Policy 6.1.1 —
Tuition and FeesPolicy 6.1.2 —
Tuition Residency RequirementsPolicy 6.1.3 —
Self-Supporting Course FeesPolicy 6.1.4 —
Tuition/Fee RefundsProcedure 6.1.4.1 —
Return of Military Tuition AssistanceI. TUITION AND FEES GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Tuition and fees shall be charged in accordance with state statutes and according to schedules established by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges (“State Board”) and/or the College’s Board of Trustees (“Board”). The State Board establishes a general and uniform semester tuition rate for curriculum students. The State Board establishes both a North Carolina resident rate and a nonresident rate. Whether a student is a resident for tuition purposes shall be established in accordance with N.C.G.S. § 116- 143.1 and -143.3 (for purposes of Armed Forces personnel and their dependents). For more information concerning residency requirements, see Policy 6.1.2 – Tuition Residency Requirements. The rate for auditing a course is the same as taking the course for credit.
II. TUITION AND REGISTRATION FEE WAIVERS
The North Carolina General Assembly and the State Board have promulgated statutes and administrative regulations dealing with authorized groups of students with respect to tuition and registration fee waivers. For information concerning tuition and registration waivers, see N.C.G.S. §§ 115B-1, 115D-5, 1E SBCCC 800.2 and the North Carolina Community Colleges Tuition and Registration Fee Waiver Reference Guide on the website, www.nccommunitycolleges.edu.
To obtain a tuition and registration fee waiver, individuals must establish proof of eligibility as a member of an authorized group. To be eligible for a tuition or registration fee waiver, trainees enrolled in Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) courses must obtain a letter of sponsorship from a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency prior to enrollment and uphold the terms of the sponsorship until completion of the BLET course. The College must maintain documentation of the sponsorship on file. The College shall not grant tuition and registration fee waivers to students enrolled in self-supporting courses. The College shall charge the student the self-supporting fee or use institutional funds to pay for the self-supporting fee on the student’s behalf.
Annually, the President shall report to the State Board the amount of tuition and registration fees waived by the College on behalf of individuals who are members of authorized groups.
III. LOCAL FEES
A. Authorization
Pursuant to 1E SBCC 700.1, the Board annually or as required adopts the local fees. The College shall deposit receipts derived from local fees in an unrestricted institutional account. The College will only use the local fee receipts for the purposes for which the local fee was approved. The President shall annually report all required local fees to the State Board. A list of current fees are located in procedure 6.1.1.1.
B. Local Fee Waiver
The following groups are exempt from the Student Activity Fee, the Instructional Technology Fee and the College Access and Parking Fee: 1) all students who are exempt from paying tuition and registration fees; 2) continuing education students, except as otherwise listed herein; and 3) individuals who participate only in meetings and seminars organized by the College (i.e., a group of people gathered for a one-time basis primarily for discussion under the direction of a leader or resource person).
Students will be required to pay applicable Specific Fees and Other Fees.
C. Authorized Local Fees
1. Student Activity Fee
Pursuant to 1E SBCCC 700.2, the Board establishes a Student Activity Fee as follows: to support student activities for curriculum students. The Student Activity Fee receipts shall be used for the permissible activities and expenses listed in 1E SBCCC 700.2(b)(1-(2) not to exceed the amount established by the North Carolina Community College Board of Trustees. The current amount is listed in the Student Fee Chart, Procedure 6.1.1.1
2. Instructional Technology Fee
Pursuant to 1E SBCCC 700.3, the Board establishes an Instructional Technology Fee not to exceed the amount established by the North Carolina Community College Board of Trustees. The current amount is listed in the Student Fee Chart, Procedure 6.1.1.1
The Instructional Technology Fee receipts shall be used to support costs of procuring, maintaining and operating instructional technology used primarily for instructional purposes and specialized instruction equipment necessary for hands-on instruction.
3. Parking Fee Pursuant to 1E SBCCC 700.4, the Board establishes a Parking Fee for each academic semester for curriculum students. The Parking Fee receipts shall only be used to support costs of acquiring, constructing and maintaining the College’s parking facilities, parking enforcement and security of College property. The current amount is listed in the Student Fee Chart, Procedure 6.1.1.1.
