Students behind on their bursar bills won't have to worry about being dropped from their classes next semester under a new plan effective next month, officials said.

Financial Aid director Billie Jo Hamilton said starting Oct. 17, students who do not owe any money on their bursar bills cannot be dropped from their classes for the next semester, regardless of when they make their first payment.

The drawback is that students cannot register for classes until their past due balance is paid, Hamilton said.

Under the old registration plan, which was established in 1983, students were automatically dropped from their classes when the first bursar payment was not received by the deadline date.

The new procedure is pertinent to all students no matter how they pay their bursar bill, Hamilton said.

"This is a university-wide policy that applies whether you are on financial aid or not," Hamilton said.

Students who do not pay the balance in full are placed on the university installment plan. The plan is divided into four payments throughout the semester, Hamilton said.

The first payment for the spring 2007 semester is due Jan. 4. If students have paid all increments by the time of registration, they cannot be dropped from their classes for the next semester, Hamilton said.

If students have overdue balances by the time of registration, they have until the end of the semester to pay it.

Bursar Jill Kirkpatrick said the old policy created a lot of problems for students, and the university heard a lot of complaints.

"When a student is dropped from their classes, it creates poor customer relations and more work for the student and the adviser when it comes to re-registering," Kirkpatrick said.

She said the change makes SIU-Edwardsville the only school in the region that cancels classes when the first payment of the semester is not received.

Brandy Junge, a senior from Chester studying psychology, said the new procedure is great for students anticipating graduation. The old cancellation policy could prevent a senior from graduating on time, she said.

"Students on the campus will love it," Junge said. "It gives them more financial leeway and a lot less financial stress."

Chancellor Walter Wendler said the new policy benefits students when it comes to the overall expense of attending college.

"It is a good, sound resolution to help students better manage the cost of going to school," Wendler said.