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Waiting for aid answers

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Waiting for aid answers

A 60-student line awaits those trying to stay up-to-date about their financial aid

By Adrian Rodriguez

A message for the hundreds of students hoping to secure financial aid money this semester: get to the back of the line.

Although 12,000 students have already received their financial aid awards, hundreds more must wait behind 60 other students at any given time before being helped at the financial aid office, located on the second floor of the Joyal building.

The wait takes two hours, students say, and that goes for students who show up before it opens at 8 a.m. and those who show up in the afternoon, until it closes at 5 p.m.

And they all have different problems.

Sheena Ferreira, a freshman living in the residence halls at Fresno State, said she was assigned to live in a Ponderosa suite — something she would enjoy if she could afford it.

But she said she never asked for the suite, and the cost to stay — $1,751 — was simply too steep for her personal budget.

“ They’re going to have to throw me out,” she said.

Two hours after waiting in line, she said employees told her financial aid would cover the cost of the room, although she would have to find a way to pay for it and get reimbursed later.

Sandra Morales said she waited for two hours and another half-hour inside the office to find out whether she could still receive financial aid with more than the number of units they allow. She said they listened to her problem and said she should get an answer soon.

Another student walked down a flight of stairs after leaving the office, saying: “They are very helpful. They really know their stuff.”

That’s the reaction Maria Hernandez, director of financial aid, said she hopes students will have after they leave the office.

“ We want to make sure they don’t have to come back in,” Hernandez said. “Students have been extremely patient, which we appreciate.”

She said students usually start lining up as the start of classes gets close. There are a few more students than usual, but Hernandez said she thinks students might still be worried that the PeopleSoft software is still clogging the award process.

“ That’s not the case this year— but we still face challenges,” she said.

She said she expects lines to stay long for another two weeks. Four employees help students at the front desk and other employees are ready to help others when needed.

There isn’t any single problem that most students are in line for, Hernandez said. Some students need to bring in more documents, some have to clear mistakes on their student records, while some students simply want to know what the status is on their money.

“ Two hours is much too long, but we don’t have anyone to pull,” she said.