Getting Started

Getting Started

Detailed getting started information, based on educational goals and student type, is located on the Green River College website at greenriver.edu/students/academics/getting-started.

Admissions Information

Who Can Apply?

Admission to Green River College is open to anyone who has a high school diploma, High School Equivalency Certificate, or is at least 18 years old. Students who do not meet these requirements should see the Admission Policy for exceptions. Green River College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, religion, age, or on any other unlawful basis.

When Should You Apply?

Students may apply any time prior to the beginning of the quarter they plan to start classes. It is beneficial for the student to apply early and work through the Getting Started Steps before enrollment begins for the quarter they wish to start.

Students may begin most programs any quarter, but some career/technical programs begin only during certain quarters. See the Programs of Study  section of this catalog to determine specific program entry times.

How Do You Apply?

Students may apply for Green River College admission:

• Online at greenriver.edu/applynow, or in person with the Registrar’s Office in the Student Affairs and Success Center, room SA-280
• International students may follow the International Programs admission steps
• Running Start studentshave additional admission requirements and should contact the Running Start Office
• Veteran or military-connected students may contact the Veteran Services Office for additional resources and support

After the college has processed the admissions application, students will be emailed an official acceptance letter. This will go to the email account used to create the application profile. The email will include their student identification number and important informational links guiding them through the getting started process.

Application for Readmission

Students who have not attended Green River for at least one year may reapply online with the link above, in the Student Affairs and Success Center, or by calling the Office of the Registrar. Once the record has been updated, they will be assigned an enrollment appointment time. Only students who have earned credit at Green River in the past are eligible to enroll as returning students.

Selective Admission Program Requirements

Green River College has many programs of study which require additional admission requirements for acceptance into the program, to ensure student success. Students need to refer to the Programs of Study  section in this catalog for individual program requirements. For more information, contact the program manager, advisor or faculty for the specific program.

The Health Sciences programs comply with the Child/Adult Abuse Information Act, RCW 43.43.830-43.43.840. Each student applying to a Health Sciences program is required to submit to a background investigation for criminal history information prior to entry into the program.

Transfer-In Students

Admission for students transferring from another college is regulated by the same standards that apply to new Green River students. Transfer students are required to indicate all previous college work when they complete the application process.

Students transferring credits from other institutions, those who have military experience, or credit earned through advanced high school tests (AP/IB/CI) must provide the Registrar’s Office with official transcripts in a sealed envelope, along with a Transcript Evaluation Request Form. Students with previous college credits can visit the Career & Advising Center webpage to schedule an appointment for advising as a transfer-in student. These students are exempt from participating in the New Student Advising and Enrollment session.

Once official transcripts are received they become the property of Green River College and will not be returned to students. Students will be notified in their ctcLink Message Center when the transcript evaluation has been completed. This correspondence will become part of the student’s official record.

It is to the student’s advantage to request a Transcript Evaluation Request as early as possible. Enrollment appointment times at Green River are calculated on a credit-earned basis. Transferred-in credits will be used to assign an earlier enrollment appointment time after students have attended their first quarter at Green River College. A transcript evaluation must be completed by a Credentials Evaluator prior to the following quarter’s enrollment in order for students to get an earlier enrollment appointment time.

Placement Information

greenriver.edu/placement

Many courses require an assessment of a student’s skill level in reading and/or math to ensure students are prepared to successfully complete the course. Placement in English and math courses can be determined through various means including high school and college level coursework and assessments, Green River assessments, and placement reciprocity. Visit the Course Placement Options webpage to learn more about options and processes for demonstrating course eligibility.

For more information about Green River’s placement options, please visit greenriver.edu/testing or call the Placement & Testing Center at (253) 288-3449.

Placement into Language Courses

Students with one year or less of high school language courses will begin in foreign language courses numbered &121, unless otherwise placed by a language instructor.

Students who have taken more than one year of a high school language classes may be able to use their High School transcript for placement. Students who have taken college-level languages should continue the sequence. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for placement purposes through the Secure Upload tool.

Students transferring to a four-year institution should know the foreign language requirements at the school of their choice.

Money For College

If paying for college expenses is a concern, Green River College offers multiple funding assistance programs. Green River’s philosophy is that people should have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals, regardless of income. Scholarship, grant, loan, work-study, Workforce Education and agency-funded programs may be available for those who qualify for assistance. For more information on funding options please visit greenriver.edu/students/pay-for-college.

