Continuing Education, Senior Citizen Classes

In accordance with the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act, Code of Virginia §23.1-639 - 642, senior citizens who are at least 60 years of age and have had legal domicile in Virginia for at least one year are eligible to register and enroll in most courses, free of tuition and fees, except for course material fees. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has enacted regulations that provide admission to senior citizens solely on a “space-available basis after all tuition-paying students have been accommodated.” (8 VAC 40-20-20). Therefore, the registration period for senior citizens who wish to apply the tuition waiver opens the last working day (Monday through Friday) before the class session begins.

A senior citizen is entitled to enroll and not pay tuition on a space-available basis for the following types of courses, as specified:

    Credit Courses -- eligible if taxable income has not exceeded $23,850 for the preceding year in which enrollment is sought. These courses will be transcripted with a letter grade (A-F).

    Credit Courses for Audit -- eligible regardless of income. No credit will be awarded and the courses will be transcripted with a grade of X (audit).

    Non-Credit (CEU) Courses (through Workforce Development) -- eligible regardless of income. You must register for these courses by contacting Workforce Development.

Note that classes listed on the online course schedule may be canceled for insufficient enrollment prior to the class start date.

Seniors with tuition waivers must purchase their own books and pay any fees for course materials. Seniors applying tuition waivers to credit classes are limited to a maximum of three courses per term.  

Tuition waiver opportunities are limited to classes that are already being offered with a sufficient number of tuition-paying students enrolled.   Senior must complete the Student Tuition Assistance Agreement, Senior Citizens Guidelines for Eligibility