Under the direct student loan program, students now receive their loan check through the mail instead of standing in a four-hour-long line.

Also, students no longer have to go through the financial aid office, then find a lender for the loan and then go to the bursar office. The direct loan program credits the loan money directly into student’s bursar accounts and a credit balance is delivered to students in the form of a check.

Pamela Britton, director of financial aid, said she attributes the smooth running of the financial aid offices to the direct loan program.

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We are completely up to date, Britton said. Everyone who has applied for financial aid has been processed. We have not been in this position at this time of year ever before.

Before the direct loan program Britton said it was not uncommon for the financial aid office to be three weeks behind in the processing of financial aid forms.

Last year we had 8,864 financial aid packages prepared and this year we have 10,341, Britton said. We have $21,011,631 credited to student accounts in the form of grants and loans. It’s extraordinary to have that much aid in student accounts.

Jeff Holder, SIUC Controller, said they have processed 5,076 checks totaling $7,710,497.67 during the first refund period and will continue to process checks twice a week during the first two weeks of the semester..

The checks are getting turned around as quickly as practical, Holder said.

Britton said the direct loan program is easier for students and parents to understand than the previous loan program because students had to go through a lender and an agency to guarantee the loan.

Rick Steudel, assistant director for financial aid, gave the financial aid presentation at the new student orientation, and said he has been doing the presentation for six years and has never had the response from parents that he received this year.

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Parents usually tell of frustrations they have but we got only positive responses and no negative comments this year, Steudel said. The direct loan program has freed up time, and we are no longer dealing with the complexities of the former loan program.

Brian Strawn, a junior in zoology from Alexander said the direct loan program is much better than the old way, and he would rather the University stick with this new program.

We get our checks a few days slower, but it’s better than waiting in line, he said.

Stephanie Coyne, a sophomore in art from Naperville, said she also likes the direct student loan program better.

This way saves a lot of hassle, she said.

Norma Swinford, a supervisor in the bursar office, said the direct student loan program has made things easier for the bursar office because of the shorter lines, but they are receiving a lot of phone calls.

Students are calling and asking when and where their checks are going to be mailed, Swinford said.

Britton said students should be aware that although SIUC now has the direct student loan program, it is in jeopardy in Congress.

Congress is looking at cutting the direct student loan program and students need to let their Congressman know how they feel, Britton said.