Resolution on Dropping Classes for Non-Payment of Tuition and Fees

RATIONALE: Dropping students from enrollment in classes due to unpaid fees prior to the start of a semester, while a necessary part of charging tuition for attending classes, can pose serious challenges to students who experience unexpected delays in availability of funds. Navigating such challenges can be more difficult when students and their families do not have a clear understanding of the process involved. At a time of exceptional calls of flexibility for students, SF state has suspended the non-payment drop process. The COVID-19 pandemic also prompted renewed interest on the part of administrators, students, faculty and staff in increasing transparency of the non-payment drop process. In the spirit of the exceptional consideration for students demonstrated by SF State’s President and cabinet in their decision to suspend the drop process in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 and the expressed interest of administrators in increasing transparency and clear communication concerning the drop process, this resolution calls on the administration to develop and publish non-payment drop procedures that will offer clarity and facilitate an opportunity for the campus community to consider best practices for our university to complete and further its mission.

Academic policies and procedures create opportunities for students and their families to consider, discuss and engage in financial planning; and

Facilitating student finances is inextricably linked to the overall student experience, and the non-payment of tuition and fees drop process is critical element of the semesterly student experience; and

Dropping students from enrollment in classes due to unpaid fees prior to the start of a semester, while a necessary part of charging tuition for attending classes, can pose serious challenges to students who experience unexpected delays in availability of funds. Navigating such challenges can be more difficult when students and their families do not have a clear understanding of the process involved; and

The COVID-19 pandemic also prompted renewed interest on the part of administrators, students, faculty and staff in increasing transparency and clear communication concerning the non-payment drop process; and

The campus community recognizes the exceptional consideration for students demonstrated by SF State’s President and cabinet in their decision to suspend the non-payment drop process in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 terms; and

The Academic Senate of SF State recognizes the intricate nature of the non-payment drop process and the value of flexibility that facilitates coordination and collaboration between cabinet areas/departments, including but not limited to: Administration and Finance (Bursar’s Office); Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office); to implement the non-payment drop process; and

The campus community recognizes the institutional difficulties that students such as but not limited to international students and undocumented students face, and that the non-payment drop process can be particularly difficult to navigate due to residency or visa status; and

The City of San Francisco being one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse cities in the United States where 1 in 3 residents of San Francisco is an immigrant, and at least 109 unique languages spoken1, and providing access to policies and procedures in a variety of languages will not only broaden and deepen student outreach and understanding, but the public facing use of multiple languages may also help increase student enrollment and lead to increased student retention; and