E. Honorary Degrees and Awards

1.   The Board of Trustees delegated to each USNH President the authority to award and confer honorary degrees and Granite State Awards at their respective institution, BOT II.E.1. In the same policy the Board of Trustees directed the Administrative Board to adopt a policy governing the (a) granting of honorary degrees and awards, (b) appropriate coordination among the institutions, and (c) periodic reporting to the Board of Trustees.

2.   The Presidents shall award honorary degrees according to the following criteria:

2.1   Outstanding citizens of the state who bring honor, prestige, and recognition to the state.

2.2   Outstanding alumni of the University and Colleges, whether residing in the state, out of the state, or out of the country.

2.3   Outstanding living benefactors of the University and/or the Colleges, whether their contributions are in kind, service or otherwise. Consideration should be given to former members of the University and College family--trustees, faculty, and staff--in considering potential degree recipients in this category.

2.4   Individuals of national and/or international importance whose contributions have enhanced society as a whole or who have otherwise brought significant enrichment or benefit to particular groups.

2.5   Each Governor of the State of New Hampshire shall be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at some appropriate occasion during his or her first term in office.

3.   The Presidents shall make Granite State Awards to recognize leaders of business, industry, agriculture, trade associations, and labor organizations, teachers in high or preparatory schools, professional persons, and citizens whose achievements in their own particular spheres have been outstanding for contributions they have made to New Hampshire (i.e., persons of prominence in their own communities who do not easily fit the categories of those eligible for honorary degrees, but who merit commendation). Granite State Awards are also conferred upon agencies, corporations, and foundations when these have provided extraordinary services, or have otherwise proved of great benefit to the state.

4.   If there is substantial evidence of significant distinct additional merit or service, recipients of an Honorary Degree or a Granite State Award may be eligible for a second nomination. (The Secretary of the University System is responsible for maintaining an historical record of all conferrals of degrees and awards, copies of which are made available to the President's Office of each campus.)

5.   Members of the Board of Trustees and members of the faculty and staff of the University System institutions should not, during their term of service or employment, be eligible for conferral of honorary degrees, Granite State Awards, or the naming of facilities in their honor. Barring unusual and compelling circumstances, a reasonable interim (generally a period of not less than two years) should be allowed between retirement from service or employment and nomination of such individuals for this type of recognition.

6.   No honorary degree or award shall be approved or conferred for partisan political purposes and the Board shall diligently endeavor to avoid even the appearance of such purpose.

7.   Prior to conferring an honorary degree or Granite State Award, each President shall inform the other members of the Administrative Board of his or her intentions. The Chancellor shall maintain an inventory of all recipients of honorary degrees and Granite State Awards, including the date of the degree or award and the conferring institution.

H. Tuition Waiver for Foster Children Program

1.   Description of Program. Tuition waivers are awarded to individuals who have been in state foster care, state guardianship or custody, in an out-of-home placement; or other circumstances as set forth herein, to reduce the cost of attendance at University System of New Hampshire institutions as described below.

2.   Definitions

2.1   “Tuition Waiver for Foster Children” program refers to the provisions established in New Hampshire RSA 187-A:20-b, Tuition Waiver for Children in State Foster Care or Guardianship or Guardianship After Being in State Foster Care.

2.2   “State foster care” refers to residence in a foster, relative, or group home or residential facility through an open abuse or neglect case after having been placed there by the court at the request of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

2.3   “University System of New Hampshire (USNH)” refers to the state’s public four-year institutions of postsecondary education: Plymouth State University (PSU), Keene State College (KSC), and the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

2.4   “Eligible program” is a USNH academic program leading to the award of an undergraduate certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.

2.5   “Tuition waiver” is a form of gift aid in the amount of the annual tuition and mandatory fees charged at a USNH institution.

2.6   “Gift aid” is financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, or other financial assistance that does not obligate service or monetary repayment.

2.7   “Cost of attendance” is defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1087ll and generally includes expenses for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board on- or off-campus, books, supplies, and other living expenses as calculated for financial aid packaging.

