Book vouchers spark student uproar

 
Last semester, students were in an uproar after being notified through e-mails and phone calls from Southern University informing them of an overpayment in their refund checks.
Due to an error that occurred in the Banner data system, the money from students’ book purchases at the SU Bookstore did not get taken out before the checks were disbursed.
According to the university’s website, www.subr.edu, Banner is an integrated information system made up of finance, human resources and student modules.
Banner was implemented to allow users 24-hour access to university financial information, to manage personnel information across the SU system and to allow faculty, staff and students 24-7 online access to the information they need including financial aid data, course information, class rosters and class availability.
According to Demetria George, bursar at the Comptroller’s Office, since the students are unable to pay back the overpaid amount last semester, the deduction would be taken from the spring semester’s refund checks.
“I may as well wait on my refund check because they don’t give me all my money,” said Paige Myers, a junior fashion merchandising major from Baton Rouge.
Another student, Airanee Galmon, a sophomore apparel merchandising major from Baywood, La., said she received a book voucher but did not get her remaining balance.
Galmon stated that she only spent a little over $300 in the bookstore last semester.  She said she had a $100 at least left from her voucher and it did not return to her refund.
According to the Financial Aid Office, refund checks this semester were disbursed starting on Feb. 10.
Financial Aid advisor Lawrence Buggage said in order for a student to receive a book voucher, their financial aid must be enough to supply a voucher.
“It is covered by your refund,” he said.
According to Buggage, most students that receive financial aid are eligible for book vouchers.
“You must have enough funds to secure it,” said Buggage.
Buggage also stated that over 2,100 students received book vouchers for the spring 2012 semester.
“Once we issue it, it is up to the comptroller’s office to collect it,” said Buggage.
​When students receive their book vouchers and take them to the bookstore to be processed, the bookstore then sends the information to the comptroller’s office.
According to the information released by the cashiers in the comptroller’s office, students that were overpaid during the fall semester last year, they were given an outstanding balance on their accounts in the Banner system.
“I remember the students complaining about that,” said John Dyar, SU Bookstore manager.
Dyar stated that there were many students asking him questions about the overpayment on their checks.  He stated that he knew nothing of the matter.
With the error that occurred in Banner that did not properly deduct the students’ money from their account for their books, the university was unable to pay the bookstore their money last semester.
According to Dyar, the university has a contract with the bookstore for students to get book vouchers to purchase their books early.
Book vouchers are issued at certain dates so that students are eligible to purchase books with money from their refunds.
With the bookstore being in contract with the university, students that receive financial aid are given a $500 stipend, only if they are eligible, to purchase most of their books.​