The Omnibus

Issue date: 5/6/04 Section: News

Comment on this article

Beginning June 1 all Southwest Baptist University student workers will be required to have their pay directly deposited into their checking or savings account. Students who will be working for the University this summer or next fall need to set up for this process before they leave for the summer. It is important for those not currently using direct deposit to contact the payroll department or their supervisor for a direct deposit form.

Media Credit: Josh Lawrence After June 1, all SBU employees will be paid through direct deposit.

The reason for the change goes back to July when SBU entered into a financial commitment with Bank of America as its primary financial supporter for bonds funding the new Meyer Wellness and Sports Center. As part of this agreement, Bank of America became the University's new financial and banking partner. Among several changes the University was required to make was to switch to direct deposit. In February 2004, all full-time employees switched to direct deposit. Administrators decided to wait until summer to switch students' pay method for various reasons, according to Ron Maupin, Vice President of Administration.

"The summer staffing of students is significantly smaller than the fall staffing, and we felt that this would provide us a more controlled start to the program," Maupin said. "In addition, with the summer having a more diverse student population (e.g. the use of a large contingent of high school students), we felt that many of the more challenging problems of student banking concerns could be solved in this setting."

There are several advantages for the University to move to direct deposit. First, it helps control and lessen the costs for the University and second, it is more functional for employees because they will no longer need to visit the cashier's window during hours of operation in order to get paid.

"It's actually less of a hassle," said junior Seth Conyers. "Once you take care of it it's a lot easier because you don't have to run to the bank or pick up a check. The only thing you really need to do is set up a bank account and take care of the paper work."

Since employees of the University will now be required to use direct deposit, an employee of the University will not have the option to receive a printed check. The State of Missouri provides that employers may require all employees to be paid by direct deposit.

Maupin says the University is working hard to make this change run as smoothly as possible.

"We have done extensive work with the Bank of America and several local banks. Most students will already have checking or savings accounts, either locally or in their home towns," Maupin said. "Use of either of these kinds of accounts is acceptable; however, we have worked diligently with Bank of America, Commerce Bank, Bank of Bolivar, Mid-Missouri Bank, Union Planters Bank and U.S. Bank to have student-friendly or student-free arrangements for establishing accounts."

The information about these banks is available through brochures at the SBU cashier's window or through the payroll department in the Sells Administrative Center.

Article Tools