Washington State University-WSU
In August, officials with WSU reported a glitch in their new disbursement software that delayed payments to thousands of students. (AP Photo)

WSU students struggle to get by without financial aid payments

BY Brandi Kruse  on September 6, 2012 @ 1:49 pm (Updated: 6:29 pm - 9/6/12 )

Two weeks into the fall semester, hundreds of Washington State University students are still without financial aid as some struggle to pay for books, housing, and food.

In August, officials with WSU reported a glitch in their new disbursement software that delayed payments to thousands of students.

"Early on we thought we could have this mess cleaned up in about three weeks, it turns out its going to be about five weeks," said WSU Spokesperson Darin Watkins.

The delay means some students may have to wait until mid-September to receive financial aid.

To date, 13,250 of 14,000 students system-wide have received full or partial payments. Watkins estimates they have reached roughly 75 percent disbursement.

"There is definitely a lot of confusion," said Kaitlin Gillespie, a junior at WSU majoring in journalism. She is also editor of The Daily Evergreen, a student-run newspaper. "People were waiting in line for two, three hours and it was extremely frustrating."

Gillespie said she has received partial disbursement of her financial aid, but is awaiting roughly $4,000 in scholarships.

To help students get by, WSU has waived late fees on tuition and offered loans of up to $2,000 to help pay for housing and books. The loan amounts will be deducted from financial aid payments once they arrive. Watkins said students have taken out $1.5 million in such loans over the past two weeks.

The university has also provided emergency loans of up to $500, which must be paid back in full by the end of the semester.

Staff members at the university have written letters to landlords to inform them that students may be late on their rent.

"We do recognize the impact this has on students," said Watkins.

However, he denied a report by Gillespie and The Daily Evergreen that claimed students were forced to turn to food banks due to the delay in aid.

"There have been a lot of people who haven't had food because of the financial aid delays," Jeff Tietjen, assistant manager for family development at the Community Action Center (CAC), told the newspaper.

Gillespie reported that traffic to the center's food bank had tripled on Mondays and Thursdays as some students cut back on food expenses to save money for textbooks.

"This year they were noticing a lot more people as compared to last year listing 'delays in financial aid,' as the reason for coming in and using those services," she told 97.3 KIRO FM Thursday.

Speaking in generalities, Watkins acknowledged the "hardship" the glitch has caused for students.

"We're really sorry this happened," he said. "This wasn't something that was done maliciously or intentionally. It couldn't have come at a worse time."

Gillespie said the school is "doing the best they can."

Those students needing financial assistance in lieu of loan payments are asked to visit the financial aid office on their respective campus.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (12)


  • Add A Comment

  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    "Waaaaaaa!
    September 6, 2012 3:04 pm
    I have to pay for my books! Waaaaaaaaa! I have to pay for food! Waaaaaaaa! When am I getting my check!?!?!?!?" Whiners. GET A JOB. I did, my wife did, my son did. Enough w/ the "free" ride.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John E wrote...
    GET A JOB? I lived there 5 years
    September 6, 2012 7:32 pm
    Get a job? In Pullman, there are almost zero jobs. Studens line up for those on day 1. 16,000 students and 1 McDonalds. About 5 fast food places, a couple grocery stores. And believe me, almost all of those jobs are taken by permanent residents. Without the financial aid, students can't make it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    "WSU students struggle to get by?"
    September 6, 2012 3:10 pm
    Hey, it's a great intro to what life as a Cougar alum will be like!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Poor babies.
    September 6, 2012 3:27 pm
    I hope this doesn’t force them to cut into their beer and pot funds
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Good question.
    September 6, 2012 3:32 pm
    When wsualumn shows up...we'll ask. I'm sure he's already sent a HUGE check to help...I mean being a card-carrying liberal and all...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Hmmmm?
    September 6, 2012 3:38 pm
    I'd be really curious to know how many of those students are illegals? You know we here in SAY WA are happy to provide $$$ aid to convicted felons ( sex offenders ) and illegals...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Get a job.
    September 6, 2012 4:41 pm
    Save up and then pay for your own degree, food, and books. You might need a loan that YOU need to repay. You aren't entitled to a college degree paid for with the tax dollars taken from people who decided college wasn't for them. Why stop there? Let's grab money from the college profs and buy some tools for the builders or diesel for the truckers? It's just as asinine.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John E wrote...
    As an alum ('92), I can understand and this hurts
    September 6, 2012 7:29 pm
    The books cost more than you can possibly imagine. In 1990, my tuition was only a bit over $1,000, my rent was $175 / mo, gas was about $1, ground beef was $1 / lb. But my books for 6 classes were $500. Without help, that cost is impossible.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    "...some struggle to pay for books, housing, and food."
    September 6, 2012 8:52 pm
    Welcome!

    To the real world.

    Enjoy the ride.....

    BTW: Who couged this one?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tukwila wrote...
    and the usuall
    September 6, 2012 8:53 pm
    trolls keep advocating the downfall of America.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RBW wrote...
    No Food?
    September 6, 2012 9:32 pm
    I'm sorry but anybody who can't afford food with his or her own money shouldn't be depending on others to pay for his or her college education. I worked summers and saved up before I attended. I never had any government aid pay for my college. Unless you count a small stipend under the G.I Bill that I spent 4 years under contract to the military to run my life in exchange for during the Vietnam War. Please don't whine to me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    maybe if !!!
    September 7, 2012 4:59 am
    You learned ENGLISH

    were documented

    got a job

    quit EXPECTING everything for FREE

    you could graduate with enough smarts to correctly fill out the WELFARE paperwork

    welcome to Washington State

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }