Someone identifying themself as a FAMU student this morning ripped the university on the Doug Banks morning show. The DBMS, as you may recall, is nationally syndicated by ABC Radio and is one the show is one of the top-rated syndicated urban programs in America.
On this morning's "Too good to be true" segment, the FAMU student called in to say that back in the Spring of 2007 he received his financial aid on time, direct deposited into his bank account. That alone was a shocker for him. However, the bigger shock was that FAMU deposited $6,000 into his account.
The young man said he thought the $6,000 way to much, so he called finacial aid and expressed his concern about the overpayment. The financial aid office told him the money was his to keep, so he paid his rent up, got his car repaired, and took care of some other expenses.
So just last week, he received a letter from FAMU stating that he was overpaid $2,500 and that he must repay the university before he's allowed to register for fall classes.
Long story short, the student doesn't have the money to pay.
I feel this kid's pain. The same thing happened to me not once but twice. The first time, I had to pay for a Certified Check to repay the university and they REFUSED to pay the charges due to their error. I WAS PISSED and vowed to exact some small measure of revenge if it ever happened again. The next time I played it a bit different. I put the money in a 3 month CD and timed it so that I returned the money to FAMU the first day of classes. I was in grad school so worrying about my classes being full was not a concern. I made about 20 dollars in interest. It wasn't much but it was a principle. When the University came looking for the money I let them know where it was, how much money I expected to gain from it, minus their expenses from the FIRST infraction, my profit and when they could expect the principal returned :-) That letter was such sweet satisfaction, I wish I could have seen the faces of those involved. I never experienced overpayments/underpayments under Humphries or Gainous. ONLY under Cassie...
ReplyDeleteThat's what I would say. You know they gave you too much money, so slap the extra money in a CD or even in a passively traded mutual fund and keep the interest for yourself when FAMU comes a callin'.
ReplyDeleteThing is, FAMU just got some negative national publicity. Luckily Doug Banks is pretty boring and insignificant compared to Russ Parr and TJMS.
It sucks that a guy put us on blast like that but that is what FAMU can expect if we keep screwing up in the post civil rights era. People have options these days, and all these horror stories about the operations of HBCUs will take its toll on the quality students' attending our schools.
I always tell my students: get things in writing, get names, keep dates, make copies of whatever and place everything in one of those "accordion folders" (becuase the infractions will continue and the folder will be stretched to the limit by the time they graduate) and create a general chronology of events in an effort to be able to deliver documented evidence of your case when such snafus arrive (and arrive, they will).
ReplyDeleteNow, that student know that he was overpayed and would eventually get caught. Everyone knows if your financial aid award letter says one thing but you receive more than that they will come after you.
ReplyDeleteSince he thought it was necessary to go on national radio and embarrass famu I don't have any sympathy for him. He can take his nicely repaired car to go job hunting since his rent is paid up; since he does not have any expenses use all of his earned income from the job to pay famu back the money. FAMU is right don't let him register nor should they release any of his transcripts to attend another school. He's going to realize that he is really in a rut and its in his best interest, education wise, to pay the money back.
We are all adults here and know that money does not come freely...unless you win the lottery. While its awful a mistake like that was made on FAMU's part we should know right from wrong. Let this be a lesson for him and others that you will not continue your education at famu if you got to lie, cheat, or steal. Cassie's no longer here...we have a new sheriff in town and he's not playin. So, get to work you thief! Maybe doug banks can hire you on a paid internship for the fall semester so you can pay the money back? Or, go over to the construction site for the teaching gym or high school and get a job working construction for the fall semester.
I suppose this is Humphries' fault too, right?
ReplyDeleteyeah, you need to keep a record of these things. It has been common knowledge that FAMU could give you extra money and ask for it back later, so you do NOT want to go about spending anything extra right off the bat.
ReplyDeleteGet things in writing and you can sue the school to let you register or transfer.
