SECTION 13.142. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Auxiliary fee--A mandatory or discretionary fee that an institution charges to recover costs from a student for a service or activity that is self-supporting.

(2) Coordinating Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(3) Course fee--A mandatory fee required of all students enrolled in a given course; or a discretionary fee required of students in a given course who wish to participate in a special activity. This includes fees for state-funded continuing education courses.

(4) Discretionary fee--An optional fee that the governing board of an institution is permitted, but not required, by statute to charge all students. Examples of this fee are parking fees charged under Texas Education Code, §54.505 and incidental fees charged under Texas Education Code, §54.504.

(A) Voluntary Fee--A discretionary fee authorized under Texas Education Code, §§54.503, 54.5061 and 54.513, that is charged only to those students who make use of the service or item for which the fee is established. This includes fees for state-funded continuing education courses.

(B) Matriculation fee--A discretionary fee authorized under Texas Education Code, §54.006(a), that an institution, other than a public community college or public technical college, may charge a student withdrawing from the institution before the first day of class.

(5) Exemptions--Programs authorized by state statute that allow a resident, and in some cases a nonresident, student to enroll in an institution of higher education and pay a reduced amount of tuition and/or fees.

(6) General academic teaching institution--An institution included in the provisions of Texas Education Code, §61.003(3).

(7) Incidental fee--A mandatory fee authorized by the governing board of an institution and collected under Texas Education Code, §55.16 or §130.084, and levied at the discretion of the governing board of an institution that is charged to all students; or a discretionary fee collected under Texas Education Code, §54.504, for particular services provided to students.

(8) Institution or institution of higher education--Any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, public state college, or other agency of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003(8).

(9) Mandatory fee--A fee authorized by statute or the governing board of an institution that is charged to a student upon enrollment. For institutions other than public community colleges, such fees would be required to be paid by the census date or other date as mandated by the state for formula funding purposes. Examples of such fees are: laboratory fees, course and incidental fees collected under Texas Education Code, §55.16(c), and other mandatory fees as authorized by the governing board of the institution. For public community colleges, such fees would include fees collected from students enrolled in state-funded continuing education courses.

(A) Laboratory fee--A mandatory fee that is charged under Texas Education Code, §54.501.

(B) Compulsory fee--A mandatory fee authorized under Texas Education Code, §§54.503, 54.5061, and 54.513.

(10) Medical and dental unit--An institution included in the provisions of Texas Education Code, §61.003(5).

(11) Optional fee--Has the same meaning as discretionary fee defined in paragraph (4) of this section.

(12) Public junior or community college--Any junior or community college certified by the board in accordance with Texas Education Code, §61.063.

(13) Public technical institute--An institution included in the provisions of Texas Education Code, §61.003(7).

(14) Required fee--Has the same meaning as mandatory fee defined in paragraph (9) of this section.

(15) Tuition--Statutory, designated, and/or board-authorized tuition.

(A) Statutory tuition--A tuition charge authorized under Texas Education Code, §54.051, in an amount determined by the Texas Legislature for resident or nonresident students. This includes the charge for state-funded continuing education courses.

(B) Designated tuition--A tuition charge authorized under Texas Education Code, §54.0513, that institutions other than public community colleges may impose on any graduate or undergraduate, resident or nonresident student, in an amount that the governing board of the institution considers necessary for the effective operation of the institution.

(C) Board authorized tuition--A tuition charge that a general academic teaching institution or a medical and dental unit may impose on any graduate resident or nonresident student in an amount as specified in Texas Education Code, §54.008.

(16) Tuition fee--Statutory, designated, and/or board-authorized tuition.

(17) Waivers--Programs authorized by state statute that allow a nonresident student to enroll in an institution of higher education and pay a reduced amount of nonresident tuition.

Source Note: The provisions of this §13.142 adopted to be effective February 21, 2006, 31 TexReg 1023; amended to be effective August 15, 2006, 31 TexReg 6331; amended to be effective September 6, 2011, 36 TexReg 5681