Scrambling to collect a sudden 30% fee increase weeks before classes begin, Cal State Fullerton kicked out more than 900 students who had hadn't paid the $230 on time -- threatening the graduation of some seniors.
But after angry calls from students and parents, many of whom had paid their fees earlier and knew nothing about the increase, university officials are allowing the students into class.
"Maybe we could have handled it differently," said Ephraim Smith, Cal State Fullerton's vice president for academic affairs. Fullerton's problem shows how the 23 Cal State campuses had to struggle to collect a fee increase -- made necessary by the state's fiscal crisis -- that occurred after some students had already paid their bills. The increase came so suddenly, university officials say, that many campuses had no time to mail out notices and were forced to rely on the Internet and telephone calls to get out the word.
"We sent the students an e-mail message" that many may not have received, Smith said. "We probably should have sent them by regular mail."
At Cal State San Marcos, students who don't pay by 5 p.m. today will be "disenrolled." The deadline has been extended from Aug. 6. Students who don't pay will still be able to enroll Sept. 2, when school starts, but there is no guarantee their classes will be open, said Paige Jennings, a campus spokeswoman.
She said students were sent a postcard and an e-mail and that the deadline was posted on the university's Web site.
Most other Cal State campuses, however, are allowing students who paid the original fee but not the increase to continue with classes, as long as they pay by the next term.
At the Northridge and Long Beach campuses, the fee increase isn't due until Sept. 30. Students who don't pay their bills by the deadline can continue attending classes. But they will not be allowed to enroll for the spring semester until they pay their balance.
Cal State San Bernardino, on the quarter system, is using the same tactic, not allowing students with unpaid bills to enroll in the winter quarter.
Some campuses, such as Cal State L.A., didn't begin registration until after the trustees had increased the student fees, so there is no need for a supplemental bill, said school spokeswoman Carol Selkin.
Because of spending cuts, Cal State trustees on July 16 approved the fee increase, increasing the average undergraduate cost to $2,544.
