(a) Institutions of higher education shall include information regarding this program in the institution's catalog.

(b) If requested by potentially eligible students, institutions of higher education shall provide these students opportunities to enroll during each fall and spring semester in the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours that apply toward their degrees. Institutions are not required to provide students with the opportunity to enroll in specific courses or specific sections. Public two-year colleges will comply to the extent that courses for the current semester are being offered that apply to the student's baccalaureate degree program. The requirement may be met by allowing substitutions for required courses or by allowing concurrent enrollment in courses from another institution, so long as the courses are taught on the students' home campus and the students incur no financial penalty.

(c) General academic teaching institutions shall provide students with appropriate forms and instructions for requesting tuition reimbursement at the time that students apply for baccalaureate degrees.

(d) Institutions shall provide tuition rebates to students who apply within 60 days after graduation or provide the student with a statement explaining the reason the student is ineligible for the rebate.

(e) Institutions shall provide a dispute resolution process to resolve disputes related to local administration of the program.

(f) Disputes related to lower division credit transfer shall be resolved in accordance with Coordinating Board rules, §4.27 of this title (relating to Resolution of Transfer Disputes for Lower-Division Courses).

(g) Institutions shall establish policies and procedures for allowing otherwise eligible students to qualify for tuition rebates under this program, if the student receives a baccalaureate degree and demonstrates that the failure to comply with §13.82(4) of this title (relating to Eligible Students) was caused by a hardship condition. The policies and procedures shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following conditions:

(1) a severe illness or other debilitating condition that may affect the student's academic performance;

(2) an indication that the student is responsible for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and that the student's provision of care may affect his or her academic performance; or

(3) performance of active duty military service.

(h) Institutions may adopt policies and procedures for administering the program. For example, institutions may require students to declare their intent to qualify for a tuition rebate early in their careers or register prior to the beginning of the semester.

Source Note: The provisions of this §13.85 adopted to be effective May 21, 2001, 26 TexReg 3627; amended to be effective November 22, 2005, 30 TexReg 7729