ALBANY — The financial aid office at Linn-Benton Community College is buried under a mountain of applications as it fights to disburse scholarship money to students.

“Our applications are up as much as 23 percent,” said Assistant Director Elaine Robinson. “We’re dealing with it.”

Enrollment at LBCC is up 8 percent from a year ago, with a total of 10,463, including 3,031 full-time students and 3,735 part-timers.

The rest are taking noncredit classes.

She said processing the documents has fallen behind and files are still coming in.

“Normally the process takes between four and six weeks, but the current environment is typical when things get tough financially. People return to school,” she said.

To help deal with the deluge and push files through as quickly as possible, the financial aid office has temporarily closed its doors on Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. That time has been devoted exclusively to completing the process and getting money distributed to students. The office has also been putting in time on weekends.

“We apologize to the students, but we’re on top of it,” said Robinson.

The LBCC business office has been waiving late fees while the financial aid office catches up.

Files are processed by three advisers, including one newly hired, and Robinson said that one retired adviser has been helping part-time.

“We still need to handle normal duties as well,” said Robinson, who admitted the financial aid office didn’t expect the increased numbers.

She said files are processed according to completion date. She also said the problem is not unique to LBCC.

“It’s happening at almost every school, Lane, Chemeketa and all over the state,” Robinson said.

She couldn’t predict when the office would be totally caught up.

Robinson said students can check the current status of their financial aid through the online student information system which is accessible 24 hours a day, or they can stop by the office or call 917-4850.