Instead of waiting on snail mail to deliver spring semester invoices and statements, University of Memphis students can now logon to The University Web site.
"We are hoping that it will be available in January," said Carol Warren, assistant bursar. "So, we want the student's U of M e-mail account to be accessible for reminders of the new feature. Or link it to your personal e-mail address and clean out your mailbox."
Another feature of the new system is that parents of students can receive notification of tuition payment. Students can request for the e-mail to be sent to their parents.
"Many parents want to pay for the student's tuition but often don't know how much is owed," Warren said. "But we (bursar's office) cannot give out that information because of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Now, with this new feature parents can logon and see the information."
Chase Clark, senior philosophy major, questions the effectiveness of electronic invoices.
"The pin number for parents is a good idea because it makes sense for the person paying the tuition to be able to access the information,"
Clark said. "However, converting everything over to computer eliminates being able to talk to someone face to face and fix any problems."
Other students are relieved that they don't have to deal with paying tuition at all.
"I have a scholarship but it was a pain the first time I paid tuition, so maybe this will help alleviate the lines," said Lorena Ochoa, senior psychology major.
Online statements can also be beneficial for students who need documentation of their enrollment.
"Students can just print their invoice or statement out for employees that reimburse or insurance companies that need verification," Warren said.
Paper statements and invoices will still be mailed out for the spring, but not any semester after that.
"The first go-round will be mailed but we won't continue to mail them out because it's expensive," Warren said.
Students can verify their email address at http://iam.memphis.edu. New updates can be found under "What's New" at bf.memphis.edu/finance/bursar/.
