System Procedures
Chapter 5 - Administration
Click here for a PDF copy of this guideline.
Purpose:
Policy 1A.1, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Organization and Administration, defines a system guideline as giving explicit direction, instructions or guidance on internal forms, processes and other administrative or managerial matters, consistent with Board policy and System procedure. Each college and university must establish local procedures consistent with this guideline.
The following directions are to be followed by colleges and universities to establish consistent procedures for fees to be charged to senior citizens who take either credit or non-credit courses.
Background:
As defined in Minnesota Statutes §135A.51 a senior citizen is a legal resident of Minnesota who has reached 62 years of age before the beginning of any term, in which a course of study is pursued, or a person receiving a railroad retirement annuity who has reached 60 years of age before the beginning of the term.
Minnesota Statutes §135A.52 includes special provisions regarding senior citizen charges for accessing higher education programs. The following chart helps to clarify when a fee can or cannot be charged.
Guideline Requirements:
Charge/Fee |
Courses Taken for Credit |
Non-Credit Courses |
Audited Courses |
Rationale |
Tuition for courses designed and offered specifically and exclusively for seniors |
No |
Yes |
No |
Tuition is permitted to be charged in law, M.S 135A.52, subd.1 for these non credit courses |
Tuition |
No |
No |
No |
Specified in law, M. S. 135A.52, subd.1 |
Administrative Fee |
Yes |
No |
No |
Specified in law, M.S. 135A.52, subd.1 |
Closed Enrollment Training Program charges/CT |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Specified in law, M.S. 135A.52, subd.2 (b) |
Student Application Fee |
Yes |
No |
No |
Not required of non-credit students |
Parking |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Authorized for all in MS 136F.53 & not exempted; as required of all users |
Statewide Student Association |
Yes |
No |
No |
Required in MS 136F.22 for credit courses |
Late Fee |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Not exempted, not activity fee; as required of all students |
Experiential Learning |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
Not exempted, not activity fee; as required of all students |
Placement |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
Not exempted, not activity fee; as required of all students |
Student Life/Activity Fee |
No |
No |
No |
Prohibited by M.S. 135A.52, subd.1 |
Athletic Fee |
No |
No |
No |
Prohibited by M.S. 135A.52, subd.1 as this is considered an activity fee |
Health Services |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Authorized in MS 136F.20 and not exempted |
Residential Learning Community Fee |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
User fee, allowed by Board policy |
Technology Fee |
Yes |
No |
No |
Not exempted; not activity fee; user fee required of all students; authorized per credit. |
Student Union Facility Fee |
Yes |
No |
No |
Not exempted; not activity fee; user fee required of all students |
Personal Property & Service Charge |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Authorized in MS 135A.52, Subd. 1 as materials, personal property or services charges |
Non-resident or Reciprocity Tuition |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Waiver available only to "MN legal residents" (includes reciprocity) |
Related Documents:
- Board Policy 5.11 -Tuition and Fees
- Procedure 5.11.1 -Tuition and Fees
- Procedure 5.11.1 attachment - Fee Amounts
To view any of the following related statutes, go to the Revisor's Office website. You can conduct a search from this site by typing in the statute number.
- Minnesota Statutes §135A.51
- Minnesota Statutes §135A.52
Guideline History:
Date of Adoption: 10/24/11,
Date of Implementation: 10/24/11,
Date and Subject of Revisions:
There is no additional History for Guideline 5.11.1.3
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