UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 21
SUBJECT: SENIOR CITIZENS HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1974
RESPONSIBLE OFFICE: The Provost and the Executive Vice President for Finance and Planning; and Director of Admissions
I. Scope
II. Policy Statement
III. Responsibilities
VI. Procedures
V. Amendments and Additions
VI. Effective Date
The Senior Citizens Higher Education Act shall entitle any citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia who is eligible to register for and attend courses in any state supported institution of higher learning and pay no tuition. The Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 as amended affects all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are 60 years of age prior to the beginning of any academic term semester, or quarter at Virginia's publicly funded colleges or universities and who has had a legal residence within the commonwealth for one full calendar year prior to the commencement of enrollment at a state supported institution of higher education.II. POLICY STATEMENT
A senior citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to the qualifications outlined above shall be permitted under the rules and regulations prescribed by the State Council of Higher Education to 1) register and enroll in courses as a full or part time student for academic credit if such senior citizen had a taxable income not exceeding $10,000 for federal income tax purposes for the year preceding the year in which enrollment is sought; 2) to register for and audit courses offered for academic credit; and 3) to register for and enroll in courses not offered for academic credit in any state institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. Senior citizens who qualify shall pay no tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials, such as laboratory fees, but shall be subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course or courses for which the senior citizen registers. However, a senior citizen shall only be admitted to a course in which enrollment is sought after all tuition paying students have been accommodated.III. RESPONSIBILITIES
The Provost and the agent of the Provost, the Dean of Admissions, shall have primary responsibility for oversight and familiarity with the Administrative Policy 21 and the legislation from which it is drawn (The Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 including the 1986, 1988, and 1989 amendments.)IV. PROCEDURES
Detailed procedures regarding the implementation of the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 as amended are available by request in the Dean of Admissions Office, the Provost's Office and the Extended Studies Program Offices. Copies of the Senior Citizen Higher Education Act (and its amendments) shall be available in these offices for public as well as agency review.V. AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS
All amendments and additions to Administrative Policy 21 are reviewed and approved by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance & Planning with the concurrence and approval of the Provost's Office.VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This document replaces all procedures previously contained in Administrative Policy Number 21 which became effective on October 25, 1974. This Administrative Policy shall remain in effect until further notice from the Executive Vice President for Finance & Planning.