Green River Foundation Scholarships

The Green River College Foundation offers over 275 scholarships each year. Students who complete the online applications may be eligible for scholarships in the following categories: program based, merit based, need based, summer completion, general scholarships, and transfer scholarships.

The Foundation Scholarship has two application cycles, January through April 30th and September through mid-October. For additional information, please visit greenrivercollegefoundation.org/applynow.

Workforce Education

Green River College provides assistance with tuition, fees, books, tools and individual support services for students who qualify for funding assistance. The Workforce Education Office has funding programs that serve those who:

• Receive or have exhausted their unemployment benefits
• Have recently lost their job, ended self-employment, or received notice of impending layoff
• Qualify as low income
• Receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Are divorces, widowed, or separated
• Need additional skills to retain or upgrade their job

For additional information about Workforce Education funding programs and to find out if you qualify, please visit greenriver.edu/workforce. 

Financial Aid

Financial Aid programs at Green River College are administered according to nationally established policies and guidelines, which are based on the belief that parents have the primary responsibility for assisting their children with educational expenses.

Process

Students may be eligible for Federal and/or Washington State financial aid; find out which option is right for you. Complete the appropriate application online each academic year: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), and include Green River’s school code: 003780.

Financial Aid priority processing dates are: summer (April 30); fall (April 30); winter (Oct. 31); spring (Jan. 31). Priority will be given to applications received by these dates. Additional funding will be awarded after the priority dates, based on availability.

Check ctcLink for the status of your application and any additional documents that may be required. Submit any required documents or forms through the Secure File Upload tool and choose Financial Aid for the department.

For additional information, contact the Financial Aid Office at (253) 288-3392 or finaid@greenriver.edu.

Green River College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, disability, or on any other unlawful basis. The college is committed to preventing and stopping discrimination, including harassment of any kind and any associated retaliatory behavior.

Eligibility

To be eligible for financial assistance through federal and state programs, a student must:

• Have earned a high school diploma or GED or be approved for Ability to Benefit (ATB)
• Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Not owe a refund or repayment on any federal grant or be in default on a federal student loan

Programs

For Financial Aid purposes the degrees found in list below are open enrollment which enables all students who wish to pursue this degree to complete the “Program Degree Requirements” (courses in the areas of English, Biological Sciences, Psychology, etc.). The “Program Degree Requirements” provide the foundation for the subsequent Required Core classes (i.e. OTA, PTA, PNURSE).

• Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS 

• Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS 

• Practical Nursing, AAS

Payment Plan

A Payment Plan is available to assist students in paying their tuition and fees in three manageable payments. Each payment is 1/3 of the total tuition and fees for the quarter, due by the published payment due dates. 

The Payment Plan is also an option for students who are waiting for their financial aid funding, and missed the priority processing deadline.

How to Enroll:

• Enroll in classes on or after your enrollment appointment time for the quarter
• Enroll in the Payment Plan through your ctcLink account Financial Account tile. This will add the $25 non-refundable Payment Plan enrollment fee to your account.
• Follow the published payment due dates.

Note: Being enrolled in the Payment Plan is not a tuition deferment hold. Students on the Payment Plan are responsible for making all payments by the scheduled deadlines.

Once a student has made at least a partial payment of tuition while on the Payment Plan, they are obligated to the balance and will not be dropped for lack of payment.

Veteran and Military-Connected Student Information

VA Educational Benefits

Selected academic programs of study at Green River College are approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council’s State Approving Agency (WSAC/SAA) and/or the Workforce Training Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits Chapters 30, 33 and 35 under Title 38 and Chapters 1606 under Title 10, U.S. Code. In addition, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits - Training and Rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities under Title 38, U.S. Code, Chapter 31 are also accepted at Green River.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 § (e), this college adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Green River College will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment.
• Assess a late penalty fee.
• Require student to secure alternative or additional funding.
• Deny a student’s access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class.
• Provide written request to be certified.
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

The Code of Federal Regulations (38 CFR 21.4201) states the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall not approve the enrollment of a VA-eligible person, not already enrolled, in any course for any period during which more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the students enrolled in the course are having all or part of their tuition, fees or other charges paid to or for them by an educational institution of the VA. 

