Board of Supervisors and Southern University Struggle with Unpaid Student Balances

“If you know a war is coming, you don’t prepare for a war in war, you prepare for a war before the war comes,” expressed Board Member Dr. Arlanda Williams, encapsulating the urgency surrounding the issue of unpaid student balances at Southern University and A&M College. The University System finds itself in a tight spot as it grapples with a significant number of outstanding balances, leaving many students and administrators concerned about the financial stability of the institution.
According to Interim Chancellor Pierre, out of the 6,470 students enrolled at Southern University, only 5,900 have settled their accounts in full. This leaves approximately 570 students with unresolved balances, posing a substantial challenge for the university’s financial health and operational efficiency.
In response to this pressing issue, the university has enlisted the support of the Student Government Association (SGA) to reach out to students directly. SGA members have been making phone calls to students to provide assistance in resolving outstanding balances and to educate them on available payment options. However, despite these efforts, the problem persists, raising questions about the effectiveness of current strategies in addressing the root causes of the issue.
System President Dennis J. Shields highlighted a concerning trend where some students with scholarships or financial aid packages still find themselves facing account purges due to unpaid balances. This discrepancy suggests systemic issues in the university’s administrative processes, potentially leading to inadvertent financial burdens on students who should be covered by scholarships or aid packages.
The situation underscores the need for a comprehensive review of the university’s financial aid and billing systems to identify and rectify any inefficiencies or discrepancies. Additionally, there is a call for improved communication and support mechanisms to ensure that students are aware of their financial obligations and are provided with adequate resources to address any outstanding balances.
As Southern University and A&M College navigate through these financial challenges, stakeholders emphasize the importance of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of unpaid student balances on both individual students and the overall health of the institution. Failure to address these issues in a timely and effective manner could have far-reaching consequences, affecting the university’s ability to fulfill its educational mission and serve its student body effectively.