WSR 21-01-170
PROPOSED RULES
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
[Filed December 21, 2020, 9:05 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 20-22-066.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 172-11 WAC, new chapter setting for information about financial aid and tuition waivers at Eastern Washington University (EWU).
Hearing Location(s): On February 11, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., at EWU, Tawanka 215, Cheney, WA 99004. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. The link to participate in the Zoom meeting is https://ewu.zoom.us/j/93498449616?from=addon.
Date of Intended Adoption: February 26, 2021.
Submit Written Comments to: Annika Scharosch, EWU, 211 Tawanka Hall, Cheney, WA 99004, email ascharosch@ewu.edu, fax 509-359-6724, by February 11, 2020.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Annika Scharosch, phone 509-359-6724, fax 509-359-2874, email ascharosch@ewu.edu, by February 11, 2020.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule will provide information about who to contact regarding financial aid and scholarships. It also identifies the permissible tuition waivers EWU offers in accordance with RCW 28B.15.910.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This chapter is intended to document EWU's current practices in a regulation.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.35.120(12).
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: EWU, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Annika Scharosch, 211 Tawanka Hall, 509-359-6724; Implementation and Enforcement: Dr. David May, 214 Showalter Hall, 509-359-6362.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Pursuant to RCW 34.5.328 [34.05.328] (5)(a)(i), this agency is not an agency mandated to comply with RCW 34.05.328. Further, the agency does not voluntarily make that section applicable to the adoption of this [these] rules pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(ii), and to date, the joint administrative rules review committee has not made the section applicable to the adoption of this rule.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(4).
December 21, 2020
Annika Scharosch
Associate Vice President for
Civil Rights, Compliance
and Enterprise Risk Management
OTS-2806.1
Chapter 172-11 WAC
REGISTRATION
NEW SECTION
WAC 172-11-010Authority.
Pursuant to the authority granted by RCW 28B.35.120 and chapter 28B.15 RCW, the board of trustees of Eastern Washington University has established the following regulations regarding registration.
NEW SECTION
WAC 172-11-030Financial aid information.
Federal, state, and private financial aid applications and information may be obtained from:
Eastern Washington University
Financial Aid & Scholarships Office
102 Sutton Hall
333 Eagle Lane
Cheney, WA 99004
Federal and state aid will be awarded in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
NEW SECTION
WAC 172-11-040Waiver of tuition.
(1) The board of trustees is authorized to grant tuition waivers to students pursuant to RCW 28B.15.910 and the laws identified therein. A number of these statutes authorize, but do not require, the board of trustees to grant waivers for different categories of students and provide waivers of different fees. For waivers that are authorized but not required by state law, the board of trustees delegates to the president or designee the authority to implement voluntary tuition waivers. The permissive waivers that EWU has implemented are identified below. A list of permissive waivers and mandatory waivers is available from EWU's financial aid and scholarships office. These waivers may be modified at any time. Eligibility is based on the term for which the student is seeking a waiver and both the waiver and eligibility criteria may be subsequently modified or revoked with or without notice to a student. Awarding of a waiver for one term is not a guarantee that the waiver will be awarded in a subsequent term.
(2) Even if EWU has implemented a permissive waiver, the university, for specific reasons and a general need for flexibility in the management of its resources, may choose not to award waivers to all students who may be eligible under the terms of the laws due to funding limitations and enrollment strategies. The university may modify its restrictions or requirements pursuant to changes in state or federal law, changes in programmatic requirements, or in response to financial or other considerations, which may include, but are not limited to, the need to adopt fiscally responsible budgets, the management of the overall levels and mix of enrollments, management initiative to modify enrollment demand for specific programs, and management decisions regarding the array of academic programs offered. The university may choose not to exercise the full funding authority granted under RCW 28B.15.910 and may limit the total funding available under RCW 28B.15.915.
(3) Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.910, EWU adopts the following tuition waivers with the following limitations. These limitations are in addition to any limitations set forth in state or federal law.
(a) RCW 28B.15.014(1);
(b) RCW 28B.15.014(2). Waivers under this subsection for the nonresident tuition fee differential shall be restricted to three quarters within the first year from the employee's initial date of employment with EWU. The employee must be employed on or before the first day of the quarter for which the waiver is requested;
(c) RCW 28B.15.544. Applicants must meet initial enrollment and academic eligibility requirements available on the financial aid office's website;
(d) RCW 28B.15.556. Limitations are included in specific student exchange agreements;
(e) RCW 28B.15.558. All waivers authorized by RCW 28B.15.588 shall be subject to additional limitations as determined by the university. The details of EWU's program of tuition waivers for state, teachers and other certificated instructional staff, and K-12 classified staff are set forth in EWU Policy 409-04. As authorized by RCW 28B.15.558(5), waivers may be awarded to eligible EWU employees before considering waivers for eligible persons who are not employed by EWU. These waivers are not available for self-support courses or individualized instruction;
(f) RCW 28B.15.615;
(g) RCW 28B.15.621(2). This waiver is limited to Washington residents who are enrolled full-time and pursuing their first undergraduate degree and is only a partial waiver. Information about eligibility for this waiver is available on the financial aid office's website. To qualify as an eligible veteran or National Guard member, the person seeking the waiver must provide proof of domicile in Washington state and either a DD Form 214 or other documentation establishing they meet the criteria in RCW 28B.15.621(8);
(h) RCW 28B.15.740 (1) and (2); and
(i) RCW 28B.70.050.
(4) Any waivers identified in subsection (3) of this section only apply to the operating portion of tuition for state supported courses or programs, unless otherwise required by law. They do not apply to self-support courses or programs.
(5) Additional procedures and requirements for the waivers identified in subsection (3) of this section may be included in EWU policies. EWU may offer additional waivers at its discretion under RCW 28B.15.915.
(6) Information about fee waivers is available from Student Financial Services, 202 Sutton Hall, Cheney, WA 99004, phone 509-359-6372.