eBill/ePay System Updates
Update, Tuesday, October 9, 2012
UST is currently in the process of upgrading our Touchnet eBill/ePay system. If all goes according to plan, students and authorized users will experience an improved, more intuitive and user-friendly design to the system (as well as some additional features) starting November 2, 2012. Please note that in order to complete the upgrade process the system will need to be offline and unavailable to users on Thursday, November 1, 2012. We will also be updating our reference materials to reflect the new look and features of the system. The Business Office thanks you for your patience during this transition and welcomes all feedback.
Update, Wednesday, June 22
Starting this fall, all student refunds will be issued exclusively through eRefunding; no paper checks will be produced. Please click here for more information on eRefunds.
Update, Tuesday, November 30
In conjunction with the Banner upgrade occurring the weekend of December 4, the eBill/ePay System will be unavailable as of 11:45 pm Friday, December 3, through 3:00 pm Monday, December 6.
Update, Wednesday, February 17
The Business Office would like to congratulate Adam Baker, winner of the iPod Touch giveaway. Adam won a 32GB iPod Touch simply by setting up an eRefund profile. Also, a big thank you to all of the other students who participated by going online and seting up an eRefund profile! Even though the contest ended February 14th, we still encourage students to get online and set-up an eRefund profile.
Update, Friday, October 30
We are pleased to announce that eRefunds and eDeposits are now live in production in our new TouchNet eBilling and ePayment system!
Currently, there are no deposits available yet to pay through the new system. The Business Office will be working with the various campus departments that require deposits to get them available online.
And the big news regarding eRefunds…the Business Office is excited to present the opportunity for one lucky student to win a 32GB iPod Touch!
As of October 29, 2009, students have the capability to create and maintain a refund profile in the new TouchNet eBilling and ePayment system. A refund profile is simply the bank account and routing numbers for a valid U.S. checking or savings account to which the student would want any tuition refunds to be electronically deposited to (or “eRefunded”). Even if a student has received a direct deposit refund from UST in the past, a new refund profile is still required to be set up (by the student) in the new system.
As added incentive for students to go online and save an eRefund profile, every eligible student that does so between now and February 14, 2010, will automatically be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a 32GB iPod Touch! For more information about the contest or setting up a refund profile, visit http://www.stthomas.edu/businessoffice/ebilling/erefunds.html.
Update, Friday, October 9
So far, so good…and it keeps getting better!
The launch of UST’s new eBilling and ePayment system in August was for all intents and purposes a great success. Over 12,000 eBills were uploaded and several notifications were sent out to students to review their bills. Students (and the Authorized Users they’ve set up) have been making ePayments via ACH from checking or savings accounts, and some have even been using the third-party credit card option called PayPath. We are happy to report that the system is in good working order and meeting all expectations.
Of course, as with any major change, we have experienced a few bumps along the way. September was a very busy month answering questions regarding the new system. Overall, feedback was good. The top three issues were:
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Parents wanting to know more about being set-up as Authorized Users
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Some people prefer not to make payments online (yes, UST still accepts paper checks)
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People that were not aware the change to eBill was mandatory and not optional
By far, our biggest challenge throughout this implementation process has been communicating with students and parents about the change. We have mailed postcards, hung posters, sent emails, posted Bulletin articles, used this website, and even had a story on Tommie Media. If anyone out there reading this has some constructive suggestions on getting people’s attention in this over-saturated media age, then please contact the Business Office!
The next phase of our new system – eDeposits and eRefunds – is almost done testing and nearly ready to go live. While the technical piece of eDeposits should be ready soon, the Business Office will need to work in conjunction with various campus departments to revise processes in order to move deposits from paper format to electronic.
As for eRefunds, it is actually a service we already provide, but we will be transferring the banking piece to our new TouchNet eSystem. Due to this change, students will have to set-up a refund profile in the new system –even if they have previously received direct deposit refunds from UST in the past. Only students will be able to set-up a refund profile and it can be as simple as clicking a check box. See the eRefunds page on our website – once it becomes available – for more information.
The Business Office would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all students, authorized users, and others on campus that helped make this transition to online a success.
Update, Friday, August 14
Welcome to the middle of construction season and the beginning of a new academic year! The Business Office is pleased to announce that our new eBilling/ePayment project is right on schedule for completion. Some innovative individuals have even logged on and tried the new system already!
Students gain access via Murphy Online (Student Services > Student Accounts > View bill and/or make payment) and authorized users can access the eBilling system here. Either way, users are accessing account information and making transactions. Currently, students are able to view account activity, make a payment via ACH or credit card, and authorize third party users. An additional email address and a phone number for text messages can also be set-up for notifications. Authorized users are able to log into the system to complete their user profile and make payments (as authorized.)
It is important to note that students and other users will not be able to view a bill until the week of August 24th. That is when the first bill for fall semester is scheduled to run.
The next phase of our implementation is scheduled to begin soon and includes the added functionality of eRefunds and eDeposits. UST is eliminating the expensive paper refund check process and will instead use the more efficient and cost effective method of eRefunds (either ACH or credit card, depending upon original payment type.) Additionally, various types of deposits which were payable only by paper check in the past will soon be payable electronically.
We hope users find the new system to be time saving, convenient, and easy-to-use. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the Business Office.
Update, Friday, July 10
The new Anderson Athletic & Recreation Complex isn’t the only thing under construction this summer at the University of St. Thomas!
Electronic statement billing (eBilling) & electronic payment (ePayment) are coming to the University of St. Thomas beginning in the fall of 2009. All charges to student accounts including tuition, fees, housing, meal plans and miscellaneous charges will be available via Murphy online by entering your UST ID and PIN. All students are automatically registered to receive an eBill. Effective August 2009, billing statements will be produced in electronic format only.
Benefits and advantages of eBilling and ePayment include:
- Saves the university money and helps keep tuition increases lower
- Saves time for students and parents and provides additional account information
- Easy and convenient
- Private and Secure
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Available world-wide via the Internet
- Unique login allows parent(s) or other authorized payers to pay on student account
- See current account activity since the last statement
- Quick access to view and print your most recent statements and billing history
- Make payments online using credit cards: MasterCard, Discover and American Express with a non-refundable convenience fee of 2.75%. VISA is not accepted.
The vast majority of students are familiar and comfortable with the web culture. It has become commonplace to perform many daily transactions and communications via email and the Internet. Electronic statement billing brings time and monetary savings to students, their families and the university.
Please visit this website again for more information and details as they become available.