As the fiscal year comes to a close, S4 "Project Clean Up" has been set in motion to ensure that a "well-oiled" organization meets the challenges of the new fiscal year. This project, which started after most of the unexpected trials of the ‘opvang’ (welcome of students) were addressed, is two-fold. Firstly, it addresses the outstanding debts owed to S4 by some of its students and secondly, updating students’ information and records.
Notice and Collection of Outstanding Debts
On November 6th 2008, S4 notified several students that, according to its financial administration, have an outstanding debt. These students have all been given the opportunity to pay off the debt or propose a detailed payment plan, as was indicated in these letters.
The type of debt ranges from small loans and advances to overdue rent. In the past, S4 has given small loans to students in order to assist them out of dire financial situations. However, several of these students often do not fulfill their obligation to pay back these loans. Consequently, these loans become open entries in S4’s financial administration. Similarly, this also happens with overdue rent. In certain cities, S4 has student housing facilities so that housing for new students living in these cities are guaranteed. However, some students become negligent and do not pay their rent to S4. In the past S4 has made several attempts to resolve this matter, but has not been particularly successful because of students’ unwillingness to pay. As with any organization, S4 relies on a sound financial administration to function optimally. These outstanding debts, totaling nearly €60.000, make it rather difficult to do so.
The letters of notification have led to some mixed responses. Nonetheless, it has led to a thorough reevaluation of the financial situation and obligations for all students who have responded. In some cases, the outstanding debt has been absolved and in other cases, the amount owed has been readjusted due to the circumstances of which the debt was incurred. At the time of this press release, however, a disappointingly large number of students did not yet react. Of those who have responded, there have been a few who were truly uncivil and inappropriate in the manner in which they have tried to come to a solution. Several staff members have been verbally abused by students and at times also by some parents. At the same time it should be noted that several parents contacted S4 office and offered to pay off the debts of their children.
This experience has prompted S4 to stop granting small loans entirely to students. From now on, all students are to contact their families or banks should they find themselves in difficult financial situations.
This lack of adequate financial literacy and financial responsibility among several of S4’s students motivated S4 to organize a series of workshops pertaining to financial education, in particular, workshops on money management, the Informatie Beheer Groep (IBG, the Dutch study-finance organization), and the Dutch banking system, over the past years. These workshops are available free of charge and conducted by professionals in the different regions throughout the school year. Even so, these workshops are attended by a select few.
Updating Student Administration
The current database is being updated and soon students will receive a letter and or an email with the request for information to update their records. During the urgent inception of S4 in 2005 after the dissolution of SSNA, the current database was obtained from SSNA to ensure a smooth transition for the students at the time. Nevertheless, after operating with this database for several years now, S4 has concluded that in its current form the database no longer suits its needs and that of its students. Thus, the update of the database is not just pertaining to students’ records but its functioning and how it will best serve the students and S4 in the near future. This is the beginning of many improvements to the business processes of S4.
In the coming months, S4’s website (www.s4foundation.nl) will also be under construction to accommodate the integration with the improved database. Students will be able to update their information, as significant changes in their academic careers arise, via the new website.
Director of S4, Drs. Linda Richardson, regarding "Project Clean Up", said, "As the [fiscal] year comes to a close, we are busy cleaning up many matters that cover varying aspects of the functioning of S4. This organization was created to better serve the students and assist in realizing their dreams to complete their tertiary education in the Netherlands. We are constantly improving in order to fulfill this mandate. Our mistakes in the past have served as invaluable lessons and I am excited about what the future holds for S4 and its students, once these tools have been put in place."