In-state and/or reduced tuition rates may be available to veterans who meet specific state requirements. For more information, please visit the Office of the Registrar with a copy of your DD214.

Veterans may also be eligible for priority registration. Individuals must meet the established eligibility criteria and submit a copy of their DD214 (Member 4 copy or Service 2 copy) to the Office of the Registrar.

Evaluation of Prior Credit/Military Experience

Prior credits earned from other institutions, as well as military education and training (which may or may not result in academic credit) can be submitted for evaluation to the Office of the Registrar. If classes are certified to the Department of Veterans of Affairs for payment of education benefits but are not required for a student’s academic program of study after prior transcripts are evaluated, the classes will be decertified, and a debt may be owed to the VA and/or Green River College. 

Academic Standards

The VA requires education benefits to veterans and other eligible dependents be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward completion of their program of study. To meet SAP, a student receiving VA educational benefits must earn a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher each quarter and earn all eligible credits certified to the VA. If a student does not meet SAP, the student will be placed on probation status. If a student on probation status does not make satisfactory academic progress, the student will be placed on termination status. On termination status, a student’s education benefits are suspended. To remove the suspension, the student must self-reinstate their benefits by completing a term on their own without VA funding, enrolled in at least ¾ time (9 to 11 credits) and meet SAP for the term. There is a one-time opportunity to appeal the suspension. If the appeal is approved, the student will be certified for one more quarter. If the student does not make satisfactory academic progress during an appealed quarter, the student will have to self-reinstate their benefits.

Academic Program Revisions

Federal regulations prevent the VA/SAA from approving programs that include training the Secretary of VA deems “avocational” or “recreational.” Private pilot training has been determined, by the VA, to fit this definition, therefore Green River College may no longer approve VA education benefits for programs including private pilot training.

Other Military-Connected Programs

Veteran Readiness and Employment - Chapter 31

Veterans utilizing Veteran Readiness and Employment CH 31 benefits must work directly with their VR&E Case Manager assigned to them by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The case manager will send Green River College the necessary authorization paperwork to activate benefits. Please contact Veteran Services at 253-288-3452 or veterans@greenriver.edu for more information.

Reduced Tuition

In-state and/or reduced tuition rates may be available to Veteran students and/or their dependents who meet specific state requirements. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at (253) 288-3383, with a copy of the Veteran’s DD214 (Member 4 copy or Service 2 copy) or the Certificate of Eligibility.

Lower Level (Under 300-level) Tuition Rates, after 10% discount

Upper Level (300-level and above) Tuition Rates, after 10% discount:

Dependents’ Tuition and Fees Waiver

Tuition and fees are waived for dependents of 100% disabled Veterans or those who have died as a result of military service. Please check with the Office of the Registrar at (253) 288-3383 to see if you qualify.

Military Tuition Assistance Programs

Active Duty Military personnel and their eligible spouses may access Department of Defense sponsored Tuition Assistance Programs [Military Tuition Assistance (TA) or My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)] for education pursued at Green River College. Students are advised to initiate contact with these resources early in the enrollment process to ensure payment authorization is in place by the time tuition is due. Please visit or call the Cashiers Office at (253) 288-3399 for further information.

VIE-25

The VIE-25 program connects service members with career credentials during their last six months of military service so they qualify for in-demand jobs right away. Please contact Workforce Education at (253) 288-6550 for additional details.

Advising

Online Orientation

New students are able to access online orientation immediately following their admission to Green River College. Online orientation guides students through several informational modules which cover the fundamentals of not only attending Green River College, but strategies for success as a college student. Completion of the orientation is a critical first step for new students in the getting started process. Once completed, students are guided through the next steps including placement, advising, and first quarter enrollment.

Help with placement and navigating the new student process:

New students may meet with a staff member in the Career and Advising Center for assistance with understanding their course placement in English and math courses as well as their program requirements in these subjects. Additionally, funding options and appropriate next steps such as meeting with faculty, attending an information session, and attending an Advising and Enrollment session are addressed. During this meeting, students are assigned an advisor appropriate to their program of study for future assistance.

