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| 04-05-2002 | Previous edition: 04-04-2002 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Office offers online paymentBy Laura PelnerSpecial Projects Editor A new tuition payment option created by the Bursar's Office should help reduce the number of encumbrances and cancelled class registrations students suffer each semester. Purdue-pay, a new online payment system on SSINFO, allows students and their families to pay tuition, fees, housing charges and deferred fees electronically from a checking or savings account. "This is an electronic society and becomes more so every day," bursar Richard Wells, said. "Lots of people are used to paying lots of bills using the Web. People are used to web-based products. It was time for us to do something like this." Wells said he encourages people who've had problems with late payments in the past to use Purdue-pay. The feature was posted on www.ssinfo.purdue.edu March 25. Since that time about 10 payments have been made electronically and dozens of new accounts have been set up. Wells said that thus far the system is working well. Students who opt to pay tuition through Purdue-pay can authorize up to five different people to pay fees on their behalf. Students and payers can also set up three distinct accounts from which to draw money. To allow people such as parents access to financial records, students must give online permission to each user. Even with that permission, payers will have access only to financial information, not grades or academic history. "Students are always in control," Wells said. "…Nothing happens without a student's OK." Purdue-pay does not include a credit card payment option. Wells said that for the time being the online service is Purdue's alternative to credit card payments. When users register for Purdue-pay, they are required to submit a bank account number and routing number. That information is sent to Mellon Bank, which sets up the account and handles the electronic funds transfer. Bank account information is not stored at Purdue or housed on Purdue's server. Wells said the University was particularly interested in security when designing the site. For example, to access information each user needs an ID and password. "It may be kind of scary to some people," Wells said. "Some people will still want to write a check but we're hoping this will be well received." For people who like to plan major finances in advance, Purdue-pay offers the option to future-date payments. According to Wells, payers can specify a specific date for a certain amount of money to be withdrawn and the computer handles the rest. If, when the date arises, the payer does not have enough money in the specified account, the bank acts as if a check has been bounced. Purdue-pay won't eliminate paper records. Wells said the bursar's office would still send paper invoices to all students and it will also send e-mail confirmations to those who use the online service. Wells said Purdue-pay is relatively easy to use and a lot of technical support is offered with it for users who aren't tech savvy. He said there's a frequently asked questions section of the site that can help users with basic questions. The Purdue-pay option is located on the left-hand toolbar of the SSINFO Web page under "financial." There is also a note on the SSINFO Web page to help new users set up an account. Brenda Shea, student body president and junior in the School of Liberal Arts, said this new payment option is great for students and it's been a longtime coming. She said she thinks it will be especially helpful for out-of-state students. "I'm pleased to hear that it's a new option for students," Shea said. "Anything that makes less paperwork for students and is something they have access to 24 hours a day is an added bonus. "It's more convenient for students and parents," she said. "It's progress and I hope we can soon use credit cards also." Printer-friendly version |
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