Opportunity Tuition Waver

Freshmen Requirements and Guidelines

Tuition Waiver Eligibility Requirements

1. Graduation:  Student must have graduated from a high school in Scurry County beginning with the class of 2007.  In addition, residents of Scurry County who were home-schooled or who graduated from Snyder Academy are eligible for the scholarship with satisfactory proof of residency.

2. Grade Point Average:  Student must have graduated with a grade point average of a 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

3. Community Involvement Activities:  Prior to initial enrollment students must complete at least forty (40) hours in community involvement activities with an organization approved by Western Texas College.  Only twenty (20) of those hours can be from a religious organization.  Students may begin their volunteer hours during the summer following their junior year of high school.  The list of approved volunteer organizations is available online at http://wtc.edu/financialaid/opp_agencies.html.  Volunteer hours earned with organizations that are not on the approved list will not be accepted.    

4. Enrollment:  Student must enroll as a full-time student in at least twelve (12) semester hours at Western Texas College the Fall semester immediately following his/her graduation.  A request for exception may be made by students with medical exemptions.  An exception is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of Western Texas College.

5. Application for Admissions:  Student must complete and submit an Application for Admission and a final official transcript to the Admissions Office at Western Texas College.  The admissions process must be completed by July 15th.

6. Tuition Waiver Application:  To apply for the Opportunity Tuition Waiver, students must complete and submit the following documents to the Financial Aid Office at Western Texas College no later than July 15th preceding the semester of enrollment:
1. Opportunity Tuition Waiver Application, Completed and Signed
2. Copy of student’s current unofficial high school transcript
3. Volunteer hours time record, Completed

Incomplete applications will not be accepted

Tuition Waiver Guidelines

1. Tuition Waiver Limits:  The Opportunity Tuition Waiver covers tuition and certain fees (building and general use fees only) for a maximum of fifteen (15) hours per semester.

2. Time Limit:  The Opportunity Tuition Waiver must be used within the two (2) years immediately following high school graduation.  A student who maintains satisfactory academic progress is eligible for four (4) semesters of funding from the Opportunity Tuition Waiver, or until student completes an associate degree, whichever comes first.  The tuition waiver is available for fall and spring semesters only.  No summer or interim sessions are covered.

3. Maintaining Eligibility:  Student must remain enrolled as a full-time student in at least twelve (12) semester hours during consecutive fall and spring semesters until he/she earns an Associate of Arts degree, an Associate of Applied Science degree, or a certificate from one of the vocational programs.  Student must complete twelve (12) hours each semester with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.  If student does not meet these requirements for any given semester, the tuition waiver will be forfeited and the student will no longer be eligible to receive the tuition waiver.

4. Tuition Waiver Renewal:  The tuition waiver is not automatically renewed; student MUST reapply for his/her sophomore year.  To qualify for the tuition waiver for the sophomore year, student must have at least a 2.75 GPA and must complete forty (40) hours of community involvement activities at an approved site.  Only twenty (20) of those hours can be from a religious organization.  The Volunteer Hours Time Sheet must be submitted along with student’s application.