The newest members of the Drexel community, our incoming students and their families, are visiting our campus this month for orientation. As they explore our campus, they will also learn about our unique programs, including our new electronic billing system that will begin in the fall 2006 term.

As Philadelphia’s technological university, Drexel consistently develops innovative ways to improve academic and administrative services for our students, faculty and staff. In 2004, Drexel was one of the first universities in the country to institute an annual billing system. This streamlined approach made it easier for students and their families to make their financial plans to meet their educational expenses for the entire year. Implementing a paperless system is another way for Drexel to further enhance our tuition billing system.

The eBill system is secure and convenient. It will allow students to receive billing statements in a timely manner. Instead of waiting for their tuition bills to arrive in the mail, students will receive an email at their Drexel address when their new eBill is ready, linking them directly to their Drexel One account, where the eBill can be viewed. Students can also designate one or more authorized payers — parents, guardians, employers — for their accounts and grant these payers permission to view the bills and make online credit card payments.

Not only does the eBill system provide an instantaneous, worldwide connection to a student’s current bill, it also makes for easier recordkeeping. Students and their authorized payers will have 24-hour access from their computers of up to 12 months of billing history.

The new eBill system is in keeping with Drexel’s StudentsFirstSM goal of providing our students with exceptional customer service. In adopting the new system, Drexel joins many colleges and universities from across the country that have successfully made the transition to paperless billing. I am sure that all of our students will appreciate the ease eBilling will bring to the payment process.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President