Nesting Place Waivers

Waivers

• Homeless Tuition Waiver

  What is the Homeless Fee Exemption?

  According to Florida Statute 1009.25(f) a student who is homeless may be exempt from paying tuition and fees. The statute defines a homeless student as one who "who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence, a public or private transitional living program, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. This includes a student who would otherwise meet the requirements of this paragraph, as determined by a college or university, but for his or her residence in college or university dormitory housing.” The State Board of Education may adopt rules and the Board of Governors may adopt regulations regarding documentation and procedures to implement this paragraph.

  How can I find out if I am Eligible for the Exemption? 

  If you think you may be eligible for the homeless exemption, you should speak with your Case Manager or Homeless Liaison Officer from the shelter or with a case manager from UNF Care Services in the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office Care Services Team can be reached via email at deanofstudents@unf.edu or via phone at 904-620-1491.

  What Paperwork is Needed to Determine if I'm Eligible and When is it Due? 

  To qualify, students will need to provide documentation to prove homelessness. Examples of documentation can include, but are not limited to:

  • Letter/document from a homeless shelter
  • Letter/document from school district homeless liaison
  • Letter/document from law enforcement/lawyer
  • Letter/document from clergy
  • Letter/document from counselor/therapist/caseworker

  Students will also need to complete the Unstable Housing Student Questionnaire and Homeless Tuition Waiver Affidavit. 

  The documentation must include the appropriate Florida Statute for tuition and fee exemption. The documentation is due to The Dean of Students Office Care Services who will provide it to the Homeless Tuition Waiver Committee before the end of the first week (drop/add) each semester of enrollment.  Paperwork can be submitted to the Dean of Students Office or by email to Katherine Tavuzhnyanskiy. The committee will review each application and approve or deny within 2 weeks of the drop/add deadline each semester. Students will be notified of the committee's decision by official university email.

• Department of Children and Family Services Waivers

  For any student for whom the state is paying foster care, is a ward of the state or who is adopted from the Department of Children and Family Services after 12/31/1997, certain tuition and related fees shall be waived. They waiver can be used until the student is 28 years of age. The waiver can be used for qualified undergraduate and graduate level courses. Students who are eligible should contact their state agency to get the DCF waiver form.

  The signed form will need to be submitted no later than the payment deadline date of the first semester you attend UNF. You only need to submit it the first term you have registered for courses that have been covered by the waiver.  If you submit your waiver form but do not register for the semester, you will need to re-submit the form the next term you register.