FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
?
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
Commissioner of Education
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
R
OBERTO MARTÍNEZ
P
HOEBE RAULERSON
L
INDA K. TAYLOR
Memorandum Number 05-26
September 8, 2005
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
Community College Presidents
FROM:
J. David Armstrong, Jr.
SUBJECT:
Removing Obstacles for Enrolling Students Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
On September 1, 2005, a Supplemental Order to the Governor’s Executive Order Number 05-176 related
to Hurricane Katrina was signed. The purpose of this Supplemental Order was to remove obstacles for
community colleges and state universities enrolling students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The
Supplemental Order provided authorization for community colleges and state universities “to waive
existing statutory and rule requirements relating to student enrollment, including without limitation
residency and student record requirements, to the extent necessary to allow these students displaced by
itionally, the Supplemental Order requires tracking and
It is the interpretation of the Department of Education General Counsel that, according to the
Supplemental Order, Florida’s public community colleges are authorized to waive statutory and rule
requirements related to enrollment, specifically those related to residency for tuition purposes for those
displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Institutions can make admission decisions on a case-by-case basis.
However, all students who are admitted to a community college under this Supplemental Order should
have the residency requirements waived for the 2005-06 academic year so that we are consistent across
our institutions.
The Supplemental Order was intended to provide institutional authority and discretion in using the statute
and rule waivers. However, we have been receiving a number of questions about the broad parameters.
Below, I have tried to address some anticipated issues and questions.
J. DAVID ARMSTRONG, JR.
Chancellor, Community Colleges and Workforce Education
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1314 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0407 • www.fldoe.org/cc
Memorandum Number 05-26
Page Two
September 8, 2005
What kind of documentation, if any, is required for enrollment of these students?
The Supplemental
Order allows institutions the flexibility to waive admission requirements outlined in statute and rule.
Many of these students will not be able to provide high school and/or college transcripts in the immediate
future. Students may be asked to provide minimal documentation of their enrollment in an affected
postsecondary institution or residency in an affected area (e.g., student identification card, grade report,
driver’s license). However, a signed honesty statement or affidavit promising to provide transcripts or
other records at a later time may be used if such documentation is not immediately available.
How should these students be classified upon admission to the community college?
These students may
be admitted as degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking, resident students. However, non-degree-seeking
students generally are not eligible for state or federal financial aid. Please refer to the NAFSAA website
for guidance on the federal financial aid implications of these classifications:
http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2005/eakatrina090205.html
Are these students eligible for state financial aid?
These students are not eligible for state financial aid
programs by virtue of this Supplemental Order. However, some of these students may be eligible for
state financial aid if they are enrolled as degree-seeking and Florida is their home state (i.e., they, or their
parents if under the age of 24, are Florida residents attending an affected institution). Theresa Antworth,
from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, is willing to coordinate reinstatement for eligible
students in order to make funding available. You may contact her at:
Theresa Antworth
Director, State Scholarships & Grants
Office of Student Financial Assistance, Florida Department of Education
(850) 410-5185 or Theresa.Antworth@fldoe.org
Does the Supplemental Order provide a tuition waiver?
The Supplemental Order does not provide a
tuition waiver of part or all of the tuition. It actually waives the residency requirement for these
individuals, thereby making them “residents” for tuition purposes and funding purposes for the 2005-
2006 academic year. This is separate from the authority of community colleges to provide a fee
exemption for homeless individuals per Section 1009.25(2)(e), F.S., which some institutions may choose
to grant, at their discretion, to qualifying students affected by Hurricane Katrina. (See below regarding
fee exemption options available to community colleges.)
Who is eligible to have the residency requirements waived?
The Executive Order specifically includes
individuals who were enrolled in or planning to be enrolled in a postsecondary institution in affected areas
and are seeking enrollment in a Florida postsecondary institution while the Supplemental Order is in
effect. However, it does not discriminate against individuals from affected areas who were not enrolled in
a postsecondary institution but now are seeking education or re-training opportunities. Students enrolling
under this Supplemental Order are not considered to be on fee waivers. They are considered to be in-state
residents for tuition purposes for the 2005-06 academic year, in accordance with established institutional
policies which may include a provision of continuous enrollment.
Memorandum Number 05-26
Page Three
September 8, 2005
How long are these students considered as “resident for tuition purposes”?
The Supplemental Order
allows for long-term evacuees to be treated as “resident for tuition purposes” if they enroll while the
Supplemental Order is in effect. These students would maintain their status as “resident for tuition
purposes” during this 2005-06 academic year. Depending upon individual circumstances and extension
of the Governor’s Supplemental Order, these students may or may not be classified as “resident for tuition
purposes” during the following academic year.
How long will this Supplemental Order be in effect?
The Supplemental Order is in effect for 60 days, at
which time it can be renewed at the discretion of the Governor. I will keep you posted on the status of
this issue.
What fee exemption options are available to community colleges to provide on a case-by-case basis?
In addition to waiving residency requirements, community colleges have the statutory authority to provide
fee exemptions for certain categories of students. There is no residency requirement for providing fee
exemptions to students. The instruction for fee exempt students is counted for state funding purposes.
For those students who are homeless, staying in shelters as a result of the storm, you may use the
following statutes to assist them:
S. 1009.25, F.S.
(2) The following students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a
school district that provides postsecondary career programs, community college, or state university:
(e) A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose primary
nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for
individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or
ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Additionally, you are aware of the next subsection of the same statute that provides the following:
(3) Each community college is authorized to grant student fee exemptions from all fees adopted by the
State Board of Education and the community college board of trustees for up to 40 full-time equivalent
students at each institution. [Note: This is in addition to the provisions in Subsection (2)(e).]
What kind of tracking and reporting is required by our community colleges with regard to this
Supplemental Order?
Colleges are required to keep track of all displaced students enrolled under the
provisions of the Supplemental Order. Howard Campbell, CCTCMIS Bureau Chief for the Division of
Accountability, Research and Measurement, will be meeting with your data staff later this month at
MISATFOR to discuss tracking requirements.
Memorandum Number 05-26
Page Four
September 8, 2005
Who should I contact if I have any questions?
If you have any questions regarding the implementation
of this Supplemental Order, you may contact the following staff in my Division:
Ed Cisek
Vice Chancellor for Financial Policy
Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education
(850) 245-9764 or Ed.Cisek@fldoe.org
Judith Bilsky
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Success
Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education
(850) 245-9452 or Judith.Bilsky@fldoe.org
Sara Hamon
Director of Articulation and Educational Services
Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education
(850) 245-9523 or Sara.Hamon@fldoe.org
Howard Campbell
CCTCMIS Bureau Chief
Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement
(850) 245-9500 or Howard.Campbell@fldoe.org
JDA/shy
c:
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Council of Student Affairs Members
Council of Business Affairs Members
FCCRAO Members
Judith Bilsky
Ed Cisek
Stacey Webb
Sara Hamon
Howard Campbell
Theresa Antworth