3.   Eligibility

3.1   An eligible applicant for a tuition waiver must meet the following criteria:

3.1.1   Under 26 years of age as of May 1 prior to the academic year for which aid is sought;

3.1.2   Certification of eligibility by the DHHS Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) based on meeting at least one of the following criteria:

3.1.2.1   In state foster care for the immediate 6-month period prior to their 18th birthday;

3.1.2.2   In state guardianship or custody at the time of their 18th birthday;

3.1.2.3   In guardianship, after being in state foster care or guardianship, at the time of their 18th birthday;

3.1.2.4   In placement out-of-state, through the interstate compact for the placement of children, at the time of their 18th birthday;

3.1.2.5   Adopted while in state guardianship or adopted from the care, custody, and control of the DHHS following a surrender or termination of parental rights; or

3.1.2.6   In an out-of-home placement under the supervision of the Division for Juvenile Justice Services of the DHHS at the time of their 18th birthday.

3.1.3   New Hampshire resident for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding registration for the term for which the waiver is sought and meeting all other USNH requirements for establishing New Hampshire residency (domicile) as set forth in USNH Board of Trustees Policy BOT IV.E.6.1, unless the eligible applicant was in placement out-of-state through the interstate compact for the placement of children at the time of their 18th birthday;

3.1.4   Completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), met the specified filing deadline of each respective public institution to which they have applied, and be eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid at the institution; and

3.1.5   Accepted as a full- or part-time student in an eligible undergraduate program at a USNH institution as defined above.

4.   Application

4.1   Each applicant for a tuition waiver must complete the Tuition Waiver for Foster Children application form (and signature page) and submit it to DCYF by May 1 prior to the academic year for which aid is sought.

4.2   Upon satisfactory completion of the application and upon satisfaction of waiver eligibility requirements, DCYF will certify that the applicant meets program eligibility requirements.

4.3   Tuition waiver applicants have the option to delay payment of their housing deposit until final waiver awards have been determined.

5.   Award of Tuition Waiver

5.1   A maximum of 35 tuition waivers will be awarded by the USNH for each academic year. University System tuition waivers are awarded to the recipient for a full academic year and may not be transferred to other individuals during the year.

5.2   Tuition waiver awardee designations will be determined by DCYF based on eligible applicants’ financial need.

5.3   Preference will be given to applicants most likely to remain enrolled for the full academic year.

5.4   Applicants previously awarded a tuition waiver for the preceding academic year and those who left DCYF placement on or after their 18th birthday will be given priority for awards.

5.5   Changes to award criteria may be implemented by USNH in consultation with DCYF and in compliance with state law.

6.   Payment of Tuition Waiver

6.1   The tuition waiver will be awarded by the USNH institution at which the recipient is enrolled and will be applied directly to the student’s financial account before other financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, is applied.

6.2   The tuition waiver, in combination with all other forms of gift aid, may not exceed the cost of attendance at the student’s institution.

6.3   No more than 30 credit hours of tuition may be waived per academic year.

6.4   Waiver does not apply to supplemental winter or summer coursework at a USNH institution.

7.   Renewal of Tuition Waiver

7.1   The tuition waiver will not be renewed automatically. A new application must be completed for each year that a foster child requests to be considered for a tuition waiver. The completed application form (and signature page) must be submitted to DCYF by May 1 prior to the academic year for which aid is sought.

7.2   In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements identified above, individuals seeking to renew a tuition waiver must have, in the preceding academic year, demonstrated satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.

7.3   An eligible waiver recipient at USNH may receive up to six annual tuition waivers commensurate with 150% of the normal length of time required for completion of the certificate or degree being sought, e.g., up to three years for associate degree; six years for bachelor’s.

8.   Annual Report

8.1   As directed by statute, DCYF annually will submit a report detailing the status of the program to the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee of the New Hampshire State Senate and the Children and Family Law Committee of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, or their successor committee(s). DCYF annually will provide USNH with a copy of the report.

8.2   To inform the required reporting, USNH annually will provide DCYF with information pertaining to waiver recipient enrollment status or degree completion, as authorized on the waiver application form by the recipient or the recipient’s parent or legal guardian (if the recipient is not 18 years of age or older). 

I. Tuition Waiver for Children of Disabled New Hampshire Veterans Program

1. Description of Program. Tuition waivers are awarded to children of totally and permanently disabled New Hampshire Veterans to reduce the cost of attendance at University System of New Hampshire institutions as described below.