4. Required Specific Fees
Pursuant to 1E SBCCC 700.5, specific fees will be charged to students for select courses to cover academic costs for consumable goods or services that are specifically required for that course. Such academic costs include, but are not limited to: tools, uniforms, insurance, certification/licensure fees, e-text, labs and other consumable supplies. The specific fee rate must be based on the estimated cost of providing the good or service. The current amounts are listed in the Student Fee Chart, Procedure 6.1.1.1.
The Board hereby delegates to the President the authority, as necessary, to approve all specific fees under $500 per course on an interim basis. Any specific fees over $500 per course must be approved in advance by the Board. Any fees approved on an interim basis must be approved as part of the College’s fee schedule by the Board during the next annual cycle. A list of all approved specific fees will be maintained in the College’s business office and the President shall provide an annual report to the Board regarding such specific fees.
5. Other Fees
Pursuant to 1E SBCCC 700.6, other fees will be charged to students to support costs of goods or services provided by the College that are not required for enrollment. Examples include, but are not limited to: student health and other insurance fees; graduation fees; transcript fees; optional assessment fees; library/equipment replacement fees and fees to participate in a specific event or activity.
The Board hereby delegates to the President the authority, as necessary, to approve all specific fees under $500 per course on an interim basis. Any specific fees over $500 per course must be approved in advance by the Board. Any fees approved on an interim basis must be approved as part of the College’s fee schedule by the Board during the next annual cycle. A list of all approved specific fees will be maintained in the College’s business office and the President shall provide an annual report to the Board regarding such specific fees.
6. Excess Receipts
The fees collected under subsection 4 and 5 above, receipts shall be used for the purpose for which they are charged. If the receipts exceed expenditures for the purpose for which they are charged, the College shall use excess receipts to support the costs of either instruction, student support services, student financial aid (e.g. scholarships, grants, and loans), student refunds, student activities, curriculum development, professional development, promotional giveaway items, instructional equipment, and capital improvements and acquisition of real property.
Excess receipts shall not be used for any of the following purposes: supplemental compensation or benefits of any personnel, administrative costs, entertainment expenses, and fundraising expenses.
IV. TUITION AND FEE DEFERMENT
All students, after registering for courses for the specific term, must pay or establish a payment plan through a provider approved by the College on or before a specific date prescribed by the College that is on or before the first date of the course section. Students applying for financial aid that completed their application before the established deadline, and appear to be eligible for assistance, will be allowed to remain in their courses until their financial aid is processed. Students that did not apply for financial aid prior to the established deadline may establish a payment plan.
A. Students wanting to enroll but lacking funds to pay tuition and fees must meet one of three criteria to defer their payment beyond the payment deadline set by the registrar’s office:
1. Must have applied for financial aid by the application deadline set by the financial aid office and, through preliminary review, appear to qualify for assistance;
2. Must provide (or have their sponsor provide) documentation in writing from a valid third-party agency that the student may be sponsored by the third-party agency once a final review is complete; or
3. Must enroll in a payment plan to satisfy the outstanding balance through a third-party provider contracted by the College. All balances must be paid before the last day of the semester.
B. Students who have not completed all requirements by the financial aid office, not supplied a final authorization from their third-party agency or who fail to pay the balance owed by the end of the semester will be subject to the following restrictions until payment in full has been received or until assistance is granted to satisfy the account balance:
1. Grades for the term shall be withheld;
2. Transcripts shall not be released;
3. Registration for future terms shall not be permitted; and
4. Permission to participate in graduation shall be denied.
C. Students with outstanding balances shall be notified by a Statement of Account showing the account balance and the nature of the charges and shall be dealt with pursuant to Policy 6.2.9 – Debt Collection.
Legal Reference: N.C.G.S. §§ 115B-1 et al., 115D-5, -39, 116-143.1 and -143.3; 1E SBCCC 200.2, 700.1 – 700.6, 800.2; NC Community College Tuition and Registration
Fee Waiver Reference Guide
Adopted: January 9, 2019
Amended: January 9, 2022
I. DEFINITIONS
A. Domicile: a person’s fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation of indefinite duration (for an indefinite period of time); it is the place where he or she intends and is able to remain permanently and to which, whenever the person is absent, he or she expects to return. Domicile may be established by birth, law and/or choice.
