The university is authorized to award tuition and state mandated fee waivers within fiscal and legislative limitations. Waivers are given in accordance with either, (1) standards established by the university, or (2) directives of the state legislature. This policy is established for the purpose of directing the actions of university officials in awarding waivers. See CWUR 5-10-010 for procedures on the waiver of tuition and fees.

I.  General Guidelines

A.  Tuition and fee waivers mandated by the legislature must be awarded in accordance with the criteria and limitations specified in the applicable statutes.

B.  When the university participates in discretionary tuition and fee waiver programs permitted by the legislature, awards must conform to the applicable sections of RCW 28B.15 and CWUR 5-10-010.

C.  Total available funds allocated for ALL tuition and fee waivers shall be as determined through the normal budgeting process and in accordance with applicable state laws and with the delegation to the president of tuition and fee waiver authority by the board of trustees.

D.  The vice president of business and financial affairs (VPBFA) is responsible for submitting, by October 31, an annual report to the president of awards granted during the previous academic year, including evidence of how the procedures (CWUR 5-10-010) were followed. All references to the VPBFA shall include the ability to designate the responsibility to another position.

E.  The Business and Finance Committee is tasked by the VPBFA with recommending procedures and recommendations relating to discretionary tuition and fee waiver programs and with monitoring specific waiver programs.
II. Waiver Authority

A.  Sections 910 and 915 Waiver Authority

Section 910 - RCW 28B.15.910 [section 910] authorizes CWU to waive up to 10% of total gross operating fee revenues under the specific statutory tuition and fee waiver programs set forth under RCW 28B.15.910(2), including resident and nonresident graduate assistant tuition waivers under RCW 28B.15.615 and 28B.15.014(1), [sections 615 and 014], and also discretionary waivers authorized under RCW 28B.15.740 [section 740].

Section 915 - In addition to waivers granted under authority of section 910, RCW 28B.15.915, [section 915] authorizes CWU to waive all or part of the operating fee portion of undergraduate or graduate student tuition “for any student.”  There is no state general fund support for section 915 waivers (West Waivers).

B.  Sections 615 and 014 Waiver Authority  

Section 615 - Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.615 [section 615], CWU may waive up to 100% of resident operating fees for resident graduate students who are awarded graduate assistantships.  The waiver is renewable for continuing students.  Resident graduate students with financial need may also receive need-based aid with equivalent reduction of the graduate assistant operating fee waiver.  Exceptions may authorized by the director of financial aid. 

Section 014 - Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.615 and 28B.15.014(1), CWU may waive up to 100% of resident operating fees, plus up to 100% of the non-resident tuition differential, for non-resident graduate students who are awarded graduate assistantships.  Tuition differential waivers are renewable for continuing students with the approval of the dean of graduate studies and research.  

C.  Section 740 Waiver Authority

Section 740 waivers may be awarded for the following purposes:

1. Need-Based Tuition Waivers

Pursuant to sections 910 and 740(1), CWU may waive all or part of undergraduate and graduate student tuition and fees for needy students who are eligible for resident tuition and fee rates. In the aggregate, but within available funding as determined by VPBFA and VPEM, section 740(1) waivers for needy resident students shall be based on federal and state criteria for the objective demonstration of financial need and are subject to the overall 10% limit under section 910.

2. Other Student Waivers

Pursuant to sections 910 and 740(1), CWU may waive all or part of student tuition and fees for “other students,” except on the basis of participation in intercollegiate athletics programs. In the aggregate, section 740(1) waivers for “other students” normally may not exceed 1% of total gross operating fee revenues, subject to the overall 10% limit under section 910.

3.  Institutional Error Waivers

Section 740(1) tuition and fee waivers may be authorized on a case by case basis for the purpose of correcting institutional errors in financial aid awarding, or errors in other administrative and/or academic procedures, where such correction may be necessary to make the student “whole” or to resolve actual or potential disputes. Institutional error waivers must be documented in writing and approved by the VPBFA with a plan of correction to prevent similar errors from occurring in the future.

4.  Athletics Gender Equity Waivers

Waiver of tuition and fees for the purpose of achieving or maintaining gender equity in intercollegiate athletics programs: Section 740(2) gender equity waivers may not exceed 1% of gross operating fee revenues, subject to the overall 10% limit under Section 910. Distribution of the section 740(2) waiver pool, if any, will be determined by the president (or designee) in accordance with applicable state laws.

D.  Section 915 Waiver Authority (West Waivers)

Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.915 [Section 915], CWU may waive all or part of the “operating fee” portion of undergraduate and graduate student tuition for any student. Section 915 waivers may not be used to waive the “building fee” portion of student tuition or the student services & activities fee. 

Section 915 waivers may be awarded for the following purposes:

1.  Institutional Merit Awards

General Limitations and Requirements include:

(I)  Institutional merit waivers may only be used to waive the operating fee portion of tuition.
(II)  Institutional merit waivers require satisfactory academic progress (SAP) each term to maintain eligibility.
(III)  Institutional merit waivers may be combined with institutional need-based tuition waivers and other institutional grants and scholarships.
(IV)  The BFC  will provide annual institutional waiver recommendations to the VPBFA during each fall term. 

a. New Undergraduate Student Merit Awards
Within available funding, the VPBFA will create and monitor merit-based awards offered to admitted resident and non-resident new undergraduate students during the recruitment process to encourage and reward academic merit.

b. New Graduate Student Merit Awards
Within available funding, the VPBFA, and the dean of graduate studies and research, will create and monitor merit-based awards offered to admitted resident and non-resident new graduate students during the recruitment process to encourage and reward academic merit.

