Oregon National Guard and Reserve members who have served in areas of active hostility since Sept. 11, 2001, will receive free tuition at Oregon University System colleges starting fall term 2005, OUS reported Friday.
The State Board of Higher Education approved the Voyager Tuition Program at its March 4 meeting. The program will waive remaining institutional fees not covered by federal tuition assistance for eligible Oregon Guard and Reservists. All seven of the state’s public universities will offer the remission.
According to a press release, OUS is working to exempt the program from legislative fee remission caps.
Students must be Oregon residents, admitted to the campus they wish to attend and working on their first degree in order to be eligible for the program, according to an OUS fact sheet. Students must exhibit satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving assistance.
The University is expected to receive less than 100 Voyager-eligible students. OUS calculated that more than 600 would use the program statewide for an estimated total payout of $316,900.