HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents approved a new policy Thursday that allows for community college course registration despite outstanding student balances in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the policy, community college campuses can allow students who owe up to $1,200 to register for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 courses.
It is a temporary change to the policy that prohibits students who have an outstanding balance to register for future courses until that balance is paid in full, according to Richard Balducci, Chair of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee.
"The change will help keep our students enrolled and working toward completion despite of their personal financial difficulties," Balducci said.
Students who take part in the new policy program will need to agree to pay their outstanding balance within one calendar year through a payment plan, Balducci said.
Those students who owe more than $1,200 can seek approval of the campus CEO to register for summer and fall courses.
"That's what we're all about is helping our students deal with the urgent financial hardship which most of them, many of them will be facing of no fault of their own through loss of job, etc., as a result of this pandemic," Balducci said.