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Changes in UH refund system scrapped

Removal of default-to-check baffles many students

By Portia-Elaine Gant
Senior Staff Writer

In addition to the typical hassles associated with the first week of the semester, an estimated 4,000 students were left confused and waiting for refund money while dealing with a change in the University's refund system.

Prior to this semester, students had the choice of having their refunds placed into their Cougar 1Card account, electronically deposited at the bank of their choice or given in the form of a check from the University. If a student failed to choose, his or her refund would automatically come as a check.

However, the Cougar 1Card office decided to remove the check default Jan. 5 after sending out two notices of the options to students.

"If we continued to go with the default, there was really no incentive for them to choose, even if they wanted the money to go directly into their account," Cougar 1Card manager Jackie Mitchell said. "We did this not so much to promote the Cougar 1Card, but to provide a better service for the students."

But the change confused many students, and those trying to get refunds often faced long lines and trips to multiple offices.

"It's a problem when you don't know the ropes, because your money is in a lot of different places and you can't get it out," freshman architecture major Derrick Perkins said. "I had to wait in a long line in the financial aid office for about 30 minutes just to get someone to tell me to go to the Cougar 1Card office, and I still haven't received the notices that were sent out."

Senior communication major Tiffany Cowan said relaying the information to the students may have been the biggest problem.

"People sometimes don't know where to go to find information," Cowan said. "I called the University and tried to find out what was going on, but I wasn't even able to get through. That's not a good method of taking care of students who need this money to live.

"The University is quick to make sure they get information to you about paying them their money, but if the students don't get their money, they should work just as hard to make sure students know what's going on."

Studio art major Timothy Weaver was also upset at the situation. Weaver, a graduating senior, said students interested in receiving their refund checks were asked to provide their names and Social Security numbers on a public list in the bursar's office — a lack of security that concerned him.

He was also concerned by what he called the "pitiful" and "cold" tactics the University used in handling the situation.

"I hope that in the future, the University of Houston will handle financial aid more appropriately by not using the money we borrow or are awarded as a lure to institute new University policy," Weaver wrote in a statement he sent to Mitchell, President Jay Gogue and The Daily Cougar.

After seeing students' reactions to the change, the Cougar 1Card and bursar's offices restored the default-to-check system Friday.

Bursar Gene Gillis said the original intent of the change was to inform students of their options, but he said he and Mitchell regret the decision to remove the default.

"We didn't know, really, how many students out there had not received their cards or had lost their cards and taken no action," Mitchell said. "If we had known the impact, the default would not have been removed."
 

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