5.11.1 Student Tuition and Fees

1. System-wide Fees: In compliance with the NC State Code 23, 2D.0201(as amended), all tuition and registration fees are set by the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges. These fees apply to both Curriculum and Non-curriculum (non-curriculum) courses which are supported by state funds. North Carolina residents who meet certain statutory criteria may be exempt from paying tuition and fees.
2. Specific Fees: The Board of Trustees may set specific fees in accordance with state prescribed guidelines. Such specific fees may be adjusted during the college year by the President to reflect changes in the cost of operations. These fees are as follows: student activity fees, computer use and technology fees, parking fees, verification of student identity fees, and live project and patron fees.
3. High School Student Fees: From the list of specific fees in Paragraph “B” above, the following fees shall not be charged to high school students who are enrolled in Blue Ridge Community College courses when such courses are held on high school campuses: student activity fees, computer use and technology fees, and parking fees.
4. Community Service Fees: The Board of Trustees sets registration and tuition fees for community service fee-supported courses.
5. Self-supporting Class Fees: The Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education sets fees for self-supporting classes (see Policy 5.13 –Self-supporting Course Sections). Self-supporting classes require each student to pay a pro rata share of the cost. Since the pro rata share assumed is not considered a registration fee, no individual or group is exempt.
6. The list of tuition charges and optional fees is published in each new edition of the College Catalog. Notice of fee and tuition changes is published on the College's website.
7. Procedures for granting tuition and fee refunds are as follows:
   1. Curriculum Classes: In compliance with State Board of Community Colleges Code, a student who officially withdraws from a curriculum class will be eligible for a 100% tuition refund if such withdrawal is made on or before the “last day to add a class” date which is published in the Academic Calendar prior to the beginning of each semester. The student must drop the courses through WebAdvisor prior to the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled in a course that is cancelled by the college will be eligible for a 100% tuition and fee refund. A 75% refund of the tuition may be made if the student officially withdraws from a class after the “last day to add a class” date (defined above) but prior to or on the official 10% point of the semester. Students must contact their instructor or the appropriate Dean or remove the course through WebAdvisor to officially withdraw from a class after the semester begins. Refunds for official withdrawals from classes beginning later in the semester (e.g., telecourses) than the scheduled date in the semester, are as follows: 100% if officially withdrawn prior to the first class meeting, 75% if withdrawn prior to or on the 10% point of class
   2. Non-curriculum Classes: This section applies to all course sections except those course sections that begin and end on the same calendar day. The college shall not provide a student a refund using state funds after the start of a course section that begins and ends on the same calendar day. A student who officially withdraws from a non-curriculum class before the first day of class will be eligible for a 100% tuition refund. The student must submit in writing to the Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education Division their intent to withdraw. A student is eligible for a 100% refund if the class “fails to make” because of insufficient enrollment. A 75% refund of the tuition may be made if the student officially withdraws from a class after it begins but prior to or on the official 10% point of the class.
   3. Refunds will be processed using Higher One and will be made at the earliest date following the 10% point of the semester, as determined by the Division of Finance. Student fees are non-refundable after the 100% refund period.
   4. If a student, having paid the required tuition for semester, dies during the semester (prior to or on the last day of examinations of the College), all tuition for that semester may be refunded by mail to the estate of the deceased.
   5. Military Refund - Upon request of the student, the college shall:
      1. Grant a full refund of tuition and fees to military reserve and National Guard personnel called to active duty or active duty personnel who have received temporary or permanent reassignments as a result of military operations that make it impossible for then to complete their course requirements. 
      2. Buy back textbooks through the Colleges' bookstore operations to the extent allowable under the College’s buy back procedures.
      3. The College shall use distance learning technologies and other educational methodologies, to the extent possible as determined by the College, to help active duty military students, under the guidance of faculty and administrative staff, complete their course requirements.
   6. No tuition refund will be made to a student who withdraws without official authorization or who is dismissed for cause. The Division of Student Services or the Non-curriculum Department, as applicable, makes decisions on tuition refunds.
   7. In cases where a student is a confirmed “No Show” in one or all of their classes, BRCC will adjust off the balance of tuition and fees for those particular classes. Refunds will not be issued for “No Shows”
8. Students may use an online deferred payment plan for the purpose of deferring payment of curriculum tuition and required service fees. Guidelines are as follows:
   1. Students may not have any outstanding indebtedness with the College.
   2. Students are responsible for accessing the deferred payment agent online and entering the correct information regarding student information, charges for tuition and fees, method of payment, and proper account numbers.
   3. Students must have valid financial account information and funds for correct payment or payment plan agreements may be terminated.
   4. Students must enter into a payment plan agreement during the stated times for registration.
   5. Students are responsible for informing the Blue Ridge Community College Cashier’s Office of any changes in classes whether adding or dropping courses.
   6. Students are responsible for all payments. The tuition for classes officially dropped on the first day of the semester up until the 10% point of that semester is refunded at 75%, and the remaining 25% will be the responsibility of the student. The tuition for classes officially dropped after the 10% point of the semester is not refundable and is the responsibility of the student. Service fees are not refundable.
   7. Information regarding the deferred payment program is available on the Blue Ridge Community College Website.
9. Collection Policy: Students are responsible for any and all amounts due on their account. Non-curriculum students must pay all required course fees or provide an authorization letter for sponsor payment at the time of registration for the course. Curriculum students must pay all tuition and fees in full, officially enroll in the Deferred Payment Plan (Fall and Spring semesters only), have pending financial aid showing on their account, or provide an authorization letter for sponsor payment by the payment deadlines published for each semester. Curriculum students are considered to have a past due balance if a balance is still due on their account after the published payment deadline or on the last day of academic semester for which the charges are incurred. This balance could have resulted from failure to adhere to the conditions of the Deferred Payment Plan, financial aid was reduced or revoked, or a sponsor declined payment for any reason. A student's failure to pay an outstanding balance due to the College may impact the student's ability to register for future classes, receive final grades and/or receive an official transcript. Outstanding accounts also may be turned over to the North Carolina Department of Revenue, North Carolina Attorney General's Office for collection, and/or a collection agency where credit could be adversely affected.
   
   Attempts are made during the semester for collection through billing statements that are to be mailed for all outstanding accounts. Past due accounts will have a second notice mailed at the end of the semester. If no collection is made within 30 days of the second notice, a third and final personal letter will be sent. The letter will detail the date, purpose and amount of the debt as well as advise the student of the State policy regarding grades, transcripts and registration for future classes. If the above procedure fails within 30 days the following collection options are available to the College based on the amount past due:

• • Any account over sixty (60) days past due may be turned over to the NC Department of Revenue, Set-Off Debt Unit, to collect from your NC State Tax Refund until your account is paid in full. This is in accordance with G.S. Chapter 105A of the North Carolina General Statutes, Set-Off Debt Collection Act.
  • Any account over sixty (60) days past due may be turned over to the NC Attorney General’s Office, Collection Section where legal action may be taken to collect the outstanding debt.
  • Any account over sixty (60) days past due may be turned over to a collection agency where credit may be adversely affected. Once the account has been submitted to a collection agency, payment must be remitted to them directly.

Payment plans and/or other payment arrangements are not available to past due accounts.