MONICA SZAKACS — News Editor
Students planning to pay next semester’s tuition with a credit card will be tacking an additional 2.5 percent convenience fee onto the total.
The Board of Trustees for the CSU system approved the change, effective Oct. 1, to allow the university to allocate a greater portion of tuition fees toward student instruction, programs and services.
Last year, Southern reported paying $1 million in fees as payments came in via credit card. The fees were paid directly from tuition revenue, something the university is attempting to avoid this year.
Students and authorized users can continue to pay online with debit cards as well as electronic checks free of the convenience charge. Student accounts may also be paid in person by cash, check or debit card at the Bursar’s office. Credit cards will no longer be accepted in person.
Payments can also be mailed to the office. Flexible payment plans are still available.
Southern will use the TouchNet PayPath service to process credit card payments. The service is part of the eBill Suite of tools students currently use to make online payments or view statements.
Some bank debit cards, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, have chosen not to participate in such online debit transactions. Additionally, Southern will not be accepting Visa credit cards as a method of payment.
