DEREKH FROUDE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Veterinary science freshman Jena Hicks waits in line yesterday afternoon in order to pay her account balance in full at the Bursar's Office in the Administration building. Last year, UA administrators reinstituted the policy of dropping students from any course they have not paid for in full.

By the end of today, up to 1,500 students who have not paid their registration could lose their classes.

The policy of dropping classes for those who have not paid by the deadline was reinstated last year. UA students could remain in classes even with outstanding balances in 2000-2001.

"Some folks need a deadline to respond to, which is unfortunate, but our records show that students pay more promptly when there's a deadline," said Jean Johnson, associate controller of the Bursar's Office.

The Bursar's Office went back to dropping classes partly because the university was losing money under the old non-cancellation policy.

"Every semester there was an increasing percentage of students who didn't pay," said Randy Richardson, vice president for undergraduate education.

Richardson estimates that keeping students in class who didn't pay their tuition on time cost UA between $500,000 and $1 million. The state Legislature funds UA based on the total headcount of students enrolled on Sept. 16.

UA loses funding ö about $4,000 per student in years past ö for students who don't pay in time and aren't counted as enrolled.

The Bursar's Office advises all students to log onto Student Link and verify that their account balance is paid in full in order to avoid cancellation.

The crowd of students paying registration and other bills at the Bursar's office held steady yesterday, Johnson said.

As of Saturday night about 1,500 students had yet to pay tuition, Johnson said.

She expected that number to drop significantly, but added she doesn't expect lines to run out the door today.

The new policy may actually help out some students.

Students who cancel their classes, whether by dropping out or by not paying, will receive a 90 percent refund until the end of the day.

Under the old policy, students who registered at orientation but never attended and never cancelled their classes stayed enrolled for the entire semester. Thus, they were accountable for the entire tuition payment.

"People that enrolled but never came really got hit hard," Johnson said.

Students who have not paid for part of their registration will have some classes dropped, up to the value of the amount they have not paid.

Students still waiting to receive their loans can visit the Office of Student Financial Aid about temporary, emergency loans.

Students can call the Bursar's Office at 621-3232, but if 10 people are already on hold, callers will get a busy signal. Students can also pay online at Student Link.