December 11, 2011

One-Stop Shops for Student Services Aim to Eliminate Hassle

Lisa Billings for The Chronicle

Christopher Redd (right) is a generalist at the Virginia Commonwealth U. Student Services Center, which opened in January 2010. It combines the offices of registrar, bursar, and financial aid.

By Beckie Supiano

Richmond, Va.

In his old job, Christopher Redd saw a lot of frustrated people. When students and alumni here at Virginia Commonwealth University needed official transcripts, they came to the office of records and registration, where he worked. Mr. Redd could get them their transcripts. He could not, however, take their money. Instead he sent them to the cashier's office, several blocks away.

That kind of scenario—and the resulting annoyance—is what the university's Student Services