Easing the transition: Some tips for students

New students and those returning to the university for classes beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, can take advantage of the following tips and general information to make their transition to classes this fall a little easier:

• Use the touchtone system during off-peak hours — before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. — when registering, adding or dropping a class, says Registrar Monty Nielsen. The system allows registration 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It may be shut down for regularly scheduled maintenance on Sunday mornings before noon. If registering during peak hours, plan for a few extra minutes because of heavy usage. The number is (608) 263-2222.
• To change class sections, visit: http://registrar.wisc.edu/registrar/. The site contains a printable course change form. Changes in class sections cannot be made by touchtone, Nielsen says.
• A reminder: Tuition and fees for fall semester must be paid by Friday, Sept. 22. Bills will be sent during the first week of classes in September to students’ billing addresses, although tuition can be paid prior to that through the Bursar’s Office, says Bursar Cathie Hanlon. For details, visit: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/bursar/.
• Use Extended Access to Student Info, known as EASI, to keep your address up to date. To access EASI, visit: https://www.ps1.doit.wisc.edu/EASI/. Even if a student doesn’t receive a bill, tuition and fees must be paid.
• Take advantage of electronic communication to check the status of your financial aid application, says Steve Van Ess, director of student financial services. Students can e-mail his staff at finaid@das.wisc.edu. Staff will respond within 48 hours. By using e-mail, students can avoid busy telephone signals or standing in line.
• Financial aid refunds will be mailed starting Wednesday, Aug. 30, Hanlon says. It usually takes about three weeks before students receive refunds after accepting their Stafford loans, the most common form of financial aid. The Bursar’s Office will contact each student by e-mail if a signature is needed for a financial aid check. Most financial aid is sent to the university electronically and is first applied toward tuition. After tuition is paid, refunds are sent to students’ mailing addresses.
• Students waiting on late financial aid checks and finding themselves short on cash should talk to a student loan counselor at Student Financial Services. They may be eligible for cash advances on their financial aid. The advances, which range from $300 to $500, are repaid when the university receives the financial aid.
• Check e-mail daily for updates on important student-related information and changes. University Communications, working with campus student services offices, plans to produce a weekly e-mail newsletter for students that will provide updates, news and online resources for students.