Although some NIU students had to wait up to six weeks to receive financial aid checks last year, financial aid officials say they do not foresee delays in the 1988-89 academic year.

Jerry Augsburger, NIU financial aid director, said he does not anticipate delays in processing applications for 1988-89 which occurred in 1987-88. He said some students had to wait to receive their check last year because of changes in federal and state regulations.

Changes caused delays in the computer support system setting back processing six weeks, Augsburger said.

The State of Illinois enacted a new procedure for the Guaranteed Student Loan which caused further delays because of “bugs” in the system, Augsburger said.

“Hopefully those kinds of problems won’t happen for 1988-89. “We (financial aid office) have had a year of experience and the ‘bugs’ are identified and resolved,” he said.

Between 12 thousand and 13 thousand NIU students will be receiving some type of financial aid for the 1988-89 academic year, which is consistent with the 1987-88 academic year.

However, because of changes in federal regulations initiated for the 1987-88 school year, about 2,000 fewer students received aid in that year, Augsburger said.

Bob Clement, Illinois State Scholarship Commission spokesperson, said, “As of Aug. 19, 1987, 130,000 Illinois students received $166 million for the Pell Grant.”

The Pell Grant depends on the number of students applying in Illinois, therefore, Clement said he could not estimate a dollar amount available for 1988-89.

He said the amount of funds available for the GSL is unknown because money is provided by private lenders.

Students are advised to think ahead when applying for financial aid to ensure their application will be processed as quickly as possible.

Augsburger said if students follow the financial aid application directions and read carefully, the application should be self-explanatory.

“Many of the students’ problems occur because forms haven’t been read carefully enough,” Augsburger said. Reading the forms can prevent errors which would slow down processing applications, he said.

Applications are due March 1 in the financial aid office, Augsburger said. However, this is only an institutional deadline to ensure students will receive first priority consideration, he said.

Augsburger said, “Students can apply for financial aid through an academic year.” For example, a student can apply for an entire year of aid during the spring semester provided he was enrolled in the fall semester, he said.

“Anyone who applies late puts us (financial aid office) in a bind for processing the GSL and the Pell Grant,” Augsburger said.

Students coming to the financial aid office with completed applications often expect to receive money instantly, but it does not work that way, Augsburger said. Proper paper work needs to be finished before a student will receive any aid, he said.