By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

Despite an efficiency measure added to the deferment process this year, those students who submitted their financial aid application past the priority deadline are feeling the financial crunch.

By submitting the FAFSA after the priority deadline, a delay is created in the processing of financial aid, which in turn causes trouble for students who may face a series of late fees.

“I submitted my FAFSA after the priority deadline, and I received an email from the financial aid office saying that I could defer,” stated Berenice Gabriel, a fourth year psychology major.

Gabriel’s financial aid has yet to come in due to this delayed submission. With the deadline for the initial payment swiftly encroaching, Gabriel and many other students have filled the Financial Aid Office in hopes of deferring payments to a more reasonable date.

Deferment is used to avoid late fees and allow extra time for students to pay their current term’s bill. One third of a student’s bill must be paid by Oct. 2, 2015, or else a $100 late fee will be charged.

Paying the $12 deferment charge will save students from being charged the $100 while they wait for delayed financial aid to come in, or if they do not receive aid, to save up enough to pay the third of their bill.

Students who need to apply for an emergency loan may do so in the Business Office. These loans are for emergencies that a student may have other than institutional charges.

A separate promissory note is required for these loans. A more detailed statement of this policy is available at the Business Office.

The Financial Aid office has developed a new online payment system for students, allowing students to pay for their term or request deferment online through the WolfWeb system.

“I believe this streamlines the process for students to do their deferments,” states Darin Silbernagel, the Director of Business Services.

If students are interested in paying online rather than in-office, the process is as follows: after accessing the student menu in WolfWeb and choosing Account Summary by Term, there will be a link to the deferment and payment options at both the top and bottom of the page.

This system was created as a tool to meet short-term needs while simultaneously minimizing fees for the students.

“Students who need to defer or who do not want to be charged the late fee I would strongly urge to take action before this Friday at 5,” Silbernagel encouraged.

The second payment is due by November 1st, 2015, and the final payment for the term is due by December 1st, 2015.

The Financial Aid Office also reassures that this situation is a very rare occurrence. For those students needing more information, the Financial Aid Office is happy to assist with any questions and clarification.