Banner system adopts financial aid changes

by Rebecca Cooper
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne's online student information system, Banner Web, is changing the way students perform many of their activities.

The changes to Banner Web will allow students to view their financial aid information online. Students can check the status of their financial aid information throughout the application and administration process.

"I think it's going to help financial aid be more uniform and awarding to students because it's a real time integrated process," said Leatha Webster, interim director of financial aid. "We can look at things as they are right now, and so can students."

The addition of financial aid information to Banner Web was made to meet the needs of students and increase the timeliness of students receiving financial aid, Webster said.

The government is requiring all universities to automate the financial aid information that is sent to them, she said.

"We want to be able to meet the needs of all the students in the most efficient way possible," Webster said. "We are automating the information anyway, so the natural progression is to have an online financial aid management system."

The Office of Information Technology plans to have the financial aid information available to students by February, said Tim Fraser, assistant director of administrative applications.

"It's an exciting project that will be a great service to the University," Fraser said.

"It provides an integration of student information with data accessibility and timeliness. It provides students with more information and gives them a look at data while it's being processed," he continued.

Another change to Banner Web is the addition of the graduation application.

Seniors will no longer apply on paper, and professors will no longer sign the contracts. Mostly everything will be able to be conducted over the computer for perhaps a speedier process.

The system itself will generate senior contracts.