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Ginaveve Pepin, a freshman studying architecture at UNM, said she was charged by the University for a summer class that she didn’t have to take. When she went to the financial aid One Stop office at Mesa Vista Hall to clear up her account, she said she felt uneasy.
“I feel just really weird, because normally as people, we stay around and we listen to other people’s conversations naturally,” she said. “You think someone else might be listening in.”
Pepin said One Stop should provide a more private setting where students can discuss their problems more comfortably.
“I know a lot of people who just find it uncomfortable to talk about their financial status out in public where everyone’s just listening and overhearing,” she said. “I’ve had to talk to them in that office … They should make a more private setting for those who feel uncomfortable doing that.”
But students who don’t want to discuss their financial matters in public at One Stop can do it privately, UNM officials say.
While students can walk in and discuss their finances at the financial aid One Stop office, there are options to ensure privacy, said Brian Malone, director the student financial aid office.
“If a student decides that they don’t want to meet right there, there are offices right behind that front counter,” he said. “They can meet in an office right there if they want to have more privacy. And if they want to meet with supervisors or something along those lines, they can always make an appointment.”
But Malone said he doesn’t know whether it is well known that students can make private appointments for financial aid.
“It’s more a matter if a student were to ask,” he said. “It’s not specifically advertised, but it’s not not advertised, either.”
One Stop opened in 2009 and is located in Mesa Vista Hall.
Malone said students can make appointments with supervisors to meet at the center, or at the Student Support and Services Center at the intersection of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Boulevard. He said the location depends on what is most convenient for the student and supervisor.
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“We don’t get a ton of requests for appointments, but myself, our operations manager and such will be with students all the time,” he said. “It’s usually on an appointment basis.”
Students can usually make appointments with supervisors via email, Malone said. He said students can also schedule a meeting at One Stop.
“Generally (the One Stop staff) would try to assist them first, and then if it needs to be an appointment, it could usually be coordinated,” he said. “We’re all on instant messenger, so they can be in touch with someone … and then we can arrange it like that. Or they can give an email (address) to arrange it with them directly.”
Malone said One Stop is supposed to assist students with a variety of problems.
“The idea with One Stop is that you’d be able to go in there and get help with your admissions and registration and financial aid, as well as if you need to be directed somewhere else, such as advisement,” he said.
Registrar Alex Gonzalez said the staff at the One Stop is trained to help with a variety of issues.
“They’re cross-trained, so they can answer any question regarding financial aid, registration or admissions,” he said.
Gonzalez said he also meets with students by appointment to address problems they may be having. Malone said he wanted to make it clear that it is his job to serve students, so he is willing to meet with them for appointments.
“We’re here to serve students,” he said. “That’s our primary mission. So basically, we’re here to answer questions and to be a resource for students. The answer is not always going to be an answer they like, necessarily. But we’re here to work for students.”
