Program Purpose

To help enable blind and deaf students to attend public colleges or universities in the state of Texas.

Eligibility Requirements

• Texas residents
• Declare a program of study at the time he/she applies for the exemption
• Provide certification from the Department of Health and Human Services of status as a blind person or a deaf person
• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs)
• Effective Fall 2014, students must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in accordance with the institutions financial aid policy. Specifically, this means that students must:

-Maintain a financial aid GPA of at least a 2.0 (Financial AidGPA includes grades
from developmental courses), and
-Cannot be reported by the institution as having excess hours according to Education
Code 54.014
SAP is run at the end of EACH semester.

Eligible Institutions

Available only for use at a Texas public college or university.

Award Amount

All dues, fees, and enrollment charges whatsoever for which exemptions may be lawfully made, including: fees for correspondence courses, general property deposit fees, and student service fees; but, does not include fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing. No funds may be used to pay tuition for continuing education classes for which the college receives no state tax support.

Application Process

• Provide the Access - Disability Services Office in D151 at SCC (NOT Financial Aid) with certification from the Department of Health and Human Servicesof status as a blind person or a deaf person and a letter of recommendation.
  
• Provide the registrar a copy of the high school transcript
• Ensure that all admissions requirements have been met

Additional Information

To read more about this program check out: Texas Education Code, 54.364Texas Education Code, 54.364