Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members (fee pay status 70)

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Tuition Waiver

The Legislature established this waiver to honor veterans, and National Guard members.  This is an optional tuition waiver for eligible veterans or National Guard members.

Summary

Community colleges may waive all tuition (operating and building fees) and services and activities fees for eligible veterans or National Guard members.

An eligible veteran or National Guard member is defined as one who is:

• A Washington domiciliary
• Active or reserve member of military or naval or National Guard called to active duty
• Served in active federal duty under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the US Code
• In a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters, or served in support of those that were (serving on foreign soil or in international waters)
• If discharged, has received an honorable discharge

This waiver is included in the 35% Legislative limit.

Statute

RCW 28B.15.621(2) – Tuition waivers – Veterans and national guard members – Dependents – Private institutions.

CHANGE IN 2008 (SEE 3104-S2.SL)

CHANGE IN 2008 (SEE 6371-S.SL)

1. The legislature finds that active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members called to active duty have served their country and have risked their lives to defend the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. The legislature intends to honor active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members who have served on active military or naval duty for the public service they have provided to this country.
2. Subject to the limitations in RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an eligible veteran or national guard member.
3. The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for a military or naval veteran who is a Washington domiciliary, but who did not serve on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters and who does not qualify as an eligible veteran or national guard member under subsection (8) of this section. However, there shall be no state general fund support for waivers granted under this subsection.
4. Subject to the conditions in subsection (5) of this section, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, shall waive all tuition and fees for the following persons:
   1. A child and the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who became totally disabled as defined in RCW 28B.15.385 while engaged in active federal military or naval service, or who is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; and
   2. A child and the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who lost his or her life while engaged in active federal military or naval service.
5. The conditions in this subsection (5) apply to waivers under subsection (4) of this section.
   1. A child must be a Washington domiciliary between the age of seventeen and twenty-six to be eligible for the tuition waiver. A child's marital status does not affect eligibility.
   2. A surviving spouse must be a Washington domiciliary. A surviving spouse has ten years from the date of the death, total disability as defined in RCW 28B.15.385, or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible veteran or national guard member to receive the benefit. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse is ineligible for the waiver of all tuition and fees.
   3. Each recipient's continued participation is subject to the school's satisfactory progress policy.
6. Required waivers of all tuition and fees under subsection (4) of this section shall not affect permissive waivers of tuition and fees under subsection (3) of this section.
7. Private vocational schools and private higher education institutions are encouraged to provide waivers consistent with the terms in subsections (2) through (5) of this section.
8. The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
   1. "Eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.
   2. "Washington domiciliary" means a person whose true, fixed, and permanent house and place of habitation is the state of Washington. "Washington domiciliary" includes a person who is residing in rental housing or residing in base housing. In ascertaining whether a child or surviving spouse is domiciled in the state of Washington, public institutions of higher education shall, to the fullest extent possible, rely upon the standards provided in RCW 28B.15.013.

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