New Student Advising and Enrollment (NSAE)

All new students to the college are required to attend a New Student Advising and Enrollment (NSAE) session. These group advising sessions are facilitated by the Career and Advising Center staff and are intended to cover the details of selecting a degree, a first quarter class schedule and online class enrollment. Student participants are offered advising assistance when enrolling in their classes. Students are instructed to connect with their assigned advisor after the session for one-on-one advisement and academic planning. 

First Quarter Advising and On-Going Advising Resources

All students new to Green River should reach out to their assigned advisor for a first quarter advising appointment. Advisor assignments are available in the student’s ctcLink account, under the Academic Progress tile. At this appointment, students work with their faculty or professional advisor to co-create an educational plan. Educational plans provide students with projected quarterly schedules of courses required for their intended program of study. Plans can help students with the sequencing of required courses as well as an idea of the estimated length of time to complete their program of study.

Students who are undecided on their degree or program should take time to explore their interests by taking a career assessment and meet with a Career Specialist in the Career and Advising Center. Students may make an appointment with a specialist by contacting the Career and Advising Center at (253) 288-3482 or visit SA-104.

Beyond the first quarter, advising is an important service to students. Full-time faculty members, educational planners and other trained staff serve as advisors to help students set educational goals. Advisors will provide information about classes, programs, and educational support services. Participation in advising will provide students with individualized attention needed to discuss goals, select classes, and meet with knowledgeable faculty in their field of study.

Although advisors are available to assist with program planning, it is the student’s responsibility to be informed about degree or program requirements and college policies. Students who intend to transfer to a four-year college should take time to learn about that school’s requirements.

To make the advising experience work, students should:

• Get to know their advisor and visit with them at least once a quarter, if not more often. This person is available to help students succeed, so take advantage of this resource.
• Determine the classes they need to complete their educational goals by running a Degree Audit each quarter.
• Ask their advisor to help co-create an educational plan and timetable.
• If transferring to a four-year college or university, identify the school(s) as early as possible and carefully review their website and transfer requirements. College catalogs, transfer guides and other college information are available for student use in the Career and Advising Center.

Enrollment

Enrollment is the process where students schedule classes for upcoming quarters. Enrollment dates are announced by the college each quarter and are published on the Green River website.

Green River College reserves the right to deny admission to, or cancel the enrollment of, any individual whose attendance would not be of mutual benefit to the individual and the college.

Enrollment Appointment Time

Enrollment appointment times are the date and time in which students can begin enrolling for the term. There is no appointment with a staff member. Students may login to their ctcLink account to add classes to their schedule and follow the check-out process. Classes can be added to the student’s shopping cart prior to the enrollment appointment time, but are not officially enrolled until the check-out process is complete.

Current and Returning Students

Currently enrolled and returning students are assigned enrollment appointment times based on the number of credits they have earned at Green River, plus any officially transferred-in credits from other institutions. Enrollment appointment times are available two weeks prior to the start of enrollment and can be found in the student’s ctcLink account.

Students returning after a year-long break, or who are changing their declared start quarter, must contact the Office of the Registrar to have their record updated. Students must have an active record in order to receive an enrollment appointment time.

New Students

New student enrollment begins after the currently enrolled and returning student enrollment cycle. New students who have an application on file will automatically be assigned an enrollment appointment time. New students are eligible to enroll upon completion of their orientation session.

Online Enrollment

Quarterly enrollment is completed in the student’s ctcLink account, under the Manage Classes tile. Enrollment Dates, Class Search, Shopping Cart, and Planner are available to assist in enrolling in classes. Classes can be placed in the student’s shopping cart prior to the enrollment appointment time, but are not officially enrolled in until the shopping cart has been checked out. Anything preventing enrollment in the class will be presented in a message after the enrollment attempt.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment requirements, also known as course prerequisites, are used to indicate a student is eligible to enroll in a class. Milestones, test scores, and previously completed courses that have been officially transferred in are all elements that may meet enrollment requirements. Students should contact their advisor with any questions regarding enrollment requirements.

Last Day To Enroll

Students may only enroll themselves online until the third day of classes, except for summer quarter, when students must enroll by the second day of classes. The only exceptions to this rule are identified late-start classes and those classes categorized as continuous enrollment, as indicated by the Curriculum Office. Students still wishing to add a class to their schedule after the third day of the quarter (second day in summer), will need their instructor’s permission via signature or email.

