HD42 - Report of the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Issue of Determination of Eligibility for Reduced Tuition Charges in the Commonwealth's Institutions of Higher Education

  • Published: 1984
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee Studying the Issue of Determination of Eligibility for Reduced Tuition Charges in the Commonwealth's Institutions of Higher Education
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 60 (Regular Session, 1983)

Executive Summary:
During the last several years, Virginia's in-state tuition policy has become a matter of concern for the administrators of the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education. Institutional interpretations of § 23-7, which set forth this policy prior to its repeal on July 1, 1984, had frequently been challenged. Because of the economic conditions and the recent trends in financial aid, students whose residency is questioned have been even more aggressively seeking favorable decisions. This phenomenon has occurred simultaneously with fiscal pressures on the State which are serious and unusual for Virginia. For the first time since the mid-seventies, the Commonwealth has faced declining revenues and budget adjustments which have added pressure to establish greater differentials between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. This situation has been magnified by Virginia's out-of-state tuition rates generally being regarded as low in comparison to those of her East Coast neighbors.

Eligibility for reduced tuition charges hinges in Virginia on residence in the State for one year and intent to stay for an indefinite period of time. Because of the large populations of federal employees, military personnel and their dependents in Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area, this policy has become increasingly difficult for the institutions to administer. These difficulties came to a head this year because of the many complaints by constituents to legislators, resulting in a number of attempts to modify the criteria for in-state tuition, and the many difficult issues raised by the administrators of the public institutions.

This situation prompted the introduction and passage of House Joint Resolution No. 60 requesting the House Committees on Education, Appropriations and Finance and the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance to establish a joint subcommittee to study the issue of determination of eligibility for reduced tuition charges in the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education (See Appendix A).

The Joint Subcommittee Studying the Issue of Determination of Eligibility for Reduced Tuition Charges was·charged with considering the issue of determination of in-state tuition with particular emphasis on:

1. The revision of § 23-7, if necessary, to clarify its intention, but not necessarily to change it;

2. The fiscal impact on certain state institutions of the State Council of Higher Education's proposed percentage of cost plan; and

3. The possibilities of abuse of the law, if these proposals are adopted.

The Joint Subcommittee was also charged with .cooperating with the Council by recommending revisions to the "Resident Tuition Guidelines" and examining the laws and regulations of other states in the course of its work.

The work of the Joint Subcommittee was to be coordinated with the Task Force on Domiciliary Residents of the Council of Higher Education.

Testimony from all relevant constituencies was required to be heard including, but not limited to, students, parents, admissions officers and institutional officials.