TERI WALTZ/Arizona Daily Wildcat Students walk down East Second Street yesterday. About 400 students were dropped for not having paid their tuition bills yesterday compared to 500 who were dropped last year.

About 400 students ÷ roughly one percent of the UA population ÷ were dropped from their classes yesterday for not paying tuition.

That is 20 percent fewer students than last year, when 500 students were dropped from their courses, said Rick Kroc, director of assessment and enrollment research.

UA converted to a new cancellation policy this year, so students who did not pay tuition were only dropped from the courses for which they didn't pay. In previous years, students were dropped from every course they were enrolled in when they had not paid by the deadline, Kroc said.

"We've tried to get word out and schedule the cancellations at a good time," Kroc said. "By this time, schedules have steadied out some."

The Bursar's Office sent out e-mails and postcards to all students who owed money to the university and were informed of the last day to pay. Notices were also put on all doors of the administration building and students were informed of the last day to pay when they turned in add forms.

"Considering the budget constraints, the university did all it could to inform students of the drop date," said UA spokeswoman Sharon Kha.

Students can still reenroll in their classes after they pay by having their teachers sign a drop/add form.

"It is possible if the class is closed students could have problems," Kroc said. "I don't think we'll have big problems with this though."

A few years ago, students were not dropped from their classes for not paying, and the result was a revenue loss for UA, Kroc said.

UA is funded by the state only for registered and paid students.

In past years, UA received about $4,000 per student from the Arizona State Legislature.

Students who pay after the 21st day of class mean less money coming to the university.

"We are in the accurate records business," said Tom Bourgeois, assistant director of curriculum and registration. "We benefit when we can report for accurate figures to the Arizona Board of Regents."

Students who were dropped from their classes will have to pay a $50 late fee plus whatever tuition was owed to reregister. After Sept. 16, students will have to pay a late fee of $250 to get their classes back.

The purpose of the pay date and late fee is mainly to clear the registration system of any students who signed up for classes and never showed up, rather than to threaten those already attending the classes, Bourgeois said.

"We assume registering for a class is an obligation to pay tuition," Kroc said.

The lines at the Bursars Office haven't had more than 4 or 5 people at one time, said Lucia Baur-Zegarski, program coordinator and assistant to the bursar.

But lunchtime crowds yesterday filled to 15.

It is possible that students could go to their classes today without knowing they had been dropped.

"Instructors don't have a minute by minute list," Baur-Zegarski said. "The Registrar's Office is doing e-mails letting students know they have been cancelled from their classes."

For questions about tuition and payment information, students can check Student Link or call the Bursar's Office at 621-3232.