Despite long lines and student confusion, the Financial Aid Office has been able to award more financial aid this fall than ever before, thanks to computer upgrades and processing changes.

“The good news is, on the new system, more students were awarded financial aid than in the history of Sac State,” said Craig Yamamoto, director of Financial Aid.

Yamamoto said that thanks to the new automated processing system, so far an additional $10 million was awarded this fall. He said 2,190 more students received aid this semester, as well.

Despite the improved system, lines at the Financial Aid Office have been unusually long this semester, and students have been confused about the new Financial Aid process.

Long lines were made even longer last week when nearly 3,000 students were asked via e-mail to come to the Financial Aid Office immediately.

The urgent e-mail was sent on Sept. 18 to those students who had applied for financial aid, but still hadn’t received an award letter.

“Failure to take prompt action on this matter within the next five days could seriously impact your financial aid,” the e-mail read.

Teresa Lerma from the Financial Aid Office explained that lines were longer than they needed to be, because some of the e-mails went out to students who did not actually need to come into the office. Those students had received their award letter last week, but because the computer system was unable to sort out those recent transactions, they were sent the e-mail anyway.

Nicol Ruggiero, a freshman nursing major, was one of many students who received the e-mail. She said she stood in line for more than an hour on Wednesday, was told she needed to see a counselor to solve her problem and had to stand in line again Thursday to do so.

“It’s all new to me, and I feel completely lost,” Ruggiero said.

Brittany Butler, a senior child development major, said that while she did not receive the e-mail she has had trouble contacting the Financial Aid Office to complete all the forms she needs to.

She said she tried calling the office during the first week of school. When that was unsuccessful, Butler said she stood in line for more than an hour before being told that she needed to fill out a simple form.

Thursday she was back in line again, this time to see a counselor.

“They need more employees,” Butler said from her place in line. “They have six people at the window to take your money and two people at the window to give you money.”

Yamamoto said he understands that students are not used to the new Financial Aid process yet.

Computers are set up in the lobby of Lassen Hall for students to log into My Sac State. “We’re teaching them how to use the process,” he said. “By taking the extra time and having them to log in to My Sac State, I think that it won’t be as traumatic next time.”

Yamamoto said it is crucial for students to check their messages at My Sac State and keep their contact information updated.

“We have communicated all through the summer,” Yamamoto said. If students haven’t checked their e-mail, they’ve missed important notes about documents they need to turn in before they can be awarded financial aid.

Once all the required documents are in, Yamamoto said it can take four to six weeks for them to be processed.

“We have a pretty good website on the process and time lines students need to be aware of,” Yamamoto said. He said students looking for more information should go to www.csus/faid.

“One thing we will try to do to help the process is to get (students) to turn in all their stuff before they leave for the summer,” he said.

In February, a financial aid awareness campaign will coincide with the release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Yamamoto said this semester is not too different from other fall semesters. Lines at the beginning of the fall semesters are usually worse than in the spring. He said the Financial Aid Office always expands its office hours during that time.

Today is the last day this fall that the office will have extended office hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. After today office hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the Financial Aid website.

Drop-in counseling is available today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Normal counseling hours will be from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday except Wednesdays.

Lacey Waymire can be reached at [email protected].