express, their account will be credited. 

·        If the refund is from a Plus loan, the check may be payable to the parent and mailed to the address on file with the financial aid office. 

·        Students should remember that checks become available after 12 p.m. on the designated date, but not only at that particular time.  

   Hester said it took over two hours last year to disburse the refunds to students.  

    “We are in the process of arranging for checks to be direct deposited into student’s accounts, and this semester we combined some of the Pell Grant refunds with other refunds,” she said. “Hopefully this will help speed up the process.”