§3351.17.  Distance education; tuition and attendance fees; waivers; public postsecondary education management boards

A.  In addition to the authority granted by any other provision of law, including but not limited to R.S. 17:3139.5, and in accordance with Article VII, Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges may impose at each institution under its respective management and supervision for the Fall 2013 semester and thereafter tuition and attendance fees for students enrolled in an academic degree program offered entirely through distance education as defined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools when such program is comparable to a program offered through traditional in-person classroom instruction.

B.  The authority granted in Subsection A of this Section shall include the authority to impose proportional amounts for part-time students and for summer sessions.

C.  Each board shall establish criteria for waiving the tuition and fees authorized in Subsection A of this Section in cases of financial hardship as determined by the board.  Information relative to such waivers and the criteria and procedures for obtaining a waiver shall be made available to all prospective students in a timely manner such that each student is informed of the availability of a waiver prior to the student making a final decision concerning attendance.

Acts 2013, No. 426, §1, eff. June 21, 2013.