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Southern Announces Changes to Student Account Payment Options

Effective October 1, 2011 - Southern Connecticut State University announces policy changes that will provide students with a greater array of secure payment options and enable the university to allocate a greater portion of tuition fees toward student instruction, programs and services.

Credit CardStudents and authorized users will continue to be able to pay online with debit cards‡ as well as with electronic checks and credit cards. The use of debit cards and electronic check, is free of any fees and allows individuals to use funds directly from their bank accounts. Unfortunately, the credit card payment method has become prohibitively expensive; last year, the university incurred nearly $1 million dollars in such fees which were paid from tuition revenue. Given these challenging economic times, we are no longer able to justify this expenditure of funds.

At the same time, Southern recognizes that many students and families appreciate the convenience of using a credit card. Therefore, rather than eliminating payment by credit card as an option, the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System approved a 2.5% convenience fee to allow each student to choose the best payment option to meet their individual needs, while also allowing the university to appropriate a greater portion of tuition money toward the core educational mission of the university. Consequently, effective October 1, 2011 the university will use the TouchNet PayPath service (which is part of the eBill Suite of tools students currently use to make online payments or view their eBill statements) to process credit card payments while assessing a 2.5-percent convenience fee.

Beginning October 1, 2011, the following payment options will be available at Southern Connecticut State University:

  1. CREDIT CARD. American Express , Discover, and MasterCard credit cards will be accepted; Visa credit cards, however, will no longer be accepted.* Credit card payments will be processed on SCSU's behalf through the TouchNet PayPath payment service (this service is part of the eBill Suite students currently use to make payment and/or view their eBill statements) that has been certified compliant with credit card security regulations, ensuring continued security for students and authorized users' financial data. For all credit card transactions SCSU will assess a 2.5% non-refundable convenience fee. Note: payment by credit card will no longer be permitted when paying in person.
  2. DEBIT CARD. Debit card payments will be permitted, without assessment of any fee.
  3. ELECTRONIC CHECK. Electronic check payments will be permitted, without assessment of any fee. 
    NOTE: Account verification may take up to 3 business days and available for eCheck payment.
  4. IN PERSON. Student accounts may be paid in person by cash, check or debit card at the Bursar's Office during regular business hours. While credit card payments will no longer be accepted for in-person payments, we are pleased to provide computer kiosks located adjacent to the Bursar's Office, at which credit card payments can be made. Of course, the non-refundable convenience fee outlined above will apply.
  5. BY MAIL. Students and families can also mail check payments to the Bursar's Office:

          Southern Connecticut State University
          Bursar's Office
          501 Crescent Street
          New Haven, CT 06515

In addition to these payment options, Southern will continue to provide students and families with installment payment plans. These flexible payment plans allow tuition charges to be distributed throughout the semester, helping students and their families fit these costs into their monthly budgets.

‡ Some bank debit cards (e.g. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank) have chosen not to participate in such online debit transactions; please check with your individual bank.

* Due to Visa restrictions, SCSU will not be able to accept Visa credit cards as a method of payment. Credit card payments can be made online and cannot be made over the phone, by mail, email or in person. Students and authorized users should make alternate plans to allow for this change in payment options.