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Students, parents will no longer receive billing statements, emergency loan forms by mail
University says paying online is more environmentally friendly
By Carlos Alvarado
The South Texan |
|
Beginning August 1, students at Texas A&M University-Kingsville will no longer receive billing statements or emergency loan forms through the United States Post Office.
The university's Business Office will begin sending billing statements via the Internet using the Blue and Gold Connection which will allow students to just be a click away to see transactions and make payments.
By making the switch between the U.S. Post Office and the Internet, online billing is not only helping the environment by ceasing the billing statement paper and carbon emergency forms, but it will also help students by allowing them to make payments at home as opposed to standing in line.
The system will send a notification to the student’s university email account each time a transaction has occurred.
Parents of students can also make payments on an account, without jeopardizing the student’s privacy.
They will have a separate pin number that will allow them certain privileges to access an account.
If a parent has more than one student attending the university, they can view and make payments on separate accounts using the same pin.
“This is something we have been trying to do more efficiently,” Business Services Manager Patricia Hayes said. “Online billing is just a part of it; automatic emergency loans, direct deposits, and other parts will benefit students.”
Blue and Gold will be the way to access online billing and other features.
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance for Visa and MasterCard places a lid after a certain amount, but since the university is using Touchnet, a third party company, it has a higher security measure allowing students to be more secure while making transaction.
“Total security for students by industry standard and university,” Tina Livingston, senior financial analyst, said. “Transactions are secure and refunds are as well, we don’t see anything but the last for digits of the card number.”
The security installed is SSL 256 encrypting allowing students to pay the whole amount or create a regular installment.
Currently the university has one authorized by the state, a three part payment, but will have other options in the near future.
Payment by check over the web is an advancement that students and parents can authorize as well.
“Mailing checks have always been an issue,” Hayes said. “Sometimes they wait until the deadline, now they can get online and pay online.”
The two other phases will be implemented later on next year and a postcard will be sent during sometime in the Fall semester to remind students.