This policy provides clarification of and appropriate waiver of tuition and maintenance fees in accordance with TCA 49-7-113 which pertains to individuals who are totally and permanently disabled. (TPD) It is the responsibility of the offices of Disability Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid to be fiscally responsible in implementing the TPD fee waiver procedures. For the purpose of the TPD fee waiver, an individual is considered totally and permanently disabled if he/she is totally incapacitated from working at an occupation that brings him/her an income. Documentation of the disabling condition and its permanency as to preventing employment will be required.
For audit courses, no fee is required for persons with a permanent, total disability. For credit, a fee of $70 per semester may be charged to persons with a permanent, total disability and who are domiciled in Tennessee. (Note: This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, application fees, online course fees, and parking fees.) This only applies to enrollment on a space-available basis, which permits registration no earlier than four (4) weeks prior to the first day of classes.
If a student is eligible for and receiving services through an agency whose mission is to assist individuals to obtain employment, such as the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (Vocational Rehabilitation) the student does not meet the criteria for the TPD fee waiver.
For students requesting the TPD waiver, the following procedures are established:
- A student confidentially discloses a disability to the Office of Disability Services and requests the TPD fee waiver.
- The student provides the necessary documentation from a physician or an agency charged with declaring and/or compensating the TPD status. The physician's letter or affidavit must state that the disability has a significant impact, is permanent in nature, and totally incapacitating. Agency documentation can include an agency award letter, a copy of an agency check, or other notification of the disability status.
- The Office of Disability Services receives all documentation, and notifies the Admissions, Business, and Financial Aid Offices. These offices will make the necessary changes in the student information system and code for payment for the TPD fee waiver.
TBR Source: December 2, 1977 TBR meeting. Revised March 14, 1980 TBR meeting; November 13, 1991 presidents meeting; November 8, 1982 presidents meeting; July 1, 1984; November 1, 1988; May 15, 1990 presidents meeting; August 14, 1990 presidents meeting; November 10, 1992 presidents meeting; August 10, 1993 presidents meeting; November 9, 1993 presidents meeting; August 9, 1994 presidents meeting; May 8, 1995 presidents meeting, August 8, 1995 presidents meeting, November 8, 1995 presidents meeting, February 6, 1996 presidents meeting, May 14, 1996 presidents meeting, November 12, 1996 presidents meeting, May 6, 1997 presidents meeting, July 16, 1997 called Board meeting, November 5, 1997 presidents meeting, February 17, 1998 presidents meeting via conference call, August 25, 1998 presidents meeting, May 9, 2000 presidents meeting, August 8, 2000 presidents meeting, November 8, 2000 presidents meeting, February 13, 2001 presidents meeting, August 21, 2001 presidents meeting, May 21, 2002 presidents meeting, February 11, 2003 presidents meeting, May 20, 2003 presidents meeting, February 10, 2004 presidents meeting, August 17, 2004 presidents meeting, February 8, 2005 presidents meeting, May 17, 2005 presidents meeting, February 8, 2006 presidents meeting, May16, 2006 presidents meeting, August 16, 2006 presidents meeting, May15, 2007 presidents meeting, August 21, 2007 presidents meeting, November 6, 2007 presidents meeting, , February 17, 2009 presidents meeting; May 12, 2009 presidents meeting; August 11, 2009 presidents meeting; November 10, 2009 presidents meeting; February 16, 2010 presidents meeting;February 15, 2011 presidents meeting; May 17, 2011 presidents meeting; August 16, 2011 presidents meeting; May 16, 2012 presidents meeting; August 21, 2012 presidents meeting;Revised at Presidents Meeting, February 4, 2014;Revised at Presidents Meeting, August 18, 2015; Revised at Presidents Meeting, November 10, 2015; Presidents MeetingFebruary 2, 2016;August 8, 2017.
VSCC Source: October 6, 2008, President’s Cabinet; January 28, 2019, President’s Cabinet