B. Nonresident: is a person who does not qualify as being domiciled in North Carolina.
C. Residence: a place of abode, whether permanent or temporary. A person may have many residences but only one permanent residence.
1. Permanent Residence: the legal residence or domicile.
2. Temporary Residence: one’s abode for an undetermined or temporary duration.
D. Resident: is a person who qualifies as being domiciled in North Carolina. For more complete definitions of these and other terms, consult the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (“RDS”) Guidebook. All the definitions contained in the RDS Guidebook are incorporated herein by reference.
II. RESIDENCY STATUS
A. Establishing Residency
Residency status of all applicants must be determined for the purpose of tuition assessment. Nonresidents are admitted under the same admission requirements as residents but are required to pay out-of-state tuition except for courses classified as self-supporting curriculum courses or continuing education courses. To qualify as a resident, an applicant must have established a permanent residence in North Carolina and maintained that permanent residence for at least twelve (12) uninterrupted months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident. The applicant must maintain his/her residence for purposes of maintaining a bonafide domicile rather than maintaining a mere residence for purposes of enrollment in an institution of higher education. All applicants for admission shall be required to make a statement as to his/her length of residence in the State. An applicant shall not be classified as a resident until s/he provides evidence related to his/her legal residence and its duration.
To determine whether a student has established a domicile in North Carolina, as opposed to a mere temporary residence, one must first determine if the student has capacity to establish residency and then reach a conclusion about the intent of the student, as measured by objectively verifiable conduct of the student. The conduct of the student, taken in total, must demonstrate an intention to make North Carolina his or her permanent dwelling place. The determination of domicile does not depend on one fact or a required combination of certain circumstances. The determination is made based on all the facts and circumstances taken together and viewed as a whole showing by a preponderance of evidence (more likely than not) that some particular location is the student’s domicile. Oftentimes, this evidence will include personal statements provided by the student regarding his/her intention to make a residence his/her domicile. While such statements are appropriate evidence to consider, there is no requirement that they be accepted at face value. Student’s personal statements should be considered carefully but also cautiously even if there is no concrete evidence that the student is being untruthful. The student’s conduct and actions taken toward establishing a domicile are generally of greater evidentiary value than personal statements, especially when the student’s conduct and actions are inconsistent or in conflict with the student’s statements of intent. Statements of a student’s intent to take actions towards establishing domicile at some time in the future generally are not considered sufficient.
For a student to be classified as a resident, the balancing of all the evidence must show that there is a preponderance of evidence supporting the student’s claim of domicile. To satisfy this requirement, more of the evidence than not must consist of a cluster, focus or accumulation of favorable information that the student established a domicile in North Carolina at a point in time at least 12 months prior to the domiciliary classification. Because there is almost always variation among cases and individuals, the domiciliary inquiry is more a function of reasonable review and balancing of the total circumstances of each individual case rather than a formulaic computation.
Each applicant for admission is required to complete the RDS application for initial consideration concerning residency before, during or after submitting an application for admission.
B. Special Rules for Domicile
In addition to establishing a person’s domicile as noted above, the determination of domicile and residence status for tuition purposes is also affected by special rules set out in North Carolina statues. For some, but not all, of these special rules, eligible nonresidents remain classified as out-of-state students and are charged in-state tuition rates. For more specific information regarding these special results, consult the Manual.
These special rules impact the following categories of students:
1. Minors;
2. Members of the Armed Forces and their families;
3. Non-military federal personnel, volunteers and missionaries;
4. Non-U.S. citizens;
5. Prisoners/inmates;
6. Married persons; and
7. Special Exemptions for certain community college students:
i. Business-sponsored students – When an employer (other than the armed services) pays tuition for an employee to attend a community college and the employee works at a North Carolina business location, the employer shall be charged the in-state tuition rate.
ii. Business and military transferred families – A community college may charge in-state tuition to up to one percent (1%) of its out-ofstate students (rounded up to the next whole number) to accommodate the families transferred into North Carolina by business or industry, or civilian families transferred into North Carolina by the military. A student seeking this benefit shall provide evidence of the following:
• Relocation to North Carolina by the student and if applicable, the student’s family, within the 12 months preceding enrollment;
• Written certification by the employer on corporate letterhead that the student or some member of the student’s family was
transferred to North Carolina for employment purposes;
• Certification of student’s compliance with the requirements of the Selective Service System, if applicable; and
• If a family member of the transferred individual is applying for this benefit, the family member must also establish the familial relationship with the transferred individual; live in the same residence as the transferred individual; and provide evidence of financial dependence on the transferred individual.
