Bursar's policy hurts those dependent on financial aid

Editor,

I'm writing to let readers know about the most recent collection tactic employed by the Bursar's Office.

As I understand the writing on the wall in the Bursar's Office, if a continuing student has a balance of less than $200 on a bursar's account, they must show up in the Bursar's Office on Dec. 10 to request that the balance be held until spring financial aid posts.

The student may then register for spring classes. The Bursar's Office policy will not permit payment arrangements on anything less than $200. I believe this policy discriminates against students who depend on financial aid to pay for school - primarily minorities, women, students who come from poor families, students who are physically challenged and older students.

This policy undermines all efforts at retaining students. It is unbelievably frustrating for a continuing student to have to wait until the last minute to try to register for the classes necessary to complete a degree program. There are only a few chairs in and outside the Bursar's Office, and it is physically painful for me to have to stand for hours on a concrete floor waiting my turn to beg the bursar to let my $63 charge ride one more week.

It is humiliating and unnecessary. I do not approve of it. The answer is simple: restrict the charge dates to the first two weeks of the semester, hold on to the $300 limit until the charge deadline has passed, collect all charges and pay out the balance. If extending the charge date has anything to do with the profitability of the Bookstore, the Bursar's Office may have to opt for higher ground.

Joy Raab-Faber

UNM student