Recently, University of The Bahamas launched a new online registration system called Banner that is designed to bring about increased efficiencies in student processing, chief among which are registration and online bill payment. The system became operational last Summer, initially allowing current and subsequently new students to register online and pay their tuition and fees.
For Spring 2019, students are continuing to use the online system to complete their registration. Unfortunately, we have encountered a number of circumstances which have prompted us to activate immediate contingencies. Additionally, this semester, there appears to have been an increase in the number of students seeking our deferred payment plan. We discovered that these students account for the majority of the students on the lines at the Portia M. Smith Building. Many of the students on those lines are also being processed for the Ministry of Education’s bursary and Teacher Education Grants. As you may recall, when we reopened the Portia M. Smith Building, we added an office for the Ministry of Education’s scholarship unit.
In order to increase the efficient processing of students who are completing registration for Spring 2019, we have implemented a number of key adjustments.
The deadline for the payment of tuition and fees has been extended to Monday, 7th January, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Thereafter, the process of de-registration will commence. However, the University will extend its operations into the weekend in order to complete registration for students. The student services offices within the Portia M. Smith building (PMS) will be open on Saturday, 5th January and Sunday, 6th January, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This includes the cashiers, Ministry of Education, Financial Aid and Registrar's offices. Classes commence for Spring 2019 on Monday, 7th January.
The following adjustments have also been made:-
Bill Payment
Effective immediately, students who are making full payments to cashiers should use the east entrance to the Portia M Smith building, rather than the main entrance at the north of the building.
However, students are urged to take advantage of online payment via the new Banner system. The A13 lab is still available for students needing to complete this transaction as well as to print transcripts. Students are reminded that their debit and credit cards may be limited to $1,000 per day and they will need to contact their banks to increase the amount. There is no need to come to campus if you are paying online.
Deferred Payment
Students are being processed at the Performing Arts Centre effective 12:00 p.m. today (3rd January, 2019). Tickets have been disbursed to those who were already on lines at the PMS in order to preserve their processing order at the PAC.
Effective immediately, the following are needed for the processing of deferred payments:
1. A current bill
2. The initial payment (one-third) and processing fee
3. A valid ID
4. Signature for the Deferred Payment Contract
The balance (two-thirds) of the deferred payment is due by the end of the Spring 2019 semester. Please know that the additional paperwork that was normally required for this process has been suspended.
