By Alexa Santana
The Financial Aid Department provides students with the resources they need, but students are not taking advantage these resources.
Students failed to attend the last financial aid town hall meeting, that provided important information about the upcoming school year.
Starting in the fall there will be adjustments to the Board of Governor’s Fee waiver that many students use to pay for tuition.
Students will need to keep a 2.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters or earn at least half of the units attempted to qualify for the 2016-2017 BOG waiver.
The town hall meeting was located in the parking area outside of E1.
The department offered free pizza to students who attended; yet hardly any students were there.
Folders with loads of financial aid information were also being provided.
Beside me, there were about five others.
It was shocking to see how many students seemed uninterested.
It’s understandable if students had class or work, but if students aren’t attending these meetings, they will never know about these updates.
Students have a responsibility to keep up-to-date with what goes on on campus.
“We have presentations like this every once in a while where students can come in and see what’s going on. If they don’t come in, we don’t know what else to do. We can only do so much,” Financial aid technician Carmelo Navichoque said.
As a student I’m constantly surrounded by my peers who have problems with the Financial Aid Department.
Although most problems have to do with reimbursements, it’s not entirely the Financial Aid Departments fault.
It’s the student’s responsibility to check the student information system for any missing documents.
I know people personally who don’t check it at all. By the time they check with financial aid, they’re frustrated that they have to wait even longer for reimbursements.
“We ask all students to check their LACCD email account. If the school or our office needs to let them know something right away, we send them an email,” Navichoque said.
At a California State University, it was the students’ responsibility to check when documents were due.
If for any reason a document is submitted after the due date then reimbursements will be delayed.
For something as simple as reimbursements, students have to be responsible.
Students can also find helpful information on the ELAC website.
Financial aid advisers were there at the meeting to answer any questions students had.
Not only are meetings provided for new information, but they’re there to clear any confusion students have.
It’s never too late for students to get informed.
If for any reason students feel that the workers at the counter are not helpful, they have the option to talk to the director, supervisors, and financial aid technicians.
Financial Aid office hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.
Staying in contact with the department can be a great help to students and can prevent any further confusion.