When Tyeisha Spruiell, freshman in Business, has a question about financial aid, she knows exactly where to go.

“I go to the Financial Aid Office or to a financial aid advisor,” she said.

And when she makes a phone call, Spruiell usually expects a University employee to answer her question.

“If they can’t answer my question, I expect to be transferred over to someone who does,” Spruiell said.

However, not every college student in the country talks to a school employee when they seek financial aid advice or information. The New York Times found that although students at some schools dial a university extension, the person on the other end is really an employee from a loan company like Nelnet or Sallie Mae.

But students here do not have to worry since the University is not one of those schools.

“We do not do that at all,” Financial Aid Director Dan Mann said.

Mann said that when students dial the Student Financial Aid Office phone number, 333-0100, a University employee will always answer their call.

“The top questions are about the financial aid application process, dispersal of aid and processing of aid,” he said.

The University is a Federal Direct Loan school, which is one of two main federal loan programs. Mann said the University, because it is a Federal Direct Loan school, does not deal with private lenders or banks – the federal government is the sole lender.

Schools that are enrolled in the Family Federal Education Loan Program direct financial aid queries to lender employees as part of getting a better deal with loan companies, he said.

“They want to try to direct traffic to one, two, or three lenders so they are not working with multiple people,” said Mann.

Mann also said loan program schools like Texas Tech, Wayne State University in Michigan, Pace University and Mercy College in New York deal with private banks and lending companies. These lenders often provide services to schools such as counseling and call centers.

Students at the University have a variety of options available to them if they need financial aid information and advice.

Individual student financial aid information is available via the Internet through Banner/UI Integrate Self-Service. The Office of Student Financial Aid also offers walk-in counseling at their office on Wright Street, answers questions via e-mail, and their Web site has been remodeled for better access to information.

“We really hope it helps students,” Mann said. “We’re trying to make information available 24/7.”