SF State students have one more deadline to remember, as the class registration process is about to change next semester.

The two-tier program, as it is being called by the Registrar’s Office, will take effect in the fall 2007 semester, and it will limit the amount of units that can be taken in the first of two priority registration periods.

Students will first have the opportunity to register for eight units, whereas previously students were able to sign up for 12 units during his or her sole priority registration period. The time of the later priority registration is still determined by the number of units accumulated.

“The old process was one opportunity to register based on total units earned, and it hurt sophomores who didn’t get a lot of their classes,” said Suzanne Dmytrenko, the registrar at SF State. “We decided on eight units to make sure that students get at least two classes.”

The early priority period will be between May 14 and 25, where students will decide which two classes they critically need. They will then have to pay their fees by July 13, or their classes will be dropped. The final priority period will be between July 23 and Aug. 3, and will allow undergraduates the opportunity to add up to 19 units.

Graduate students will be able to add 16 units during this later registration period, although all students should note that if they have any holds, they cannot register for any classes.

“It’s good for those first two classes and good for the short term,” said Krysti Specht, a 21-year-old dietetics major. “But having to go back later, it has potential to be a hassle.”

The idea for using exactly eight units was hatched by the Facilitating Graduation Task Force, which was charged with finding solutions to help students graduate from SF State faster.

In addition to changing the registration process itself, one of the new recommendations includes degree roadmaps, which explicitly lay out the necessary classes for graduation in each major. It is expected that the roadmaps will be completed soon, in anticipation of the new registration process.

One advantage that the new system presents is that it allows students to meet with department staff before beginning the class. This gives those who know what they are enrolled in the chance to talk to professors beforehand, and sort out any concerns or questions that they may have.

Most students remain largely unaware of the changes that are scheduled, but when informed of the plan, remain somewhat skeptical.

“Their intentions are to help the sophomores, and it’s going to help the sophomores,” said Ileana Cabrera, a junior psychology major. “But the juniors and seniors that want to get out of here, they’re going to be held up.”

Individual concerns surrounding the new registration process abound, with many students unsure of why the changes were implemented, and what it means to them personally.

“I really do think that they should help us that are about to graduate,” said Cintia Guerra, a junior international relations student. “We’re so desperate to graduate, while freshmen and sophomores they really don’t know their major and sometimes are taking classes that they don’t even need.”

Currently, notification of the new scheduling process is being circulated through the mail and e-mail, and the Registrar’s Office is working on utilizing the Web sites MySpace and Facebook to make sure students know about it.

Students are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office immediately if they have any inquiries about the new system, and there is a registration helpline for students adjusting to the process. Dmytrenko urges students to clear any holds immediately, pay all fees on time and visit the registrar’s Web site frequently. The registration helpline is (415) 338-3333.