Delinquent UWI students face deregistration after February 28

Students with outstanding tuition fees at the University of the West Indies (UWI) are now facing deregistration as the deadline to clear 2010-2011 first-semester arrears has passed.

Deregistration applies to undergraduate students, as postgraduates are not affected at this time.

The number of students facing deregistration is unknown, and according to the university, the number will not be tallied until the end of February when payment-plan deadlines have been exhausted.

According to the campus registrar, if students have payment-plans in place and have been honouring those plans, they will have until February 28 to clear their first semester fees.

"We want to see you have either paid in full or have made a reasonable payment plan and have been honouring that payment plan," Dr Camille Bell-Hutchinson, university registrar, said Monday.

The UWI will also be making exceptions for students on scholarships or bursaries, those who have less than $20,000 in arrears, and those who have been approved by the Students' Loan Bureau for loans.

No compulsory leave

In addition, while students who reside on campus were expected to pay their hall fees, they will not be placed on compulsory leave of absence for outstanding residence payments.

While students are expected to make payments on outstanding first-semester tuition, Bell-Hutchinson said the pressure for making second-semester payments is not on.

"Semester one ended in December. The deregistration date would have been October 2010, and we decided to give them a little stay," she said.

The deadline for second-semester payments is March 7. Students with outstanding balances at the end of March will not be allowed to sit exams.