Yea I feel his pain but this is nothing new and as some have said before you know what you suppose to get oppose to what you do get. So do the math if it s not right then you need to be cautious. This no different than any things else if you go to the atm and ask for 20 and get 40 and it didn’t take 40 out your account you better take that extra 20 back to the bank or they will you charged with theft. Also students need to stop taking that money and blowing it on BS. Financial aid is not free money normally and you will have to pay it back. I know too many students that get it to just buy a bunch of nonsense and have nothing to do with their education.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time financial aid needs to be completely revamped, retooled, and most importantly increase in size cause it’s not adequate for the amount of students it has to manage over
This moron is obviously one of the students that Castell called a "2". Employers overpay employees all of the time. When the error is discovered, they deduct it from the employees' paychecks. This idiot should have known that FAMU would discover the error and request repayment. Here's hoping that he never returns to FAMU. We certainly don't need students like him running around FAMU. Damn he's stupid!!
ReplyDeletehe knew those $$s weren't his. he knew it when he called the financial aid office. there's not telling what was told to him. it could have been a student worker who responded to his inquiry. who knows? doesn't matter, though. what matters is that he knew from jump that the money was an overpayment, and that he shouldn't have gone out spending like he was crazy, fixing his car and all of this. i have absolutely no sympathy for him. he knew what the deal was when he was spending like a madman. plus, with all of this stuff happening at famu, he should have been overly cautious about seeing extra $$ in his account. boy, what a dummy.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that FAMU students do not know how to write ENGLISH. When are we going to recruit students that should be at a university and not back at grade school doing remedial courses.
ReplyDeleteGood on the student for taking the money. We at FAMU deserve to be treated this way every time we screw up. It is too bad he couldn't have made more on the excess money before giving it back.
They asked you all back for the money? I left FAMU with a graduation gift of $2000, and I was on a full ride. I love FAMU. Don't worry you all I will give it back as long as they take care of their finances.
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing for students to remeber is to educate yourself first concerning financial aid. I, as a student know there is a limit and cap on financial aid I am eligible for. I read the literature thats available in the financial aid office and I continue to visit the different websites to keep myself current on the changes that may occur (NSLDS). If I don't do it for myself who will. Its unfortunate the reputation our financial aid office has, but I'm no fool because this is not new news. I still have my aid in the bank and will carry that positive balance throughout the fall as well. Its all about money management and learning how to seperate my needs from my wants. That same stuff will be available after I graduate and get a full-time job.
ReplyDeleteI would never put my school out like that. We have enough problems to deal with and we don't need any extra negative attention. I hope and pray his comments didn't tarnish and discourage other students from applying to FAMU. I'm a proud rattler and I wouldn't go anywhere else. Financial Aid will get better (I pray) as soon as the administration in charge recognizes there is a problem in that office; and realize that the majority of my fellow classmates are dependent on financial aid.
How can this student be at fault when he called to verify? So, you are telling me FAMU is the victim here again? I'm so tired of FAMU playing the victim. What ever happened to accountability? Why do the consumers constantly have to double check and correct FAMU. If this were a grocery store, cleaners, or shoe store... We would have stopped shopping there long ago. I love FAMU dearly, but how many times can you place the blame on EVERYONE else. We accept too much, and expect too little, as Blacks. His story is familiar to SEVERAL, trust. How many mistakes should we allow FAMU to make? These stories are not myths, they are based on fact. The incompetency of FAMU employees is leading to the demise of the institution. Not the students. Not the media. Get over it!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you justifying the incompetence of our Financial Aid Department for this kid keeping FEDERAL dollars that he isn't legally entitled to?
ReplyDeleteThis kid needs to be traced, and needs to get the money he OWES back to the School ASAP.
True ... There is absolutely NO excuse for this kid to have received an incorrect amount from the jump from the FA Office - and whoevere is at fault needs to be dealt with as well ... But to even try to defend this kid in his wrongdoing is simply irresponsible ... and inexcusable.
I'm sure the federal and state agencies are watching FAMU with great interest. When you receive government funds there are procedures of accountability to be followed. The years of overpaying and underpaying and insisting (when students try to rectify the situation immediately) that FAMU numbers are right and "not to worry" is not smart business. This is the type of stuff that gets you on probation or worse.
