V. K. Student Tuition and Fees


Effective Date:  May 1, 2008

Revises Previous Effective Date:  May 3, 2007

I. POLICY:
Technical college students will be charged tuition and related fees unless otherwise exempted by State Board Policy. Tuition for courses in curriculums leading to a diploma or associate degree shall be charged on a uniform basis among all technical colleges.

II. APPLICABILITY:
All technical colleges associated with the Department of Technical and Adult Education. 

III.  RELATED AUTHORITY:

V.B.3.  Residency
Procedure: Waiver of Student Tuition and Fees
Title IV Assistance. 34 C.F.R. 688.22
SFA Information for Financial Aid Professionals
Exhibit 1 - Reciprocity Agreement with Alabama
Title 8 of Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR)/8 CFR Part 214 -- Nonimmigrant Classes/Sec. 214.2

IV. DEFINITIONS:
Domicile:  a person’s present, permanent home where that individual returns following periods of temporary absence.  Domicile, once established, shall not be affected by mere transient or temporary physical presence in another state.  No individual may have more than one Domicile even though an individual may maintain more than one residence.  Temporary residence does not constitute the establishment of one’s Domicile.  To acquire Domicile, an individual must demonstrate an intent to remain permanently or indefinitely.
Eligible Non-Citizen:  a person who, in accordance with the Federal Title IV definition, is a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations:  Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired); or Cuban-Haitian Entrant.  Persons with an F! or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa do not meet the definition of an Eligible Non-Citizen.
Georgia Student:  A student who is a resident of the United States and otherwise qualifies as Georgia Resident shall pay tuition and fees prescribed by the State Board for in-state students. 
Georgia Resident:  an individual or the status of such individual who is a United States Citizen or Eligible Noncitizen and is domiciled in the State of Georgia and meets the in-state tuition requirements of the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
Non-Citizen Student:  a person who is not a United States born or naturalized citizen of the United States.
Out of State Student:  Students who are residents of the United States but do not otherwise qualify as Georgia Residents.  A person who has not established Domicile in the State of Georgia for a period of at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the person is intending to enroll.

V. ATTACHMENTS:
            Not applicable.

VI. PROCEDURE:

  1. General Considerations:
    1. Payment of tuition and fees may be deferred until the end of the quarter on a case by case basis if the technical college has confirmation of the student's eligibility for financial aid from a government entity, business/industry, work-study, foundation, or other source of financial assistance.  Students who have not made payment for all assessed fees should be encouraged to sign authorizations allowing these fees to be taken out of state and/or federal student aid or obtain a third party agreement.  After all payment options have been exhausted, students with unpaid fees by the payment deadline must be purged from enrollment records for the quarter.  The payment deadline is before the first instructional day of the quarter.
    2. The State Board shall annually review and establish application, tuition, and other fees charged by all technical colleges. Local boards may recommend to the State Board student activity fees and miscellaneous services fees annually. Local boards may approve non-revenue producing student-insurance fees without approval of the State Board.
    3. All State and local board approved tuition and fees shall be charged unless exempted by DTAE policies or procedures.
    4. Student fees shall be considered a source of revenue when developing annual budgets. Any revenues exceeding budgeted estimates shall be amended into the annual operating budget during the course of the fiscal year.
    5. The technical colleges shall publish all student fee charges and refund policies in appropriate catalogs and elsewhere as appropriate.
  1. Georgia Students:
1.  Students who are classified as Georgia Students under DTAE’s residence policies and procedures will be charged the rate of tuition set for in-state students by DTAE.

C.  Out of State Students:        

1.   Students who are classified as Out of State students under DTAE’s residence policies and procedures will be charged a rate of tuition twice that charged for students who are classified as Georgia Students.
2.   The Commissioner or President may approve exceptions to this policy, provided:
a. A written statement of reason is on file or there is evidence of a written reciprocity agreement with appropriate institutions in another state.
b. The Commissioner may approve agency wide exceptions to this policy under certain circumstances. (i.e. National Emergencies, etc.)
3.  Under no circumstances shall Out of State students be charged tuition or fees lower than the fees charged Georgia Students.
4.   Out of State Students shall be enrolled in the college on a space available basis and shall not displace any Georgia Student desiring to enroll in the college.

D.  Non-Citizen Students

1.   Non-Citizen Students initially shall not be classified as Georgia Students for tuition purposes unless there is evidence to warrant consideration of that classification.  They are to be charged a rate of tuition four times that charged for students who are classified as Georgia Students.
2.   Lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or other Eligible Non-Citizens may be extended the same consideration as citizens of the United States in determining whether they qualify as Georgia Students. 
3.   Students who reside in the United States under nonimmigrant status conditioned at least in part upon intent not to abandon a foreign domicile are NOT eligible to qualify as Georgia Students for tuition purposes.
4.   All fees, other than tuition, shall be the same as for a Georgia Student.
5.   Non-Citizen Students shall be enrolled in the college on a space available basis and shall not displace any Georgia Student desiring to enroll in the college.

E. Waiver of Student Tuition and Fees

1.   The Commissioner may develop procedures authorizing the waiver of student tuition or fees upon good cause.
2.   Georgia Students over sixty-two (62) years of age who are otherwise qualified may attend technical colleges, for credit courses only, without payment of tuition on a space available basis.
3.   Adult literacy students attending adult basic education programs shall not be charged tuition, or any other fee, nor be required to purchase any books or other materials that are needed for participation in the program.
4.   Students who are enrolled solely in courses offered online and who otherwise do not utilize campus facilities shall not be charged the student activity fee.
5.  Tuition may be waived for Eligible Non-Citizen Students and Out of State Students, normally on a quarter-by-quarter basis, for a student by the technical college President. The number of waivers shall not exceed two percent of the head count of the student enrollment at the technical college in the immediately preceding Fall Quarter. Any student receiving a tuition waiver may pay the in-state tuition rate, but is not eligible for the HOPE program.  Non-Citizen Students may qualify for a waiver of tuition of fees such that they pay the same tuition rate as an Out of State Student.

F.  Refunds of Tuition and Fees

1.   Students withdrawing from a course by the end of the third instructional day of the quarter and no shows shall receive a 100% refund of applicable tuition (hours below the 12-hour tuition cap) and applicable refundable fees, excluding the application fee.   Exceptions may be allowed for customized courses that do not follow the college’s standard academic calendar.
2.   Students who withdraw from a course after the third instructional day of the quarter shall receive no refund.
3.   For those students receiving federal financial aid, the technical colleges shall make available Consumer Information that may be found at www.ifap.ed.gov under the appropriate aid year’s Handbook.  Although there will be no refund of tuition and fees after the third instructional day, withdrawing students receiving Federal Pell Grant will have awards adjusted in compliance with the Return to Title IV process (R2T4) outlined in the Federal Student Aid Handbook.

G.  Refunds of books and supplies

1.   No refunds shall be made for used supplies and equipment such as cosmetology kits, diskettes, tools, and uniforms.
2.   Refunds shall be made for books that are returned in new condition and accompanied by a receipt in accordance with the college’s book refund policy. The book refund policy shall be prominently posted in the technical college bookstore.
3.   Technical colleges that have contracted out their bookstore operations shall ensure that the contractor adheres to the college’s book refund.