2. Definitions

2.1 “Tuition Waiver for Children of Disabled New Hampshire Veterans” program refers to the provisions established in New Hampshire RSA 187-A:20, effective July 1, 2021.

2.2 “Totally and permanently disabled New Hampshire veteran” is a separated service member who:

2.2.1 was discharged from the Armed Services and with a rating of other than dishonorable as determined by service member’s DD-214, and;

2.2.2 is totally and permanently disabled from such service-connected disability as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the service member’s Summary of Benefits Letter or through other appropriate documentation, and;

2.2.3 was domiciled in New Hampshire at the time they entered military service or when they received their 100% disability determination, and;

2.2.4 is currently a resident of New Hampshire [effective June 17, 2022 - OR was a resident of New Hampshire at the time of their death].

2.3 “Child” or “Student” refers to a biological, adopted, or stepchild from marriage of a totally and permanently disabled New Hampshire veteran who meets the university system's residency requirements and is under the age of 27. In the case of a stepchild, the parents must be married at the time of application and remain so during the entire time of eligibility.

2.4 “University System of New Hampshire (USNH)” refers to the state’s public four-year institutions of postsecondary education: Granite State College (GSC), Plymouth State University (PSU), Keene State College (KSC), and the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

2.5 “Eligible program” is a USNH academic program leading to the award of an undergraduate certificate, associate degree, or first bachelor’s degree that is approved to receive Title IV federal financial aid.

2.6 “Tuition waiver” is a form of gift aid that represents the difference between all other gift aid and the tuition charged to a New Hampshire resident enrolled at a USNH institution in an eligible program.

2.7 “Gift aid” is financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, or other financial assistance that does not obligate service or monetary repayment. This definition shall not include Chapter 35 benefits.

2.8 “Term” shall mean the date as published in the institution’s academic calendar.

3. Eligibility

3.1 An eligible applicant for a tuition waiver must meet the following criteria:

3.1.1 Be a child of a totally and permanently disabled New Hampshire veteran; and

3.1.2 Be under the age of 27 on the first day of term during which the child intends to use the waiver; and

3.1.3 Meet the requirements establishing New Hampshire residency (domicile) as set forth in USNH Board of Trustees Policy BOT IV.E.6.1; and

3.1.4 Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid at the institution; and

3.1.5 Have exhausted all available Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits and other federally funded military tuition assistance; and

3.1.6 Have utilized available federal aid and taken reasonable steps to apply for other gift aid as suggested by the financial aid office of their respective institution; and

3.1.7 Met the specified application deadline of each respective public institution to which they have applied.

3.2 Tuition waivers will be applied in the semester they are received and going forward. Tuition waivers will not be applied retroactively to previously completed semesters.

3.3 The tuition waiver applies only to eligible programs as defined above.

3.4 Tuition waivers may not be transferred to other individuals.

3.5 Changes to award eligibility may be implemented by USNH in compliance with state law.

4. Application

4.1 Each applicant for a tuition waiver must initially complete the Tuition Waiver for Children of Disabled New Hampshire Veterans application form and signature section.

4.2 Upon satisfactory completion of the application and upon satisfaction of waiver eligibility requirements, the UNH Military and Veteran Services Office will certify that the applicant meets program eligibility requirements and forward that determination to the USNH institutions the student has expressed interest in attending.

5. Award and Payment of Tuition Waiver

5.1 The tuition waiver will be awarded by the USNH institution at which the recipient is enrolled and will be applied directly to the student's financial account after all other gift aid is applied.

5.2 The tuition waiver, in combination with all other forms of gift aid, may not exceed the tuition charged to a New Hampshire resident enrolled at a USNH institution in an eligible program.

6. Renewal of Tuition Waiver

6.1 Individuals seeking to renew a tuition waiver must have, in the preceding academic year,  demonstrated satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.

6.2 An eligible waiver recipient at USNH may receive up to six annual tuition waivers commensurate with 150% of the normal length of time required for completion of the certificate or degree being sought.

7. Annual Report

7.1 Each summer, the USNH institutions shall report to the USNH Administrative Board the number of waivers requested, number of waivers approved, and the total tuition waived during the prior academic year. The report may include suggested changes to the administration of the program.