Presidential Waiver Policy and Procedure

Policy Statement and Purpose

This policy establishes the criteria and procedures for the accurate and equitable awarding of the Presidential Waiver in accordance with the University System of Georgia Board of Regents (BoR) Policy 7.3.4.1, Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Tuition Waivers. The purpose of this policy is to ensure compliance with Board of Regents regulations while supporting institutional goals to attract a diverse student population, promote academic excellence, and advance student success.

Primary Contact: SaritaGale, Registrar, [email protected], 706-272-4490

Related Material

  • Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 7.3.4 regarding Out-of-State Tuition Waivers and Waivers of Mandatory Fees.
  • Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.4 regarding Verification of Lawful Presence
  • Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.2.1 regarding Descriptions of Terms used in Tuition Classification Policy.

Definitions

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver: A waiver of the difference in tuition paid by students classified as out-of-state and those classified as in-state.

Lawful Presence: All waiver recipients must provide evidence of lawful presence in the United States as defined in the Board of Regents Manual Section 4.3.4.

Non-Resident: A student 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 student is intending to enroll at the institution.

International Student: For the purpose of the Presidential Waivers, an International Student is the holder of a valid F-1 visa.

Academic Year: For Presidential Waivers, the academic year is defined as continuous fall, spring, and summer semesters. Check point for waiver recipients will be at the end of the spring semester.

Continuous Enrollment: Enrollment without a break of more than one traditional academic semester. A student who is not enrolled for two or more consecutive traditional academic semesters is not considered continuously enrolled.       

Allocation of Waiver Awards

Presidential Waivers, as specified by the BoR Policy, will be awarded in three categories. The total number of waivers in effect cannot exceed 2% of the equivalent full-time students enrolled at Dalton State College in the fall term one year prior to the term for which the out-of-state tuition is to be waived. A student may be eligible under one or more Presidential Waiver categories but shall only be granted a waiver under one specific category and will be counted within that category.

Further, eligibility for and award of Academic Presidential Waivers and International Waivers shall be determined through an academic and administrative review process that is fully independent in fact and appearance from the Department of Athletics. Student participation in intercollegiate athletics shall neither confer an advantage nor result in disadvantage in the consideration of these waivers. The Athletic Department shall not recommend, influence, or approve awards of Academic or International Waivers.

The Presidential Waivers will be awarded in three categories:

  1. Academic: Students who have demonstrated the potential to excel within a particular program of study offered by the institution, as evidenced by scoring within the top half of students matriculating at Dalton State or the top half of students matriculating within the particular program of study to which the student has applied, may be eligible for an Academic Presidential Waiver.

Dalton State will determine the top half using the academic criteria (e.g., Freshman Index, standardized test scores, GPA, artistic ability) applicable either for general admission to the institution or for the particular program of study to which the student has applied.

Students who participate in intercollegiate athletics may be considered for an Academic Presidential Waiver if they meet the applicable academic criteria; however, eligibility determination and award decisions shall be based solely on academic qualifications and shall be administered independently from the Department of Athletics.

  1. Athletic: Students who have been selected to participate in Dalton State’s intercollegiate athletics program and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed within a particular program of study may be eligible for an Athletic Waiver.

Athletic Waivers are distinct from and shall not substitute for Academic Presidential Waivers or International Waivers.

  1. International: Noncitizen students who are not otherwise ineligible for a tuition differential waiver under this policy and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed within a particular program of study may be eligible for an International Waiver.

Student participation in intercollegiate athletics does not affect eligibility for an International Waiver. All eligibility determinations and award decisions shall be made through processes independent in fact and appearance from the Department of Athletics.

All students will be required to complete an application and submit it to the Office of the Registrar, Enrollment Services. Those students being considered for a waiver that qualify under more than one Presidential Waiver category will be awarded in the following order: Academic, International, then Athletic.  The application will include a one-page personal essay outlining why he/she is seeking the waiver and how he/she would benefit Dalton State College by receiving the waiver. Waiver applications should be received prior to the start of the semester and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Waiver Eligibility:

Academic:

  • Incoming freshman must have a 3.0 calculated High School GPA from a USG recognized school program. Non-traditional students must exempt learning support.
  • Transfer students, with 30 or more transferable hours, must have a 2.5 GPA calculated on a cumulative basis, using the same GPA method used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  • Current students must have a 2.5 GPA calculated on a cumulative basis, using the same GPA method used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Athletic:

  • Students selected to participate in Dalton State’s intercollegiate athletics program and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed within a particular program. They must have 2.0 calculated High School GPA.
  • Students selected to participate in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed within a particular program. They must be in good academic standing, have a minimum 2.0 transfer GPA and meet SAP requirements.
  • Students selected to participate in Dalton State’s intercollegiate athletics program and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed within a particular program They must be in good academic standing and meet SAP requirements.

International:

  • Incoming freshman must have a 3.0 calculated High School GPA from a USG recognized school program. Non-traditional students must exempt learning support.
  • Transfer students, with 30 or more transferable hours, must have a 2.5 GPA calculated on a cumulative basis, using the same GPA method used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  • Current students must have a 2.5 GPA calculated on a cumulative basis, using the same GPA method used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Waiver maintenance review process:

All presidential waiver recipients are subject to review at the end of spring semester and must meet the following criteria for continuance of the waiver:

  1. Students receiving an Academic or International Presidential Waiver must maintain a 2.5 GPA calculated on a cumulative basis at the conclusion of each academic year as specified in the respective institution’s approved procedures and using the same GPA method used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  2. Students receiving an Athletic Presidential Waiver must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  3. All students must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct policies as defined in the Dalton State College Student Handbook.
  4. All students must make reasonable progress towards earning a degree.
  5. Failure to maintain the specified level of academic performance at the conclusion of the respective academic year shall result in the student being placed in a two-semester probationary period for waiver purposes. The student shall be eligible to maintain a waiver during this probationary period but shall be ineligible for the waiver if the student is not able to achieve the specified level of academic performance for the student’s specific Presidential Waiver sub-category.
  6. Loss of this waiver is not appealable.
  7. The student is eligible to re-gain the waiver, subject to the institution’s discretion and consistent with this Policy, should the student achieve the specified level of academic performance for the student’s specific Presidential Waiver sub-category.

Policy Implementation Process:

Registrar: Determines the initial overall allowable number of Presidential Waivers,

applies waiver to student’s record, and reviews for maintenance eligibility.

Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management: The Assistant Vice President will then determine the number of waivers permitted to be granted in each waiver category with a maximum of 1/3 of the total permitted in the Athletic Presidential waiver category. The Assistant Vice President will then review the list of Presidential Waivers granted for the upcoming semester to ensure that the college is in compliance with the Presidential Waiver caps.