CHAPTER 4.5 
Senior Citizens Higher Education.

Sec.

23-38.54. Title of chapter.
23-38.55. Definitions.
23-38.56. Attendance at state institutions; conditions.
23-38.57. [Repealed.]
23-38.58. Courses; terms; number and limitations.
23-38.59. Catalogue to include statement of benefits.
23-38.60. Determination of senior citizen status; forms.

 § 23-38.54. Title of chapter. -- This chapter may be cited as the "Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974." (1974, c. 463.)

 § 23-38.55. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section:

1. "Senior citizen" shall mean any person who, before the beginning of any term, semester or quarter in which such person claims entitlement to the benefits of this chapter, (i) has reached sixty years of age and (ii) has had his legal domicile in this Commonwealth for one year.
2. "Course" shall mean any course of study offered in any state institution of higher education including the regular curriculum of any department, or school, or subdivision of any such institution or any special course given for any purpose, including, but not limited to, adult education.
3. [Repealed.]Nothing in this section shall be construed to exclude any other rules and requirements now or hereafter made applicable for all other persons with respect to residency in this Commonwealth by a state institution of higher learning. (1974, c. 463; 1976, c. 19; 1977, c. 281.)

 § 23-38.56. Attendance at state institutions; conditions. -- A senior citizen shall be permitted, under regulations as may be prescribed by the State Council of Higher Education:

1. To register for and enroll in courses as a full-time or part-time student for academic credit if such senior citizen had a taxable individual income not exceeding $15,000 for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding the year in which enrollment is sought;
2. To register for and audit courses offered for academic credit; and
3. To register for and enroll in courses not offered for academic credit in any state institution of higher education in this Commonwealth.

Such senior citizen shall pay no tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials, such as laboratory fees, but shall be subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course or courses for which the senior citizen registers. The State Council of Higher Education shall establish procedures to ensure that tuition-paying students are accommodated in courses before senior citizens participating in this program are enrolled. However, the state institutions of higher education may make individual exceptions to these procedures when the senior citizen has completed seventy-five percent of the requirements for a degree. (1974, c. 463; 1977, c. 281; 1982, c. 677; 1984, c. 371; 1988, c. 90; 1989, c. 101; 1999, c. 381.)

The 1999 amendment, in subdivision (i), inserted "individual," and substituted "Virginia" for "federal."

 § 23-38.57: Repealed by Acts 1977, c. 281. 

 § 23-38.58. Courses; terms; number and limitations. -- There shall be no limit to the number of terms, quarters or semesters in which a senior citizen who is not enrolled for academic credit may register for courses but he may register for no more than three courses in any one term, quarter or semester. (1974, c. 463; 1977, c. 281.)

 § 23-38.59. Catalogue to include statement of benefits. -- Each state institution of higher learning shall prominently include in its catalogue a statement of the benefits provided by this chapter for senior citizens. (1974, c. 463; 1977, c. 281.)

 § 23-38.60. Determination of senior citizen status; forms. -- The registrar or other admissions officer of an institution of higher learning shall determine whether a person is a senior citizen pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Upon determination that a person qualifies as a senior citizen, the registrar or other admissions officer may require such person to execute appropriate forms to request the benefits provided by this chapter. (1974, c. 463.)

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