Student Responsibility for Debt

Policy

The College may deny a student the opportunity to register for classes for nonpayment of tuition fees or financial aid funds.

Purpose

To establish a means for the College to handle a student's nonpayment of tuition fees or financial aid funds.

To Whom Does This Policy Apply

This policy applies to all individuals who have an outstanding financial debt with Tacoma Community College.

References

Effective June 11, 2020, RCW 28B.10.293(1) was amended to prohibit the use of withholding transcripts and registration as a means to collect funds owed to the College except for debt related to unpaid tuition fees, room and board fees, or financial aid funds owed.

Definitions

Policy – guiding principles and designated criteria by which the College will conduct its affairs.

Procedure – a course of action; a set of established methods for carrying out business related to the policy principles and criteria.

Debt – means any money, obligation, claim, or sum, due or owing, or alleged to be due or owing, from a student.

Financial Aid Funds Owed – means any financial aid funds owed to the institution under Title IV, or to the state, due to miscalculation, withdrawal, misinformation, or other reason, not including standard repayment of student loans.

Tuition fees – means tuition fees as defined in RCW 8 28B.15.020, services and activities fees as defined in RCW 9 28B.15.041, technology fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.051, and fees charged for nonstate funded, fee-based, self-supporting degree, certificate, or continuing education courses.

Hold – a temporary measure restricting registration.

Procedure

Students being placed on a debt-related registration hold will be notified of the hold and debt amount before the start of the term. The student will be notified of their debt and payment information via email and can find the amount in their CTClink account. The hold will remain on the record until the student pays for the debt that is owed.

Students are expected to meet their financial obligations to the College. Tacoma Community College staff will act per adopted procedures and, if necessary, initiate legal action to ensure that collection matters are brought to a timely and satisfactory conclusion. Collection costs, attorney fees, and interest on unpaid balances at the maximum allowable statutory rate may be added to debts owed to the College.