How to start direct deposit:

Fill out a card (available in payroll offices, and from most student supervisors)

Take a voided check and the card to the student payroll office.

All further paychecks will be deposited in the checking account the check is from.

Student workers will be seeing their paychecks twice as often this semester.

Previously, student employees of the university had been paid monthly. Graduate assistants will still be paid on a monthly scale. All undergraduates, however, are being paid biweekly.

This change is largely because of the desire of the Human Resources to ensure that students have enough money.

The primary reason to change the system from monthly to biweekly was that “students need money,” said Paul McCann, the director of business services and university treasurer.

A monthly paycheck can be harder to budget, McCann said.

Student employees often lack backup funding to their budget, unlike non-student employees who have reserves to last between monthly paychecks.

In exchange, McCann would like students to go to a direct deposit system. This would electronically deposit the money students have made into a bank account of their choice.

This way the students wouldn’t have to wait in long lines in Old Main to receive their checks.

The change will make life easier for the staff working on the payroll, said Linda Holloway, assistant director of payroll and benefits.

Instead of having to handle, sort and distribute checks, the Banner computer system would be faster and automate many tasks.

However, producing twice as many checks will be added work for the payroll staff because of the changeover.

But that won’t affect students.

“People will be paid in the same timely manner,” Holloway said.

Students that lack a bank account that accepts direct deposit can still benefit. They can use one of the on-campus banking associations, with no added fees to their accounts.

Staff offices will see some office work changes, Holloway said. But the office isn’t planning any cuts or hires related to the change in payment schedule.

The entire staff has been trained to work with the new system.

McCann had nothing but praise for the staff in the office.

“On Jan. 2, before we cut the first check, we were a little concerned,” he said.

But McCann said that concern was unnecessary, since payroll knew the system was going to work.

Holloway agrees.

“The staff did a wonderful job of foreseeing problems,” she said.

“It’s actually a lot better, since you’re not waiting a month to pay a bill or have some cash on you,” said Alyson Schroeder, a Taylor Dining Center worker and senior elementary education major.

Payroll Office