WFU establishes electronic account center for paying tuition, other costs online

The university has developed the Deacon Electronic Account Center (DEAC) to offer an online system for paying tuition and other costs, checking monthly statements listing long-distance telephone and other routine charges, and viewing regularly updated student account activity.

“When we started this initiative, our focus was on customer service,” said Maureen Carpenter, university controller. “We wanted to draw on Wake Forest’s experience with technology to create a system that benefits our students and their families.”

Since the mid-1990s, Wake Forest has been recognized as a national leader in using technology innovatively in and outside of the classroom. Recently, Princeton Review ranked Wake Forest second among “The Top 25 Most Connected Campuses” in the country.

Presently, payments for tuition and other student-related charges are paid by check or cash. Under the new system starting mid-December, people can go online and provide information that will enable electronic transfers from checking and savings accounts to the university. Students will also be able to make payments with their Deacon OneCard accounts.

A new billing feature of DEAC will be to include details of transactions expected to occur in the upcoming semester. This will include anticipated tuition and housing charges and financial aid awards.

“Students and parents, we think, will especially like being able to go online at any time to see a detailed account summary or view a monthly statement listing all payments that are due,” Carpenter said.

Use of the system is not required, Carpenter said, but she hopes that people will gradually find it a better way to carry out transactions and keep informed.

“I think it is faster and simpler for everyone involved,” she said. “Gradually, it will significantly reduce paper use and mailings as more people opt to conduct these transactions online.”