Students who were dropped from their classes yesterday afternoon for tuition and fees have six days to get reinstated.

The bursar’s office has instituted a policy change this semester; instead of having two dates for students to settle their student accounts, one before the spring semester begins and one at the end of the second week of classes, the former has been removed.

“Student friendliness is primary,” Bursar Alicia Hughes said. “And faculty and staff friendliness as well. It was a lot of work for everybody involved, we’re moving more in line with what we feel like other schools are doing and I mean, the primary reason is just student friendliness.”

 Yesterday, Jan. 26, was the only due date this semester. Students dropped yesterday may still be reinstated into classes. To do so, one must go through the process of, most importantly, paying 100 percent of their fees, including a $50 reinstatement fee, then obtaining a receipt of a fully settled account from the bursar, taking that receipt to the registrar, then obtaining permission from the instructor of each class to which the student seeks reinstatement.

Hughes said her office hopes the change to one single date will simplify the process, preventing students who may not be on campus until the semester begins from missing the first payment date.

The addition of a reinstatement fee is a part of the policy change that has drawn mixed reaction from students.

Junior health science major Hannah Uptegrove called the fee “ridiculous,” also saying students should somehow be notified if they have outstanding fees before the due date.

 Brock Hunter, sophomore business major, however, believes that the University has done more than enough to notify students of the changes in policy.

“Everyone is like bashing it over your head what day it is,” he said. “The $50 I actually really like because I mean, everyone has a chance to know when the date is, and if you miss it, that’s your own fault and you have to pay something. I mean, you’re wasting someone’s time … All of the teachers that give out their syllabi, they even added in those important dates; drop dates, when you can withdraw with a ‘W,’ for one of your classes … So I don’t know how you couldn’t have [known about outstanding fees] because each one of my teachers so far, this is week two, each one has told me like four times.”

Students with concerns about the policy are encouraged to contact the Bursar’s office either by phone at 625-9381 or email at the address [email protected].