SUBJECT: VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS EXEMPTIONS-(V.T.C.A. SECTION 54.203)

APPLICABILITY: STUDENTS

Students who meet the criteria listed below are eligible to receive an exemption from payment of tuition, all mandatory fees except Student Service fees, the property deposit fee, audit fees, diploma fees and graduation fees.

Requirements:

A. Citizen of the State of Texas at the time of entry into the service;
B. Texas resident at the time of application (as specified in the Texas Education Code);
C. Served at least 180 days active duty during times specified in V.T.C.A. Section 54.203;
D. Received an honorable discharge;
E. Must NOT have exhausted his/her federal education benefit as a result of default on a federal or state loan.

Effective with the fall 1995 semester, there is a maximum of 150 credit hours of work for which a person may receive benefit. Classes taken prior to fall 1995 do not apply to the 150 hour limit. This limit is on hours attempted, not hours completed. Noncredit courses are not subject to the limit.

Veterans receiving federal education benefits, if their benefit are less than their exemption would be under the Hazelwood Act, receive an exemption for an amount equal to the difference in their federal benefits and the amount they otherwise would have received through Hazelwood. For instance, if a veteran who would have qualified for a $750 exemption through the Hazelwood Act received a $200 Pell, the student would receive an exemption for $550.

To apply, the student must submit these items to Student Accounting and University Cashiering Services:

A. Completed application, obtained from Student Accounting and University Cashiering Services;
B. Copy of DD-214;
C. If discharged less than ten years, a letter is required from the Veterans Administration stating all federal educational benefits have expired.
D. Undergraduates must submit a letter each semester from Student Financial Aid and Scholarships stating student is ineligible for federal aid.
E. Graduate students and doctoral candidates must submit proof of undergraduate degree (copy of transcript, diploma, etc.)

The exemptions provided for under the Hazelwood Act also apply and accrue to the benefit of the dependent children of members of the armed forces of the United States who are or were killed in action, who die or died while in service, who are missing in action, or whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with the armed forces of the United States, and to the benefit of orphans of members of the Texas National Guard killed since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of their state or the United States. However, to qualify for this exemption a person must be a citizen of Texas and must have resided in the state for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of the person's registration.

If approved, the student's name is added to a permanent file.