UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA

ANNUAL REPORT

Fiscal Year 2007 (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007)

DEPARTMENT OF

Student Financial Services

Name of Department Head

Tamara Lane

Name of Person Completing Report

Patricia Durrough

1*

Departmental Mission/Vision Statement (url only, required)

http://www.bf.westga.edu/EffectEval/Assessments/SFS.asp

2*

Departmental Statement of Goals, Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results (url only, required)

http://www.bf.westga.edu/EffectEval/Assessments/SFS.asp

3*

Give an Example of How your Department Used the Assessment of Goals and Outcomes to Change/Improve a Process (required)

We are now contacting students via email as a final attempt of notification prior to turning accounts over for outside collection.  Previously, we were only sending notices through the mail.  This additional method of contact has decreased the number of debtors we have referred to an outside collection agency by about 7%.  We hope to continue to see this decrease to grow as we continue with this new process.

We implemented a procedure for monitoring students’ HigherOne card status. Any student with a status of “preference inactive” is now receiving notification from our office that they need to activate their card.  Since implementing this we have noticed an increase in students activating their cards.  This will eventually save the University money since each reversal transaction for timed-out refunds cost the University $5.00 per reversal. 

We have implemented a procedure for sending students a notification to their “Myuwg” email account and an announcement to the portal to let students know when refunds are available.  This has improved communication from our office to the students by notifying them when they might have a refund available.

We have implemented a procedure for sending students a notification to their “Myuwg” email account and an announcement to the portal to let students know they still have a balance due for the up-coming semester.  This notification includes the date for which all balances must be paid to keep their classes from being dropped.  We have seen a decrease in the number of students that have been dropped each semester.

4*

General Statement of Department Condition (required)

Overall, Student Financial Services is in good working condition and should continue to perform in an efficient and effective manner.

5

Departmental Achievements

As noted in several instances above, we continue to look for methods to improve communication with our students.  Our assistant director also continues to serve on the Board of Regents RACAR committee for implementation of policy and procedures relating to student financial services.

6

Staff Productivity

Staff attended the following training and/or professional development conferences.

Pat Murphy - HigherOne User Group Conference; New Haven, Connecticut        

Tamara Lane - Georgia Summit; Savannah, Georgia

Tracey Vines - Williams & Fudge Loan Collections Workshops; Charlotte, North Carolina

Malissa Lowe - Williams & Fudge Loan Collections Workshops; Charlotte, North Carolina

7

Student Achievements

None

8

Other Awards, Distinctions, and Achievements

The Assistant Director of Student Financial Services was awarded the Business & Finance Employee of the Quarter for the 2^nd quarter of 2007 (April – June 2007).