In this edition of Trinity Talks, we’re going to get a little uncomfortable, up close and personal.
I’m blunt. Straightforward. Direct. Many would go as far as to say that I “stand on business” 100% of the time. I hate when things don’t make sense, don’t add up and I will stop at almost nothing to make something make sense. Unfortunately for me, though, this also makes me “unprofessional,” “combative,” and “rude.” You can see how this has the potential to become a problem in both my personal and journalistic endeavors.
With that being said, I’m supposed to write this month about the business office’s policies and procedures while informing you on what’s in its handbook. Unfortunately, I was unable to acquire these official items for reasons that I’m not sure I’ll ever gain further clarification on (we should all question whether these materials actually exist or not), so let me present to you guys the information that I have managed to scrounge up so I can get to what I really want to talk about.
Through my personal interactions (and research), here are my key takeaways about the business office, and how they do business:
The business office told me directly that “If I wanted my refund check in September, then I should’ve called them,” which is in direct contradiction with their student accounts FAQ page stating that “for those students who are due a refund, the process to initiate balance refunds will begin on the Monday after the second full week of classes.”
On the phone, I was told that the business office could “hold your money to be used for the next semester’s statement,” despite the previously listed policy directly from their student accounts page.
If you have a scholarship from an external company or business, and end up with an “overpayment” on your account, the business office has to “return” the excess funds to said company or business, not the student. This directly contradicts the “official policies” that can be found online on The Encounter website.
When on the phone with the business office, one of their representatives told me that they are “closed on Fridays”, but according to the student accounts website their business hours are from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Through research, it was discovered that an on-campus resident student had their refund check mailed to their home address. According to the student accounts page, they’re supposed to be “placed in your campus mailbox.”
Opting out of the student health insurance (which you’re automatically opted into) could be a reason as to why your account may be flagged and your refund check withheld. On the FAQ page, it is states, “The Student Health Insurance Fee is mandatory unless proof of acceptable insurance coverage is provided,” followed by information on how to opt out of the plan.
Through my official journalistic interaction with the business office, I was unable to receive a response from them. Thanks to my Editor-in-Chief Scarlett LaBuda calling them, I was able to receive a single page Microsoft Word document which can be found below. I encourage you to look at it there, because it is not officially published to the student accounts webpage, and otherwise unavailable to students.
When financial aid or the posting of other payments exceeds the bill resulting in a credit balance, a refund will be generated. Federal Direct Student Loans, grants and scholarship refunds are made payable to the student.
Refunds are generally “disbursed” within 14 days of application. Students are encouraged to check their account balances regularly.
Some credits may require additional review, which may result in your refund taking some additional time to process. If you have not received a refund for your credit balance after 30 days, please contact our office for assistance.
If a portion of your credit is a result of an outside scholarship check for the entire aid year, please be advised that half of the amount of the scholarship check will be held for the future semester.
I feel like it is also worth noting that the Dean of Students was CC’d on this email exchange where I only asked for policies, procedures, a handbook and details on a “review” process. Which leads me to what I really want to talk about:
The power struggles of the student. The struggle of the journalist. The black woman. The struggles that I endure as a person, period.
That’s all that I am at the end of the day: a person.
My persona may be the “bad gal Trin-Li,” however to receive the treatment that I have, and hear the things that have been said about my professionalism since starting Trinity Talks which is not in any way, shape or form “disrespectful”, “rude”, “combative” or “bad”. It is real, it is me, it is exactly who I’m supposed to be (shoutout to Demi Lovato). In all seriousness though, I draw the line at being discriminated against, and being put in a box of being stereotyped as the angry black woman.
I am a journalist, who likes to investigate, and get answers. I am a student who checks their student account regularly. I am a black woman who gets frustrated with the world, especially in this current political and socio-economic state. All-in-all, I’m just a person who likes to get answers, and doesn’t shy away at the first “no.”
This is not the opportunity for anyone (myself, administration, student, faculty,etc.) to discredit or degrade anyone for trying to tell the truth of what is going on here on our campus. I am here to serve as a voice of the student body who is tired of having to ask a million questions to get a simple answer. I’m here to let you know that how this university is going, is not what a lot of students signed up for. Of course students can transfer, but when does the university start being better? When do we as people start being better?
We need to start standing on business. Not only as a university, but as a society as a whole. Have uncomfortable conversations with those around you. Start asking the hard questions that nobody else wants to ask, but still need an answer. Get up close and personal with yourself, and see if you like yourself. I feel like we aren’t doing that often enough, I know that I wasn’t. Once you start asking questions to identify the power of asking the right questions, see how personal things get; because I know I have.
For more information on the business office and their published policies, visit its student accounts page at https://www.stfrancis.edu/about-us/student-accounts/. If you need any support or resources as a student, reach out to the counseling services on campus by calling 1-800-236-3231 or emailing eap@aah.org, sharing that you are a St. Francis student seeking support. On campus support groups are also available in the mental health wellness lounge located in Motherhouse.
Thank you for reading, and be kind to each other.
--Trinity Newell
CORRECTION: A previous edition of the USF Encounter incorrectly labeled Trinity Newell as a junior. She is a senior pursuing her CMMA degree and plans to graduate in the spring.
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