ReplyDeleteI'd be kinda skeptical of a $6,000.00 financial aid check. But thats just me.
ReplyDeleteBuddy took the money and placed D's on the Chevy now he is complaining to Uncle Doug. That money should have sat in an account to pay for some classes. I too got free money from FAMU and they never asked for it back. The money was used to take summer classes so that I can get the hell out of there.
ReplyDeleteRattler pride.
I would have been skeptical too, but if they told me it was mine. Then I would gone on a spending spree too.
ReplyDelete^^^ Exactly, why did they say it was his. He should have tape recorded it!!
ReplyDeleteIt's both of ya'll dumb asses fault for cashing a check you know good and well you were not owed. You should have listened to common sense when it told you "this is too much money, go investigate fool before you start spending."
ReplyDeleteOverpayments/Underpayments is not the issue, learn to listen to the voice of reason in the future.
^Are you serious??? Overpayments and underpayments are not an issue? Lord's willing, you understand the inaccuracy of your statement.
ReplyDeleteUnderpayment and overpayment is not the issue? So.....
You be the employee who receives their check a week late or more, the student who is nearly evicted b/c their financial aid comes late, or a university on accreditation probation b/c millions of dollars are missing.
Please rethink your response. If you are going to call someone a dumbass, at least prove that you aren't one yourself!
I am an old FAMUan. I worked for the state of FL for more than 30 years in the FS, Med and AFDC program. It did not matter who made the mistake the receiver always has to pay back. If this student would have received the proper home training then he would have realized stealing is stealing. He knew that the amount received was not the amount shown on the letter. I can assure you that if he is overpaid by the state or Federal, he could have called or gone in daily but he would have still had to pay back the money. The young man took something that did not belong to him and he had to accept responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading all of the young people comments
This is such a common issue. It happened to my best friend and my sister while at FAMU and it happened to me in grad school at FSU. I am not sure where the problem lies, but it is not just a FAMU problem. I never had any financial aid issues at FAMU, but at FSU I have had a ton.
ReplyDeleteUnless the laws have recently changed, it is not stealing when someone gives you something and insist that you are entitled to it. Plus, anyone who thinks this is minor has never tried to "give" back an overpayment or straighten out an underpayment. FAMU is the institution that chose to return a 1.5 million dollar grant to the National Sciences Foundation rather than give an accounting. Until more specifics is available, I have to believe that proper accounting could solve 99 percent of these problems.
ReplyDelete8/01/2007 10:04 AM
ReplyDeleteAny non freshman knows you can't and should not depend on a financial aid refund check to pay your rent.
bottom line is that that student knew the $$ was not his. and if he had any proper home training as well as any common sense, he would not have assumed that things would "work themselves out." he knew the $$ wdid not belong to him, yet he spent it anyway. serves him right to have to repay. forget FAMU issuing too much money; he should know about all of the madness and mayhem surrounding the university's finances and should have been slightly, only slightly leery of cashing $$ that he knew was probably a mistake in being awarded. i bet if you check out his background, there are other incidents that say he is not a good, up-standing young man. bet on it. he probably is a hot-head and has a track record to prove it. folks don't just wake up in the morning and suddenly decide to do stupid stuff. i dare to suggest that there is prabably a pattern of bad-boy behavior behind his tirades. stupid a**.
ReplyDeletefamu has the worst financial aid office of ALL universities...its run very inefficiently...maybe they need more qualified/professional, non-lazy, caring people!!! Its amazing you actually got to talk to someone! Most people receive voice recordings, voicemail, and full mailboxes...and then if they do pick up they "pass the buck" as people laugh and talk loudly in the background!!!! We have got to do better...i am VERY disappointed at the lack of professionalism. I would not recommend anyone to come to this instituition!!!
ReplyDelete11:30--who gives a F what you won't "recommend"? Who are you suppose to be? the unofficial pr person for the university????
ReplyDelete