iii. Students sponsored by a non-profit entity – A lawfully admitted nonresident of the United States who is sponsored by a North Carolina non-profit entity is eligible for the in-state resident community college tuition rate. The student is considered to be “sponsored” by a North Carolina nonprofit entity if the student resides in North Carolina while attending the community college and the North Carolina nonprofit entity provides a signed affidavit to the community college verifying that the entity accepts financial responsibility for the student’s tuition and any other required educational fees. A North Carolina nonprofit may sponsor no more than five nonresident students annually under this provision. This provision does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose.
iv. N.C. public school graduates – Any person lawfully admitted to the United States who satisfied the qualifications for assignment to a public school under North Carolina law (G.S. 115C-366) and graduated from the public school to which the student was assigned shall be eligible for the State resident community college tuition rate.
v. Refugees – A refugee who lawfully entered the United States and who is living in this State shall be deemed to qualify as a domiciliary of this State under G.S. 116-143.1(a)(1) and as a State resident for community college tuition purposes. While the refugee must live in North Carolina to be eligible for in-state tuition, the refugee is not required to be domiciled in North Carolina for the 12-month qualifying period.
vi. Nonresidents of the United States – A nonresident of the United States who has resided in North Carolina for a 12-month (365 days) qualifying period and has filed an immigrant petition (Forms I-130, I-360, or I-140) with the United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) shall be considered a North Carolina resident for community college tuition purposes.
vii. Federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and rescue and life-saving personnel – Federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and rescue and lifesaving personnel whose permanent duty stations are within North Carolina are eligible for the State resident community college tuition rate for courses that support their organizations’ training needs. The State Board of Community Colleges must approve the courses designed to support law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and rescue and lifesaving personnel’s training needs prior to the college awarding the State resident community college tuition rate.
C. Loss of Resident Status
If a person has been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes and enjoyed that status while enrolled at an institution of higher education in this state, a change in that person’s state of residence does not result in an immediate, automatic loss of entitlement to the in-state tuition rate. Students in this situation are allowed a “grace period” during which the in-state rate will still be applicable even though the student is no longer a legal resident of North Carolina. The grace period can apply under certain circumstances both to currently enrolled students as well as to students who are no longer enrolled or who have graduated.
1. Currently Enrolled Students
To qualify for the grace period if the student is currently enrolled, the student must satisfy the following conditions:
i. The student must have been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes on the basis of a valid finding that the student in fact was domiciled in North Carolina and had been for the required 12-month period prior to classification; and
ii. At the time of change of legal residence to a state other than North Carolina, the individual must have been enrolled in an institution of higher education in North Carolina. “Enrolled” shall include both persons who are actually attending the institution during an academic term as well as those whose consecutive attendance of academic terms has been interrupted only by institutional vacation or summer recess periods. A person whose change in legal residence occurred during a period while not enrolled is not entitled to the benefit of the grace period.
The grace period extends for 12 months from the date of the change in legal residence, plus any portion of a semester or academic term remaining at the time the change in legal residence occurred. No change in applicable tuition rates resulting from the expiration of the basic 12-month grace period will be effective during a semester, quarter, or other academic term in which the student is enrolled; the change in tuition rates are effective at the beginning of the following semester, quarter, or other academic term. Once perfected, the grace period is applicable for the entire period at any institution of higher education in the State.
2. Students who are no Longer Enrolled
To qualify for the grace period if the student is no longer enrolled, the
student must satisfy the following conditions:
i. The student must have been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes at the time the student ceased to be enrolled or graduated from an institution of higher education in this state; and
ii. If the student subsequently abandons his/her domicile in North Carolina and then reestablishes domicile in this state within twelve (12) months of abandonment, the student may reenroll at an institution of higher education in this state as a resident for tuition purposes without having to satisfy the 12-month durational requirement so long as the student continuously maintains his/her reestablished domicile in North Carolina at least through the beginning of the academic term for which in-state tuition status is sought.
