V820.02 Valley City State University Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver Policy
Policy
Recognizing the educational benefit for the members of our academic communities derived from a culturally diverse student population, Valley City State University Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver Policy, will promote enrollment of a culturally diverse student body, including members of Indian tribes and economically disadvantaged students, for the benefit of all students and the academic community for other purposes consistent with VCSU’s institutional mission.
Sponsored by: Vice President for Student Affairs
Revised: Spring 2022
Revised: April 2024
V820.02 Procedures
Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers Selection Criteria and Administrative Procedures
A. Definitions
- Cultural diversity for this policy is inclusive of all aspects of human differences including race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability as specified in Federal Regulations, or genetic information.
- Indians are defined as enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives and Villages as defined pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; and as such constitute a political group officially recognized by the United States government.
- International students are included under a separate waiver program.
B. Amount of Waivers
- The amount of a waiver will not exceed the amount of tuition. Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers do not include fees, books, food, housing, and other costs of attendance. Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers may be awarded in combination with other academic and athletic scholarships. Partial waivers may be awarded. Waivers are granted for a period of one academic year.
-
Waivers will renew automatically, provided all eligibility requirements are met.
C. Eligibility Requirements
The following groups of students will receive highest consideration for Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers:
-
Native Americans who are enrolled members of federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives and Villages. Priority will be given to enrolled members of the Spirit Lake Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Sisseton Tribe, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Dependents of enrolled members of these tribes will also receive consideration for Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers, as will graduates of North Dakota tribal colleges.
- Members of underrepresented groups or marginalized students applying for and being considered for Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers must have indicated their marginalized cultural status when applying for admission to Valley City State University. This status will be verified with data from Campus Connection. Students may indicate more than one ethnic/marginalized group in Campus Connection – either the primary or secondary group status will be considered when verifying this status.
-
Waivers are open to US Citizens, permanent US residents, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan residents only.
D. Academic Eligibility Guidelines
- Minimum qualification for new freshmen is a GPA of 2.5 or higher. In order to be eligible for renewal, recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Past academic performance may be used in determining eligibility and awards.
Students placed on Financial Aid Disqualification would not be eligible for the waiver.
E. Other Eligibility Guidelines
- Recipients must be enrolled full-time (12 credits). Online and collaborative credits will count toward full-time enrollment status.
-
Recipients enrolled in online or collaborative credits must be enrolled in at least six (6) face-to-face Valley City State University credits as of the last day to add for the regular session each semester to receive a Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver. Student teaching and internship credits may apply to the 6 credit hours minimum. These credits must be coded as face-to-face credits.
-
Recipients enrolled in collaborative credits will not receive a waiver of tuition for any credits taken from another institution.
-
Recipients are limited to a maximum of 8 semesters as an undergraduate student.
F. Application Process
- New undergraduates shall submit a Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver application form to the Director for Diversity and Inclusion Office prior to the last date to add/drop with full refund to receive consideration.
- All applicants are encouraged to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- New freshman or transfer students who have applied for a Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver must have completed the admission application and be eligible for conditional admission before a Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver can be offered.
G. Award and Selection Process
-
Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers apply only to VCSU tuition charges; other aid such as Pell Grants, Scholarships and other gift aid may be applied to collaborative tuition charges, fees, or housing/food charges. The Financial Aid Office will be consulted prior to the final awarding of Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers and the total financial aid amount awarded cannot exceed the total cost of VCSU tuition.
- Waivers will not apply to summer semester classes.
-
The final selection of all Cultural Diversity Tuition Waivers will be made by the Director for Diversity and Inclusion during the spring semester and/or as requested, in consultation with the Assistant Director for Financial Aid.
- Students who have been denied a waiver may appeal the decision within 10 business days of denial notification to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Sponsored by: Vice President for Student Affairs
Revised and separated procedure: Spring 2024