Re: bursar-l: Direct Deposit Encouragement

Hi Lissa. From U of WA (written by our most knowledgeable adviser, Kyra).
We are at about 87% using direct deposit.

  The University of Washington Student Fiscal Services' Office has taken
the approach that being pro-active, especially with new students, is the
best way to encourage active participation in Direct Deposit. Using this
approach, we've been able to maintain a consistently high percentage of
students on Direct Deposit: around 86%.
         Every incoming Freshman is required to attend an information
session on SFS services (presented by SFS staff members) during their
Summer Advising and Orientation (A & O) program. For many of these
students, this is their first introduction to life here at the University
of Washington. We highlight Direct Deposit during one section of the SFS
presentation, starting out by listing the advantages of signing up for
Direct Deposit, and ending by walking them through the relatively simple
process of signing up for Direct Deposit online. We are also a required
part of the new Parent/Family orientation. We give the families the much
the same information as we give their sons and daughters; knowing that
even if the students may not have listened to everything word we said, in
most cases the parents are hanging on our every word! In addition to the
new Freshmen and Parent/Family orientations, we bring our presentation
with information about Direct Deposit and other SFS services to a wide
range of new student orientations, including Graduate student orientations
and orientations for students entering specific programs (whether they are
academic programs or a program like WISE (Women In Science and
Engineering). After the orientation "season" is over, we work to meet with
departments and other groups to meet with continuing students to talk to
any students who may have missed our information sessions. We partner
with our process partners and groups on campus in any way we can to get a
chance to speak out about Direct Deposit.
         We also reach the students through written information and
materials. We have Direct Deposit cards and posters that we give out to
both students and people who work closely with students (this group of
people ranges from Resident Advisers in the dorms to Academic Advisers).
We meet with Advisers and others through out the year in a one on one
sessions to help them learn about SFS services and answer students
questions like, "How do I get my money to pay for my books"; and also so
that they can make these materials available to their student populations.
         We include information and instructions on Direct Deposit on all
of our general handouts, like our FAQ sheets. We recently took the most
pertinent information on the FAQ sheet (including Direct Deposit
information) and condensed it and put it on colorful bookmarks to give out
to students. They seem to like them -- handy for the textbook-reading
student *and* informative!
         Finally, the information on our website compliments and highlights
the information we give out at orientation and in print.

-------------------------------------------
Kyra Worrell
UW Student Fiscal Services 616-0305(voice)
Outreach 685-2942(fax)
--------------------------------------------

***************************************************************************
Ruth Johnston, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Treasurer,
Student Fiscal Services and Financial Management Quality Improvement
U.W. Financial Management, Box 351248 Seattle, WA 98195
phone: (206) 685-9838 fax: (206) 685-7690
Financial Management home page: http://www.washington.edu/admin/finmgmt/
SFS homepage: http://www.washington.edu/students/sfs/index.html
***************************************************************************

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007, Perrone, Lissa wrote:

> Hi All,
> We've been hovering at about 45% direct deposit for fin aid refunds for
> the last year, and want to boost that number higher. What good ideas
> can you share on how you encourage direct deposit on your campus?
> Thanks!
> - Lissa
>
>
>
>
> Lissa Perrone
> Associate Director/Bursar
> Office of Business Affairs
> Oregon State University
> (541) 737-6127
>
>
>
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Received on Wed Sep 26 08:06:36 2007