03-010 Distance Learning Rate Determination

Last Update: February 21, 2023

Approved: June 13, 2023 by President Zvi Szafran

Policy Contact: Registrar, Director of the One-Hop Shop

Supersedes:


I. SCOPE

This document addresses SUNY Canton’s policy for awarding the Distance Learning (DL) Tuition Rate to out-of-state students.

II. POLICY STATEMENT

The purpose of this policy is to codify what the College is currently doing to evaluate whether students qualify for the Distance Learning Tuition Rate.

III. POLICY

Out-of-state students who qualify for a reduced tuition rate, identified as the “Distance Learning Rate” must meet ALL the criteria listed below:

  1. Must be enrolled entirely in distance learning classes for the semester under review, AND
  2. Must be admitted into and pursuing a program of study that is offered as an entirely online program, as denoted on the Academic Degree webpage, AND
  3. Has not had an address within the borders of New York State at any point in the current campus fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), AND
  4. Does not have a presence on campus (such as being a student athlete or involved in on-campus student activities)

Note: Distance Learning Rate is evaluated each regular (fall and spring) semester to verify that the student still qualifies.

The Distance Learning Rate is reduced from the standard out-of-state tuition rate but is not the same as the in-state tuition rate. For the latest review SUNY Tuition rates.

It is the responsibility of the student to keep their address up to date. Effective date of address change will be a factor in determining student eligibility for the DL rate. See Section V. Other Related Information for the Off-Campus Addresses policy.

IV. DEFINITIONS

Distance Learning Rate: A reduced tuition rate for students that are not categorized as in-state and would otherwise be obligated to pay the out-of-state rate. Out-of-state students must meet specific criteria to be eligible.

Distance Learning Courses: Distance learning courses have been defined for this purpose as courses that use certain technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor.

The instruction and interaction may be synchronous (occurs in real time, without time delay), or asynchronous (occurs under time delay, not in real time), or a combination of the two. The technologies may include: the internet; audio conferencing; or one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices.

V. OTHER RELATED INFORMATION

Off-Campus Addresses Policy

“All students living off campus are required to notify the College of their off-campus addresses and phone numbers by September 15 of the Fall semester or February 15 of the Spring semester or immediately thereafter following any moves. Failure to abide by this regulation will result in holds being placed on a student’s account, and the holds will not be removed until the student is in compliance. Addresses should be provided to the Residence Life Office at the time a housing release request is submitted or provided to the Registrar’s Office if the address change takes place after the release request has been submitted.”

VI. PROCEDURES

New students indicate whether they are New York State (NYS) residents at the time of application. Students that do not qualify for NYS residency might qualify for the DL rate based on the criteria above. Students will be identified for the DL rate in one of two ways: 1. Request consideration for the DL rate by contacting registrar@canton.edu. The deadline to initiate this request is close of business on the third day of classes (fall and spring semesters).

2. Review of out-of-state students who might meet the criteria is conducted by the Billing office. A report is generated prior to opening of bills in the fall and spring semesters. All out-of-state students will be reviewed to determine if they meet all the criteria required to qualify for the DL rate and can be adjusted prior to the generation of bills for the upcoming semester.

Students who request the DL rate or have been disqualified MUST be notified by the end of the second week of the regular semester.

Statement of notification at the time bills are generated:

“Please note, you have been temporarily granted the distance learning reduced tuition rate for the XXXX semester. The review process to confirm your eligibility will occur during the second week of classes. At the time of review, if it is determined that you do NOT qualify for the distance learning reduced tuition rate, the Billing Office will update your charges to reflect the appropriate tuition and fee assessment and send you an updated bill. You will be notified of such decision and would be responsible for any outstanding balance after any applicable adjustments are made.”

Continuing students will be evaluated by the Billing Office each semester prior to the opening of bills for the upcoming semester to determine if they continue to qualify for the DL rate.

Appeals Process

Students who received notice of ineligibility and believe they meet all of the criteria listed in Section III can appeal the decision by emailing registrar@canton.edu. The student must provide documentation that proves they meet all the criteria; unmet requests will be rejected by SUNY.

Review is conducted by a representative from both the Registrar and Billing offices. A notification will be sent to the student within two weeks of receiving the request.

VII. FORMS

None

VIII. AUTHORITY

None

IX. HISTORY

None

X. APPENDICES

SUNY Memorandum – Non-Resident Exclusively Online Tuition Rates – Attached

SUNY Memorandum – Amendments to 8 NYCRR Part 302.1(b): State-operated Tuition Rate Schedule

XI. FREQUENCY OF REVIEW AND UPDATE

Policies will have a normal review period of every five (5) years unless required otherwise.