Deaf Students; Tuition Assistance

The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill within the Higher Education Law, which was signed by Governor Pawlenty, requiring the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide “tuition assistance” to deaf students. The law takes effect on July 1, 2005 and reads as follows:

11.12 Sec. 4. [135A.165] [DEAF STUDENTS; TUITION ASSISTANCE.]

11.13 (a) For the purpose of this section, a "deaf person" means

11.14 an individual with a hearing loss of such severity that the

11.15 individual must depend primarily on visual communication, such

11.16 as writing, lip reading, manual communication, and gestures.

11.17 (b) A deaf person, who is a resident student as defined in

11.18 section 136A.101, subdivision 8, is entitled to tuition

11.19 assistance for the tuition and fees remaining after deducting

11.20 any federal or state grants or other public or private grants

11.21 made to the person for the purpose of paying the tuition and

11.22 fees at a Minnesota state college or university or the

11.23 University of Minnesota. A deaf person must receive either a

11.24 federal Pell grant or a state grant under section 136A.121 for a

11.25 term to receive tuition assistance for that term.

The deaf individual applies for admission to Bemidji State University and must also apply for the Federal Pell Grant and a Minnesota State Grant to be applied at that college/university. At any time the individual chooses, s/he might wish to contact the disability services coordinator for interpreter services. The individual will be expected to provide documentation of their deafness at that time.

The student will be informed of their Pell grant award and MN State Grant through the normal financial aid processes. If s/he is eligible for either the Pell or State grant, the university will apply these and any other public or private grants to the costs of tuition and fees. Any remaining amount will be covered by the university. The covered costs will include actual tuition charged to the student plus mandatory fees as defined in System Policy plus those optional feeds to charged to all students at that institution minus any of the following: Pell Grant, MN State Grant, institutional grants and scholarships, private grants or scholarships received by the student. The remaining amount is the Deaf Student Tuition Assistance.

It is the responsibility of the deaf individual to:

1. apply for the Federal Pell Grant and MN State Grant through the regular financial aid application process (FAFSA);
2. to contact the disability services coordinator to set up an appointment to document their deafness and request interpreters and/or other accommodations as needed;
3. to provide a copy of their financial aid award letter indicating that they are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and/or a MN State Grant to the disability services coordinator who will notify the financial aid office that the individual has provided documentation of their deafness. At that time the financial aid office will calculate the amount of the student’s tuition assistance according to the stipulated formula and will place a Minnesota Deaf Student Assistance Grant on the student’s account in that amount;
4. review their financial aid eligibility each term and confirm with the coordinator about their Federal Pell Grant and MN State Grant funding prior to the start up of the new semester.

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