The SF State Registrar’s Office announced last week that students working on a second bachelor’s degree won’t be allowed to register for classes until after all undergraduates have picked first.

Second bachelor's degree students previously had relatively high registration priority in the slot immediately after graduate students and before undergraduate students.

The change was “due to growing budget uncertainty and fewer resources,” according to e-mail sent to students from the registrar’s office. “The University's primary mandate is to students working towards their first baccalaureate degree,” the e-mail continued.

Figures from the Office of Enrollment Management show 646 students with second baccalaureate status (also known as a second bachelor’s degree) currently enrolled at SF State.

Students with second bachelor's degree status pay more for their classes than undergraduate students. At this semester’s rate, graduate and second bachelor’s degree students taking more than six units paid $354 more in university fees.

“Most second baccalaureate students are doing work in pre-med or pre-dental and won’t complete their second degree here,” said Jo Volkert, associate vice president of enrollment planning and management.

University officials delayed the start of priority registration for spring 2009 by several weeks. News of a deepening state financial crisis, including less funding for the CSU system forced SF State to reevaluate what classes it will be able to offer next semester. Priority registration is now scheduled to begin Dec. 8.