A cage-like, cramped and somewhat cluttered work environment is bothering some workers in the Financial Aid Office. Some said they think renovations are long overdue.

Workers also are worried about students. Each customer service window is two to five feet apart and some have expressed concern that conversations could be overheard.

“I think that the current setup is not customer-friendly and not friendly to those with disabilities,” said Kathy Johnson, a financial aid counselor of 25 years.

The Financial Aid Office has needed to be redone for 15 to 18 years now, Johnson said. The office was supposed to be redone at the same time as the Bursar’s office, but for reasons Johnson was unsure of, the plans were put on hold.

Desks are not ergonomically correct, said Kathleen Brunson, director of the Financial Aid Office. Desks are too high, monitors have to be to the side so students cannot see the screens from outside the office and storage setups are not working well for the office.

“It’s not so much clutter as it is working with certain storage setups and certain papers to organize as well as aesthetics [of the office],” Brunson said.

There is not a lot of usable space for workers. Financial aid counselors and representatives working with students at each of the windows need quick access to a number of papers and forms. For this, the Financial Aid Office has set up a rolling file holder to keep files with different student forms available to the representatives.

When more than one window is open, students sometimes feel hesitant to give out certain information that may be personal. The office also tends to get loud if a lot of people are there. Normally, there are four staff members on hand, two on the phone and two at windows.

“I don’t really worry about it,” said Jessica Hajek, a graduate music student. Hajek said she kids around about it a little bit with her friends and does not really think anyone will actually try to listen or pay attention.

Some office employees, however, have been feeling strained from working in their current conditions. Johnson said she often finds herself experiencing a stiff neck.

A possible injury from working at an ergonomically incorrect work station is something called carpal tunnel syndrome, Johnson said. Nerves in the wrist cause repetitive motions and the condition requires surgery to correct.

The Financial Aid Office currently has a suggestion box for employees on how to improve the current work space. One suggestion was to open more windows. The office also has taken out its old opaque partitions and replaced them with glass ones to give the office a more open feel, Johnson said.