A few students waiting to make payments at the Business Office, Accounts Receivable.

New Providence, The Bahamas – The vast majority of returning University of The Bahamas (UB) students have completed the final leg of the advisement, registration and bill payment process for Spring 2019. UB anticipated a student population of approximately 4,800 for Spring 2019 inclusive of 460 new students.

On Friday, 4th January, there was a marked difference in the numbers of students awaiting servicing at designated locations in the Portia M. Smith Building and the Performing Arts Centre, which had been converted into a temporary processing station. This was after two hectic days of processing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Many of the students seen on the processing lines during that two–day period were applying for the Deferred Payment Plan. The plan permits approved students to enroll in classes by paying a third of their bill and a processing fee and paying the remainder by the end of the semester. Many others were those receiving the Ministry of Education’s bursary and teacher education grant. To date, approximately 770 of some 1050 students have been processed for the bursary and grant for Spring 2019.

Students waiting to make payments at the Business Office, Accounts Receivable.

On Friday, students continued to collect their bills and transcripts and make direct payments to the Business Office, where lines had slowed to a trickle. However, others preferred to use the convenience of online payment after having the daily transactional limits increased on their debit cards. From 1st – 4th January, 2019, there were 411 online transactions, 80 of which were made via mobile devices. With the advent of the new Banner system, which has automated course reservations, UB’s financial aid and private scholarship disbursements and bill payment, the institution has been encouraging students to use the online features. In the coming months, UB will be reviewing the possibility of online processing for the Deferred Payment Plan.

Senior administration reiterated on Friday that the Oakes Field Campus will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 5th and Sunday, 6th January to service students who still need to complete payment-related processes in time for the commencement of classes on Monday, 7th January. These include the Business Office, Ministry of Education scholarship department, Financial Aid and the Registrar's offices.  

Photos taken at approximately 2:15p.m. on Friday, 4th January.

More:
UB President on Spring 2019 Advisement, Registration and Bill Payment

Processing students for the Deferred Payment Plan.

Just outside the Ministry of Education’s scholarship office on the top floor of the Portia M. Smith building.

The scene outside the Portia M. Smith building, where lines once extended, was vastly different on Friday.