2.  College/Departmental Awards

Within available funding, the academic deans and their department chairs are authorized to waive up to 100% of the operating fee portion of undergraduate and graduate student tuition of new or continuing students. Awards will be made based on selection criteria developed by the deans/athletic director in consultation with department chairs. Department chairs, through their respective deans, will submit annual reports to the VPBFA documenting the specific waivers offered with reference to the approved selection criteria. The VPBFA will periodically review college/departmental awards and will notify the deans and department chairs of any identified questions or concerns about the awarding procedures.

3. Enrollment Management Waivers

On recommendation of the VPBFA, CWU may waive up to 100% of the operating fee portion of tuition for new and continuing domestic students to meet institutional recruitment, retention, or programmatic needs that promote the effective utilization of other funding sources and/or the achievement of state and other workforce production goals.

4. CWU Employee Dependents and Retiree Waivers

CWU may waive a portion of tuition for eligible employee dependents and faculty/staff retirees as set forth in CWU Policy 2-30-055 and CWUR 5-10-010. 

5. Non-Resident and International Student Waivers

a. Non-Resident Undergraduate Waiver Program

CWU may waive the operating fee portion of the non-resident tuition differential sufficient to reduce non-resident tuition up to 1.5 times resident tuition for domestic non-resident undergraduate students from non-WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange Program) states are attending a CWU campus. The waiver may be combined with other institutionally funded merit and grant aid up to the equivalent of 100% of the non-resident tuition differential, or under the west waiver, allow up to 100% of the operating fee portion of tuition. 

b. Non-Resident Graduate Waiver Program

CWU may waive the operating fee portion of the non-resident tuition differential sufficient to reduce non-resident tuition up to 1.25 times resident tuition for domestic non-resident graduate students who do not have graduate assistantships and who are enrolled in residential or online programs.  The waiver is renewable for continuing students as determined by the dean of graduate studies & research and may be combined with other institutionally funded merit and grant aid up to the equivalent of 100% of the non-resident tuition differential, or under the west waiver, allow up to 100% of the operating fee portion of tuition. 

c. International Student Waiver Program

CWU may waive the operating fee portion of the non-resident tuition differential sufficient to reduce non-resident tuition up to 1.5 times resident tuition for undergraduate, and up to 1.25 times for graduate international students who are enrolled in residential or online programs.  The waiver is renewable for continuing students as determined by the director of financial aid.

d. CWU On-Line Waiver Program

CWU may waive operating fees up to the equivalent of 100% of the non-resident tuition differential for domestic non-resident undergraduate students enrolled in CWU on-line programs. This tuition waiver is for students enrolled exclusively in a CWU on-line program who do not attend a CWU campus. The wavier is renewable for continuing students as determined by the director of financial aid and may be combined with other institutionally funded merit waivers. Qualifying on-line programs will be determined by the associate provost.

e. Veteran’s Service Waiver Program

CWU may waive operating fees up to the equivalent of 100% of the non-resident tuition differential for documented U.S. veterans and their dependents. Eligibility is determined by the office of veteran’s services. Waiver is renewable for continuing students as determined by the director of financial aid and may be combined with other institutionally funded merit and grant aid.

6.  Campus-Based Awards

On recommendation of the VPBFA, CWU may waive up to 100% of the non-resident tuition differential, or under the west waiver, allow up to 100% of the operating fee portion of tuition for undergraduate students selected for participation in recognized campus-based programs and activities, including, but not limited to the following:

(I) Talented students participating in competitive campus club programs (such as Rodeo Club) and club sports (such as Rugby).
(II)  Students participating in competitive CWU sponsored programs such as Girls/Boys State, Business Week, Science Quest Summer Camp, Robotics, and Knowledge Bowls such as Apple Cup, etc.
(III)  Students participating in and demonstrating academic success in dual credit high school/college enrollment programs, such as CWU Running Start, Cornerstone, and students enrolling at CWU through community college partnerships.

E.   Conflict of Interest and Related Policies

1. To manage actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the awarding of discretionary tuition and fee waivers, the Ethics in Public Services law (RCW 24.52) and CWUP 2-40-075 Ethical Conduct Standards will be followed. This includes but is not limited to

a. No CWU employee may use his or her position to secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or herself, or for his or her spouse, child, family members, or other persons. Nor may any employee have an interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in a business transaction or professional activity, or incur an obligation of any nature that is in conflict with the proper discharge of the employee’s official duties.

b.  No CWU employee may authorize a discretionary tuition or fee waiver on behalf of any student with whom the employee has a close family, business, or other personal relationship.  Such personal relationships must be disclosed and the waiver recommendation referred for approval by the VPBFA (or other disinterested Executive Leadership Team-level administrator).

2.  Discrimination against, or granting preferential treatment, to any individual or group based on protected group status is prohibited pursuant to WAC 106-72-004 Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination, CWUP 2-35-010 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy Statement, and Washington Law against Discrimination, RCW 49.60.400.

[08/03/2011: Pres Cab: 12/93; 1/94, PAC: 3/4/09; Responsibility: Business and Financial Affairs: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 01/02/2013; 02/01/17; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]