FSU Voice

Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: L'Asia Brown Students withdraw money from RJSC ATM machine

On January 28th, students at Fayetteville State University started receiving their refund checks. Students just can't wait until the money is in their hands for them to spend. Refund checks are issued to students if all their financial needs are met for the semester and they have additional funds left over from loans, scholarships, or grants. "Refund checks average to different amounts depending on the money left over from grants, scholarships, and loans. There really is no estimate of the average amount of a refund check," according to an official in the financial aid office.

Many students who received refund checks last semester, especially freshman, really didn't know what to do with all the money, except to just spend it. "I just spent mine on accessories, clothes and things that I needed, said Freshman Chantel Hubert. Hubert says she did put some of the money in her banking account. Students sometimes don't understand that some of the money they receive needs to be given back if it's a loan.

FSU issues two different types of refund checks; student refunds and parent-plus loan refunds. Student refunds are issued directly to the student. Students either have extra scholarship or grant money awarded to them or they took out a loan in their name. The parent-plus loan refund comes from a loan the parent took out in their child's name and the refund is mailed directly to the parent. "I just have my refund check mailed to my mother and then she puts it into my banking account where I can gain access to it when I need money for food, clothes, or other things that I need." said Freshman DeAndre Leach.

Fayetteville State University worked to make the refund check process more student-friendly. Students no longer have to manually fill out a request form for a refund to be issued. A computer now issues them automatically when a student's account shows negative funds. Students then pick up their checks from the cashier's office in the Office of Financial Aid or inside Capel Arena after their check has been issued. Students may also request their refund be mailed to them. To make sure the check isn't delayed the financial aid office advises students to meet the university deadlines and start the process early.

While parents would probably like to see their sons and daughters use the money toward paying off debt, boosting their savings accounts, or buying necessities, many students decide to have a little fun. Employees at local businesses say they can easily point out the students who just got refunds. "You can always tell when refunds come out, because many students would come in and they would fill up carts full of food and things that they necessarily do not need."

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