It is important to note that a student may benefit from this particular grace period only once during his/her life. There is no such limitation on the grace period available to students who experience a change in residence status while still enrolled at an institution of high education in this state.
III. RECONSIDERATION AND APPEAL OF RESIDENCY DECISIONS
If the student does not agree to the initial consideration concerning his/her residency status, the student may seek a reconsideration or appeal with RDS. For more information concerning the reconsideration and appeal process and deadlines, the student should consult with the RDS Guidebook.
Legal Reference: N.C.G.S. §§ 115D-39; 116-143.1; N.C. Session Law 2015-241, Section 11.23; 1E SBCCC 300.2; North Carolina Residency Determination Service Guidelines
(November 2016)
Adopted: January 9, 2019
I. AUTHORITY TO CHARGE SELF-SUPPORTING FEES
Pursuant to North Carolina law, the College is authorized to offer curriculum and continuing education course sections on a self-supporting basis and charge self-supporting fees to students who enroll in self-supporting course sections.
II. SELF-SUPPORTING FEE RATES
A. Differing Rates
The College may adopt different self-supporting fees for different courses and
activities.
B. Curriculum Self-Supporting Fee Rates
The College must determine self-supporting fees for curriculum courses using one
of two methods:
1. Pro-Rata Share Method. The amount charged to each student shall approximate the pro-rata share of the direct and indirect costs associated with providing self-supporting instruction. Unless the College can demonstrate a need for a higher rate, the College may estimate indirect costs by applying its federal indirect cost rate or a rate up to twenty-five percent (25%), whichever is higher, to the direct costs of providing the self-supporting activity. The amount charged to the student shall be calculated based on either: 1) the estimated costs of an individual self-supporting course section divided by the number of students expected to enroll in the course section; or 2) the estimated costs of a set of self-supporting course sections divided by the number of students expected to enroll in the set of course sections. Each student must pay the self-supporting fee even if the
sum of the curriculum tuition and self-supporting fees charged to the student for the academic term exceeds the maximum tuition rate set by the State Board and academic term.
2. Transparent Rate Method. The College shall charge each student an amount consistent with the curriculum tuition rate based on residency status. The transparent rate method shall only be used if the receipts generated through this method can adequately support the direct and indirect costs of the self-supporting instruction.
C. Continuing Education Self-Supporting Fee Rates
The College shall set self-supporting fees for continuing education course sections at a level at or below the local market rate for the type of continuing education instruction provided.
III. USE OF SELF-SUPPORTING FEES
A. Deposit of Self-Supporting Fees
The College shall deposit self-supporting fee receipts in an institutional unrestricted general ledger account. Any course section initially designated as self-supporting cannot be changed to a State-funded designation after the College collects any receipts for the course section.
B. Use of Self-Supporting Fee Receipts
Self-supporting fee receipts shall be used to support the direct and indirect costs of the self-supporting course sections. The College shall not use state funds for direct costs of self-supporting course sections. If a full-time curriculum instructor teaches a self-supporting course section, the College shall either: 1) pro-rate the instructor’s salary based on the time allocated between state-funded and self-supporting course sections in the instructor’s course load; or 2) reimburse State funds an amount equal to the number of instructional hours associated with self-supporting course section multiplied by the instructor’s hourly rate of pay.
C. Excess Receipts
Specific fee receipts shall be used for the purpose for which they are charged. If self-supporting receipts exceed expenditures for the purpose for which they are charged, the College shall use excess receipts to support the costs of future self-supporting course sections, instruction, student support services, student financial aid (e.g. scholarships, grants, and loans), student refunds, student activities, curriculum development, professional development, promotional giveaway items, instructional equipment, and capital improvements and acquisition of real property. Excess receipts shall not be used for any of the following purposes: supplemental compensation or benefits of any personnel, administrative costs, entertainment expenses, and fundraising expenses.
Legal Reference: N.C.G.S. §§ 115D-5; -39; 1E SBCCC 600.1 – 600.4
Adopted: January 9, 2019
I. CURRICULUM TUITION/FEE REFUNDS
DEFINITIONS
The College shall issue tuition refunds, using State funds, and fees only in the following circumstances:
A. Refunds for On-Cycle Course Sections
1. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College prior to the first day of the academic period as noted on the College calendar.
2. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the College cancels the course section in which the student is registered.
3. After an on-cycle course section begins, the College shall provide a seventy-five (75%) percent refund to the student for tuition only if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College from the course section prior to or on the ten percent (10%) point of the academic period.1
B. Refunds for Off-Cycle Sections
1. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College prior to the first day of the off-cycle course section.
2. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the College cancels the course section in which the student is registered.
3. After an off-cycle course section begins, the College shall provide a seventy-five percent (75%) refund to the student for tuition only if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the college from the course section prior to or on the ten percent (10%) point of the course section.
C. Non-Regularly Scheduled Course Sections
1. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College prior to the first day of the non-regularly scheduled course section.
2. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for both tuition and fees if the College cancels the course section in which the student is registered.
3. After a non-regularly scheduled course section begins, the College shall provide a seventy-five percent (75%) refund to the student for tuition only if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College from the non-regularly scheduled course section prior to or on the tenth (10th) calendar day after the start of the course section.
II. CONTINUING EDUCATION TUITION/FEES REFUNDS
DEFINITIONS
The College shall issue tuition refunds using State funds only in the following circumstances:
A. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for tuition and fees if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College from the course section prior to the first course section meeting.
B. The College shall provide a one hundred percent (100%) refund to the student for tuition and fees if the College cancels the course section in which the student is registered.
C. After a regularly scheduled course section begins, the College shall provide a seventy-five percent (75%) refund of tuition only upon the request of the student if the student officially withdraws or is officially withdrawn by the College from the course section prior to or on the ten percent (10%) point of the scheduled hours of the course section. This section applies to all course sections except those course sections that begin and end on the same calendar day. The College shall not provide a student a refund using State funds after the start of a course section that begins and ends on the same calendar day.
D. After a non-regularly scheduled course section begins, the College shall provide seventy-five percent (75%) refund of tuition only upon the request of the student if the student withdraws or is withdrawn by the College from the course section prior to or on the tenth (10th) calendar day after the start of the course section.
III. OTHER REFUND CIRCUMSTANCES
A. Death of a Student
If a student, having paid the required tuition and fees for a course section, dies prior to completing that course section, all tuition and fees for that course section shall be refunded to the estate of the deceased upon the College becoming aware of the student’s death.
B. Military Refund
Upon request of the student, the College shall:
1. Grant a full refund of tuition and fees to military reserve and National Guard personnel called to active duty or active duty personnel who have received temporary or permanent reassignments as a result of military operations that make it impossible for them to complete their course requirements; and
2. Buy back textbooks through the Colleges’ bookstore operations to the extent allowable under the College’s buy back procedures.
3. The College shall use distance learning technologies and other educational methodologies, to the extent possible as determined by the College, to help active duty military students, under the guidance of faculty and administrative staff, complete their course requirements.
C. Self-Supporting Tuition and Fees
Refunds to students enrolling in self-supporting curriculum courses shall be regulated in the same manner as stated in Sections I and II. There shall be no refunds for self-supporting Continuing Education courses except in extenuating circumstances and with Presidential/Vice-Presidential approval.
Legal Reference: N.C.G.S. §§ 115D-5; -39; 1E SBCCC 900.1 – 900.5
Adopted: January 9, 2019
Amended: January 9, 2022
Active duty personnel serving in the Armed Forces may be eligible for Tuition Assistance (“TA”) administered through the U.S. Department of Defense. TA is awarded to a student based on the assumption that the student will attend for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of the TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, the College will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least sixty percent (60%) portion of the period for which the funds were provided. Funds will be returned to the military service, not to the service member. If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the College will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.
TA eligibility will be recalculated for students who withdraw prior to completing sixty percent (60%) of the term. The official last date of attendance, as determined by the College’s attendance records, is used to determine the number of days completed. Recalculation of eligibility is based on the percentage of TA benefits earned using the following formula: Number of days completed/Total days of the course (start to end dates) = Percent of TA earned
TA funds will be returned to the government within forty-five (45) days of determination of the withdrawal.
Legal Reference: Department of Defense Instruction 1322.25 – Voluntary Education
Programs; College Memorandum of Understanding with Department of
Defense1
Adopted: January 9, 2019
1 The College must have a MOU on file with the Department of Defense.
