This policy provides clarification of and appropriate waiver of tuition and maintenance fees in accordance to TCA 49-7-113, which pertains to individuals who are totally and permanently disabled (TPD). It is the responsibility of the Access Center and the Business Office 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 totally incapacitated from working at an occupation which 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 as established by TBR Policy 4.01.03.00. This fee includes all mandatory fees; it does not include course-specific fees such as all miscellaneous course fees, materials fees, online course fees, and parking fees. Students are required to pay the additional technology fees associated with online and TNeCampus courses. 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. Students applying for the TPD fee waiver are not permitted to register for classes more 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) or if the student is currently employed, 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 Access Center 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. Agency documentation can include an agency award letter, copy of an agency check or other notification of the disability status.
- The Access Center receives all documentation, and notifies the Business Office. The Business Office 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, May 16, 2006 presidents meeting, August 16, 2006 presidents meeting, May 15, 2007 presidents meeting, August 21, 2007 presidents meeting, November 6, 2007 presidents meeting, November 5, 2008 presidents meeting. Revisions approved at presidents meeting February 4, 2014. Revisions approved at presidents meeting August 18, 2015. Ministerial Changes December 1, 2022.
VSCC Source: October 6, 2008, President’s Cabinet; August 6, 2025, President’s Cabinet
