A month and a half into the fall semester, the Student Government Association (SGA) is questioning delays in financial aid distribution.
The SGA invited Jan Brandow, director of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, to its Oct. 3 meeting. Brandow discussed the issues delaying aid, reiterating emails sent by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Mel Tyler.
Brandow began her presentation by conceding student aid difficulties.
"Let me first acknowledge that I understand that some financial aid issues have been extremely frustrating for students. We know that," she said.
Brandow distributed a packet of information with common questions and answers to explain the aid delays. She asserted delays in aid this semester would not occur next semester.
"What you've experienced is a one-time setup," Brandow said. "You're not going to see delays in the spring. You're not going to see delays next fall."
However, Brandow mentioned it would take longer to adapt financial aid in the new system.
"It's just going to take us a couple of years to begin to customize it to do what we need to do to serve you best," she said.
The current Pathway system is the "basic design," Brandow said. The system will be customized to fit UMKC.
"This new system is capable of endless customizations," she said. "It will just get better and better."
The SGA Executive Council was silent during the presentation, while SGA senators asked specific questions for themselves or their council. Nicole Stinner of the School of Pharmacy asked Brandow what she should tell her peers.
"It kind of upsets me because the grad program, our funding, that funds our housing aspect of it as well," she said. "So having students wait even longer to pay rent and stuff like that, it is hard to justify that to them."
Many, however, repeatedly questioned Brandow for an end to the wait for funds.
"I cannot tell you right now … the Columbia campus is having the same issues," she said. "If I told you, that would be unfair."
According to Brandow, delays in aid stemmed from the extra time needed to set up loans in the Pathway system. Also, Financial Aid relies on information from other departments and is the last department to be able to put its business processes in place. Every bit of information must be correct, she said.
"We have to be able to pass an audit and so when we implement systems, it's not just about delivering aid to you," Brandow said. "It's about making sure everything we do is going to pass an audit so there's no doubt in anybody's mind, especially congress', that we're doing our job and that we can continue with federal aid programs, and apply for federal aid programs, to be able to give you aid."
Brandow also admitted this is not the students' problem.
"That's not your fault. That's not your problem. I know," she said. "We're going to try to deal with it and make it work. Our job is to make financial aid like it's nothing for you. And we're not perfect at it, but we strive to do the best we can."
mnhxt4@umkc.edu
