2008 Woodie Awards
Financial aid renovates for student convienence
Brandon Williams
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Web Exclusive
Big changes are occurring with the financial aid offices at Kirkwood Community College.
Rick Anderson, the executive director of Business Services, said that a little over a year ago he and Peg Julius, the enrollment services director at Kirkwood, attended a conference in San Diego put on by the National Association of College and University Business Officials. One of the segments they attended was entitled "One Stop Shop" and inspired the idea to renovate.
"When I was a student in college I was afraid of the financial office," said Chris Bowser, enrollment services manager of Kirkwood, "hopefully what we do is take away that uneasiness from students."
The business services, enrollment and financial services counters will be replaced with six individual stations where a student could receive help from a cross-trained employee.
"The whole idea is to take the counters out, make it more warm, make it more welcoming and not run students quite as far around to all these different locations," said Anderson.
Anderson said renovations should be about 90 percent complete around the end of May.
"We think it will create efficiencies for the student and probably create efficiencies for the staff too," said Bowser.
Bowser also mentioned that Kirkwood will be offering Financial Aid: 101 classes in the Gritter Room in Iowa Hall. These hour-long sessions will inform students on how to complete their financial aid application and how to accept financial aid through Eaglenet as well as answer any questions students might have.
The times and dates for the class are April 29 from 11 a.m. to noon, May 1 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., May 6 from 11 a.m. to noon and May 8 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The May 1 session is designated for students new to Kirkwood.
Rick Anderson, the executive director of Business Services, said that a little over a year ago he and Peg Julius, the enrollment services director at Kirkwood, attended a conference in San Diego put on by the National Association of College and University Business Officials. One of the segments they attended was entitled "One Stop Shop" and inspired the idea to renovate.
"When I was a student in college I was afraid of the financial office," said Chris Bowser, enrollment services manager of Kirkwood, "hopefully what we do is take away that uneasiness from students."
The business services, enrollment and financial services counters will be replaced with six individual stations where a student could receive help from a cross-trained employee.
"The whole idea is to take the counters out, make it more warm, make it more welcoming and not run students quite as far around to all these different locations," said Anderson.
Anderson said renovations should be about 90 percent complete around the end of May.
"We think it will create efficiencies for the student and probably create efficiencies for the staff too," said Bowser.
Bowser also mentioned that Kirkwood will be offering Financial Aid: 101 classes in the Gritter Room in Iowa Hall. These hour-long sessions will inform students on how to complete their financial aid application and how to accept financial aid through Eaglenet as well as answer any questions students might have.
The times and dates for the class are April 29 from 11 a.m. to noon, May 1 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., May 6 from 11 a.m. to noon and May 8 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The May 1 session is designated for students new to Kirkwood.
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