The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Commentary

Last week, the Office of the Bursar announced that it is converting to a paperless, electronic billing system. Also, as part of this change, students will no longer be charged $5 for paying with e-checks. It's about time.

With technology at the level it is now, it only makes sense to use paperless billing. It makes things easier not only for the university, but also for UConn students. Besides, today's students are used to paying bills and banking online. Sending out paper bills was only a waste of time and paper.

According to the Office of the Bursar, the decision was made for environmental and financial reasons. Almost everything about this plan makes sense. Bills can still be paid by mail, but the fact that e-checks no longer have an extra charge makes it easier for the students and parents paying on one side and those working at the bursar's office on the other side. It's less mail to open and file. Students can check their fee bills immediately after they are released, thus rendering paper bills obsolete when they're sent to students' homes days later. Students can add authorized users, so if their parents or guardians are the ones handling the bill, they can check it online.

This is also a "greener" process, as Bursar Glen O'Keefe told The Daily Campus. Not printing bills or using envelopes to mail them saves paper, and saving natural resources is something a lot of people care about. Also, it saves money because the university doesn't have to purchase as much paper or as many envelopes, and they don't have to pay for postage. While it only costs 42 cents to mail a letter, that adds up for a university with a population of more than 15,000 students. O'Keefe also said this would help the university keep tuition and fee costs lower.

The only downside to the current system is that nothing has changed in terms of paying with credit cards. The traditional payment method online is with a card, and UConn is still charging a 2.5 percent convenience fee. While working with credit cards is more expensive for businesses that accept them, the fact remains that most people use credit cards. A 2.5 percent convenience fee adds up to a whole lot with an $18,000 fee bill.

Still, this was a great direction for the university to take. Computers are pretty much a necessity for the average student. If a UConn student doesn't already have one, there are many places for them or their parents to go to use a computer - for example, the local library or one of many buildings on campus. Especially in this economy and with tuition increasing, simple ways to cut costs are always appreciated.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools