The University of the South Pacific yesterday re-activated student accounts for those who had paid their tuition fees in full but have other outstanding fees.

This is after several USP students were unsatisfied with the university’s decision to de-register their student accounts on Monday for non-payment of full tuition fees including other fees.

USP’s acting vice-chancellor Professor Richard Coll confirmed that the university would now allow students who had fully paid tuition fees, but have not paid some other fees such as the general service fee to sit for their examinations and resume using their facilities.

Professor Coll said the University would only release their examination results upon clearance of all outstanding fees.

In an earlier statement, USP had decided not to de-register students whose fees were paid by government sponsors and scholarship providers or through Fiji’s Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS).

“De-activation is for private students who have not paid tuition fees within the time permissible under the University policy.  Majority of these students are from outside Fiji,” the statement said.

Previously, students who had other outstanding fees continued to use USP’s facilities and sat for examinations with their grades being released upon clearance of fees.

The decision to de-register students with outstanding fees just weeks into their final examinations was a unanimous decision by the USP Senate.

This came in to effect in Semester Two this year because of high student debt which accumulated every year amounting to millions of dollars.

“Over the semester, numerous reminder emails on fee payment deadline and fee instalment payment plans had been sent out to all students,” Professor Coll said.

USP Students Association president Martin David confirmed to the Fiji Sun that he met with the Deputy Vice Chancellor yesterday afternoon to discuss solutions best fit to meet students.

Mr Martin said the USP Senate’s decision stood for students who were still de-registered and were granted another grace period until next Monday to clear their fees.

“There are some students who have been re-registered and a list is there of some students who are still de-registered who have until next Monday to pay their fees,” he said.

“The University will continue to de-register students who haven’t made any attempt to pay any tuition fees but the grace period also applies.”

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