About Student Financial Services

• Confidentiality
• Mission Statement

We're Here To Help You

• The Office of Student Financial Services wants to help you find ways to finance your education at Columbia College. Information within these web pages will assist undergraduate, second bachelor's degree and graduate students. Please read the web pages closely, especially those parts addressing the application process, establishing eligibility, and deadlines.
• The purpose of financial aid is to fund, to the extent possible, the difference between the cost of your education and what you and your family are expected to contribute (EFC). It is important, however, that you realize the bottom line rests with you to pay for your education.

Mission Statement

• Student Financial Services will deliver the highest quality business and finance services, in the most efficient and effective way possible, to serve the needs of our students, faculty, fellow staff and business partners. We will:
• Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism
• Respond promptly to students, families, faculty, and staff requests
• Partner with our students, families, faculty, and staff to solve problems
• Evaluate key processes to reduce cycle time and improve efficiency
• Ensure continuous communication and regular feedback mechanisms are in place for students and staff.
• We will act with fiscal responsibility and follow institutional policies and procedures to achieve results. We will endeavor to provide accurate, timely service while fostering an open, student-centered environment.
• We recognize that our people are our greatest asset. Through listening, coaching, training and performance feedback, we will empower our people and our work teams to build a caring, student-focused environment.

Standards Defined

"Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism" top

• Every contact deserves personal attention and a caring attitude.
• Each of us will be courteous and friendly in all interactions.
  In difficult or complex situations, we will partner with the student, demonstrating a helpful attitude and problem solving approach.
• Our staff will be trained to effectively perform their job. If issues arise that are beyond our capabilities, we will communicate process and organizational limitations in a professional manner.
• We will keep our commitments and demonstrate reliability.
  If a student, faculty or staff interaction results in conflict or disrespectful behavior, we will demonstrate the competency to work through this challenge with an attitude of resolution and care.

• All requests will be responded to within 24 hours or sooner, giving status or expected time to resolution.
  All requests that can not be responded to immediately will be logged and tracked for process evaluation, status and follow up.
• We will strive for honest communication of organization constraints that may affect requests.

"Partner with our students, families, faculty and staff to solve problems" top

• When a problem occurs, staff members will take ownership of the problem solving effort to include cross-departmental coordination, and identify the root cause with a recommended solution.
• We will accept responsibility for the problem and not place blame on colleagues, other departments, or OASIS. "Evaluate key processes to reduce cycle time and improve efficiency" top
• Every area will document the business processes for which they are responsible with performance metrics and ownership for each.
• Cross-departmental processes will be identified and documented with clear ownership assigned. Students will be properly directed across departments when faced with cross-departmental issues or requests.
• Every staff member will ensure they understand the work processes for which they are responsible and provide input for improvement based on feedback and recurring problems.
• Those processes and procedures causing the greatest dissatisfaction will be the focus of aggressive improvement efforts. Feedback on improvements will be communicated regularly.
• Every staff member is empowered to suggest service improvements and are obligated to report areas, processes or procedures that require improvement and change and share in the solution.

"Ensure continuous communication and regular feedback mechanisms are in place" top

• We will develop effective communication mechanisms to keep students, faculty, and staff and each other informed.
• We will develop effective feedback mechanisms to insure student and staff feedback is collected, evaluated and used.
• Our departmental and organizational improvements in service will be driven by communication partnership involving staff, faculty and students.
• We will continuously seek feedback from our partners and input from staff and we will communicate organizational capabilities and progress on regular basis.

Confidentiality

• Columbia College complies with the Right to Privacy Act, and maintains all information in compliance with that Act.