Paying for college tuition is no easy feat. Between saving, scouring for financial aid and keeping up with deadlines, NIU should offer a course in tuition payment.

Paying tuition recently became more difficult. The older method of paying through direct mail is now obsolete.

At the beginning of this semester, NIU adopted the MyNIU system. But kinks in the MyNIU system still remain unresolved, causing headaches for some.

According to the Office of the Bursar Web site, all students are electronically notified of fees and charges, including tuition, medical insurance, room and board and charges made to the bookstore.

That means students must check their student e-mail before the start of the semester in order to look at their tuition statement.

Around campus, a thought exists that student e-mail accounts are seemingly ignored. With professors, faculty and staff knowledgeable about student apathy, why would important documentation be sent through this medium?

Students who eventually checked their student e-mail over the summer realized they had less time than they thought to pay tuition before a late fee ensued.

“I think online billing is a step in the right direction, but informing the students more about the billing change would make this system more efficient,” said Lauren Bickel, senior textiles, apparel and merchandising major.

Paper billing statements must be requested either in person or through student e-mail.

Such an abrupt change from the traditional method of billing should warrant online billing optional, not mandatory.

The older generation, namely our parents or relatives who may help pay tuition, aren’t familiar with the MyNIU system.

“Now that the bill doesn’t come to the house, the process cuts out my parent’s involvement and puts all the responsibility on me,” Bickel said.

If MyNIU works out its glitches and does remain our main technological system, those in charge should strongly consider optional online billing. At least, a notification, a handout or even a tutorial about online billing should be provided to students and parents.

Before people master MyNIU, they should be educated about MyNIU.