Permanently Disabled Discount

Rules & Procedures 

Permanently Disabled Fee Discount/Waiver rules and forms are available at the MT One Stop. Permanently disabled students should register and submit these forms to the MT One Stop as outlined below. T.C.A. 49-7-113. Disabled and Elderly Persons–Auditing or Enrollment.

(a)(1) Disabled persons suffering from a permanent total disability which totally incapacitates such person from working at an occupation which brings him an income, and persons who have retired from state service with thirty (30) or more years of service, regardless of age, or persons who will become sixty (60) years of age or older during the academic quarter or semester, whichever is applicable, in which such persons begin classes and, who are domiciled in Tennessee, may audit courses at any state-supported college or university without paying tuition charges, maintenance fees, student activity fees or registration fees; however, this privilege may be limited or denied by the college or university on an individual classroom basis according to space availability.(a)(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply at medical schools, dental or pharmacy schools, and no institution of higher education shall be required to make physical alterations of its buildings or other facilities to comply with this section.(a)(3) Prior to admittance, the university or college involved may require an affidavit or certificate from a physician or an agency charged with compensating the disabled person or adjudicating the permanent total disability of the person who is requesting admittance to classes, that such person is permanently totally disabled as set forth herein. 

(a)(4)A student who is receiving services under federal or state vocational rehabilitation programs is not eligible for a waiver of tuition and fee benefits under this section.

(b) Subject to the same terms and conditions as provided in subsection (a), disabled persons, as defined in subsection (a), and persons who will become sixty-five (65) years of age or older during the academic quarter or semester, whichever is applicable, in which such persons begin classes and, who are domiciled in Tennessee, may be enrolled in courses, for credit at state-supported colleges and universities without payment of tuition charges, maintenance fees, student activity fees or registration fees, except that the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee and the board of regents of the state university and community college system may provide for a service fee which may be charged by the institutions under their respective jurisdictions, the fee to be for the purpose of helping to defray the cost of keeping the records of such students and not to exceed seventy dollars ($70) a semester.

Special Instructions

Documentation Requirements

To establish eligibility for the waiver program:

• Proof of disability and non-working status must be submitted to the MT One Stop at the beginning of each new academic year.
• A new discount form must be submitted each semester.
• Acceptable proof of disability and non-working status includes:
  • A Social Security Disability statement (payment amounts may be redacted), AND
  • Wage and income transcript from www.IRS.gov showing that no income was earned for the most recent tax year

Note: If you are not currently receiving SSI Disability income, please contact MT One Stop for additional options.

Registration Timing

Due to the “space availability” rule, the reduced tuition rate cannot be applied to classes registered for during priority registration.

• You may register no earlier than four weeks before the start of the term.
• The official registration start date is listed in the Registration Guide under “Dates at a Glance” for “Fee Waiver Participants.”
• Any courses registered before this official date are not eligible for the reduced rate.

Audit and Credit Options

Students approved for this program may choose one of the following:

• Audit courses at no tuition charge, or
• Earn credit by paying a service fee not to exceed $70.00 per term.

Note: Students are still responsible for all additional costs, including materials, online/distance education fees, flight lab fees, and any special course fees.

Admission and Application Fees

Applicants must meet MTSU’s admission requirements.

• A $25.00 application fee is required for undergraduate applicants.
• A $50.00 application fee is required for graduate applicants.

Questions?

Contact the MT One Stop at [email protected], or speak to someone live via a virtual Zoom meeting by visiting  https://mtsu.edu/one-stop/onestopcounter.php