The members of Northwestern’s class of 2006 won’t have to worry about misplacing their financial aid information – they will be able to view it online.
Starting in April, incoming freshmen who receive financial aid can view their awards on CAESAR with a valid Net ID, said Rebecca Dixon, associate provost for university enrollment. All students will be able to see their packages online in June, she said.
Dixon said putting the information online would help students who need to revise their packages or who are away from home when the paperwork is mailed.
“We will make the adaptation, if we need to, and put it online,” Dixon said. “That’s a whole lot better than telling them there’s going to be a change and mailing it to them.”
The software for CAESAR originally included a feature that allows students to view their financial aid awards online, but administrators decided not to install it because of time constraints, Dixon said.
Students eventually will be able to accept or reject their packages online, she said.
Weinberg junior Angela Chiong said the change could be helpful if she misplaces her paperwork.
“Putting it online would be convenient if it were secure,” she said.
Dixon said the security measures used to protect students’ academic records on CAESAR will be in place. Software programmers would have to be particularly careful to keep a student’s adviser from seeing financial information while viewing academic records, she said.
Problems could arise if a student’s parents wish to view the information online, Dixon said. Parents would need their child’s Net ID to view it online.
“But then you’re giving away a lot — they can get into any of your records,” Chiong said.
The placement of financial aid packages online is part of a plan to better integrate the Office of Financial Aid, Office of Student Accounts and Student Loan Office.
Students often need to go through multiple departments to solve problems such as a hold on their registration because of a late tuition payment or a mix-up with their loans, Dixon said.
“All of our staffs need to understand each other’s business better,” Dixon said.
Dixon said she is seeking budgetary approval for other measures, including hiring outside consultants to train staff members in financial aid affairs and promoting clerical staff to higher positions.
