UH continues to process bills, payments after fire in building

The University of Hawaii is still trying to catch up on payments, including stipends, scholarships and utility bills, more than two weeks after a fire caused $1.25 million in damage to a building housing financial records.

Payments that were being processed when the Feb. 12 fire started have been lost, university spokeswoman Lynne Waters said. She did not have a number for the amount of transactions delayed by the fire, but she said a "good portion" of those payments were processed and sent out last week and earlier this week.

"We are in the process of catching up on all payments right now," Waters said. "In many cases, we are dependent on the originating sources resubmitting their paperwork, and as the documentation is submitted, we are catching up."

University officials have said payroll and student loans were backed up electronically and will continue uninterrupted. Fire officials said it appears electrical wiring overheated. The blaze has been classified as unintentional.

Administrators have been instructed on how to highlight resubmitted payment information for processing. Because submitted documents were destroyed in the fire, the university is asking for photocopies of replacement payment documentation, Waters said. A fire recovery team has been updating personnel on what remains to be done post-fire.

Stipends, fellowships and scholarships are given first priority, followed by utility payments and payments more than 30 days past due, including reimbursements. Stipend, fellowship and scholarship payments "have always been" the first priority in terms of processing, Waters said.

"Typically, when mailroom staff sort through mail, these submissions are selected first and processed as quickly as possible," Waters said.

Students who do not receive an expected payment by Friday should contact their fiscal officer.