History
On September 6, 2018 the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) passed the Nevada Foster Care Fee Waiver. Pursuant to Title 4, Chapter 17, Section 13 entitled Fee Waiver for Nevada Foster Youth of the NSHE handbook, which states “a student who was in the custody of an agency which provides child welfare services in Nevada after the student reached the age of 13 may be permitted to register for credit without a registration fee or … laboratory fee(s)...”.
Please note registration fees associated with graduate-level courses and with the William S. Boyd School of Law; the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV; and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are not eligible for a waiver under this policy.
Timeline
Effective for qualifying students during the Fall 2018 semester onward
Eligibility Requirements
Initial eligibility requirements – students must meet all criteria
- Was in foster care in Nevada, at the age of thirteen (13) years or older (adjudicated “ward of the court” status, for any length of time);
- Graduated from high school or passed the TASC, HiSet, or GED;
- Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
- Be under the age of twenty-six (26) years, on the first day of any semester for which the student is seeking the fee waiver
Eligibility requirement for returning students:
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at UNLV - visit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy page and Financial Aid page to learn more about SAP; and
- Be under the age of twenty-six (26) years, on the first day of any semester for which the student is seeking the fee waiver
Continuing Eligibility - students must continue to meet all criteria:
- Complete the FAFSA each academic year;
- Continue to meet SAP at UNLV - visit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy page and Financial Aid page to learn more about SAP; and
- Be under the age of twenty-six (26) years on the first day of any semester for which the student is seeking the fee waiver )
How To Apply
- Complete the NSHE Foster Youth Fee Waiver: Request for Waiver of Registration Fees and Certain Laboratory Fees application.
- Submit the application to the UNLV Fostering Scholars Program Coordinator, Heather Richardson, via email at heather.richardson@unlv.edu.
- Contact the Fostering Scholars Program Coordinator regarding any formal court documentation
Additional Information
- The NSHE Foster Youth Fee Waiver covers base course registration fees
- The NSHE Foster Youth Fee Waiver can only be used during the fall and spring semesters
- For additional questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships via the Rebel Success Hub (formerly known as the Self-Service Help Center) or the Fostering Scholars Program Coordinator
- For additional financial aid and scholarships resources for students who have experienced foster care, please contact the Fostering Scholars Program Coordinator