Although the Office of Financial Aid faces the large responsibility to serve all students, some recently reported errors on its part extend too far beyond the pale. It is understood that this time of year, amidst the shuffle of acceptance letters and registration forms, the office faces stressful working conditions and a high volume of materials to process. But many managerial mishaps have now resurfaced, which the recently announced and commendable expansions to students’ financial aid packets cannot fix.

We have applauded the University’s commitment to meeting the financial needs of the students, particularly during the current economic climate. In general, the University’s pledge to continue a need-blind admissions process is commendable. But the University must recognize that increasing the number of aid recipients in turn means expanding visibility and accessibility through which students can reach this aid.

So far, the OFA has fallen far behind in this respect, as recent errors provide an alarming report on the efficiency in 203 Day Hall. Most startlingly, the office sent congratulatory e-mails to 25 rejected students who were placed on the wrong listserve, sending messages that read: “Congratulations on your acceptance to Cornell University! Our records indicate your financial aid application is currently incomplete.”

This mishap has been attributed to both “human” and “coding," both of which may have been forgivable had it not been the second time in Cornell history that such an error had occurred.

Indeed, in March 2003, a similar mistake had 550 previously rejected students receive a letter that read, “Greetings from Cornell, your future alma mater! Congratulations on your acceptance into the class of 2007!" In this instance, too, the office claimed that the mistake was due to a “systems coding error.”

Simply put, mistakes such as these violate the basic decency Cornell owes its applicants.

Beyond pointing fingers and getting angry, however, the issues at hand point to the broader notion of effective communication. In the future, the OFA must overcome all difficulties managing the internet and — more importantly — develop an effective means to communicate in a smooth, efficient manner with students.

The forms and materials the office handles are among the most daunting for incoming students. The FAFSA, CSS Profile, Cornell Aid Application and multiple supplemental forms require much time and effort to complete effectively. While some help might exist far away in the confusing hallways of Day Hall, it is not easily accessible and often very slow to come. And with budget cuts limiting the number of staffing positions across the University, we fear that services available to student may only get worse.

Each April, when students find themselves in a confusing sea of financial paperwork, the Office of Financial Aid should take the role of a reliable, friendly and approachable navigator. While providing more funds for students to attend Cornell, we hope the University will also provide the necessary support through which students can easily access the means through which to receive these funds.