Overloaded Classes

Full classes may only be enrolled in with instructor permission and division chair approval. This can be sent to the Office of the Registrar via email or a signed Full Class Overload Approval form.

Credit Load

A student must enroll for a minimum of 12 credits to be considered a full-time student for financial aid, insurance or other programs. A full-time student will enroll for an average of 12 to 18 credits each quarter.

Maximum Credit Load

If students are enrolled in a career/technical degree or certificate program, 25 credits is the maximum number of credits they may enroll per quarter. Students must have permission from their advisor to take over 25 credits by submitting an Override Maximum Credit Load Request or emailing the Office of the Registrar.

If students are in an academic program and wish to enroll for more than 20 credits, they must complete an Override Maximum Credit Load Request form and obtain special permission from their advisor and from an administrator. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for their requests to be considered.

If students are heavily involved in extracurricular activities, it is advised they limit themselves to a 12 credit load. Twelve credits is the normal requirement for eligibility in the activity programs at Green River and the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

No-Show Replacement

A No-Show Replacement is used when a class is at full capacity. If an enrolled student misses the first class session without notifying the instructor, the instructor may complete a No-Show Replacement allowing another student entry into the class. If the non-attending student is submitted as a no-show, the student will be dropped from the class roster by the Office of the Registrar.

Auditing a Class

Students may audit a class by enrolling for information only (no credit given) and attending class regularly. Students must declare their intention to audit at the time of registration. Auditing does not affect the grade point average (GPA). Auditors must pay regular tuition and fees.

Waitlist Procedure

Students attempting to enroll in a full class have the option to place themselves on a waitlist.

Permission codes will not allow students to by-pass the waitlist option and enroll into a full class. The waitlist process works as follows:

• Online or in-person enrollment will provide the option to be added to a waitlist for a full class. All enrollment requirements must be met to be added to a waitlist.
• Students may be waitlisted in up to 18 credits.
• The “swap” option in ctcLink allows students to select a different section of the same course for waitlist, and the system will swap the classes if the waitlisted class becomes available.
• Students should review their schedule every few days via the Manage Classes tile in ctcLink to see if they have been added to a class they were waitlisted for.
• The Office of the Registrar will notify students through their ctcLink Message Center when they have been moved off a waitlist and into the class.
• Students are responsible for making sure their schedule is accurate by dropping any unwanted classes. Failure to do so may result in a 0.0 grade being posted to their transcript and possible additional tuition and fee charges.
• Students can remove their name from a waitlist through the Manage Classes tile in their ctcLink account or by contacting the Office of the Registrar via email to request they be removed from a class waitlist.
• Waitlists close two (2) days prior to the start of the quarter to allow schedules and class rosters to be prepared the day before the quarter starts.
• If any students have not received notification by the first day of the quarter that their waitlist status has changed, they may contact the instructor or attend the first class session.
• Attending the first class session will not guarantee admittance in to the class.

Students are responsible for the accuracy of their class schedule. If a student is registered for a class they no longer plan to attend, they should withdraw from the class online, or contact the Office of the Registrar for procedures to withdraw from the class.

Students who default on any financial obligations to Green River College are responsible for collection fees, attorney fees, court fees, and other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the collection of any debt, in accordance with RCW 28B.10.293 and RCW 19.16.500.

Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from the college or from classes until the last instructional day of the eighth week of the quarter during fall, winter, and spring. For summer quarter, the last day to withdraw is the end of the fifth week of the quarter.

College Costs

In estimating college costs, students will need to include amounts for tuition, special fees, books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses.

Textbooks and supplies can cost up to $500 or more per quarter, depending on the program. Textbook prices are subject to change without notice.

Tuition and Fees

Lower Level Tuition Rates (Under 300-level courses)

Tuition and fees are set by the state legislature and are subject to change, usually beginning fall quarter.

See the Tuition Rates chart below. Current tuition rates are published in the quarterly class schedule and online at greenriver.edu/tuition.

Upper Level Tuition Rates (300-level and above courses)

Tuition and fees are set by the state legislature and are subject to change, usually beginning fall quarter.

See the Tuition Rates chart below. Current tuition rates are published in the quarterly class schedule and online at greenriver.edu/tuition.

Mandatory Fees

A special services matriculation fee of $1.25 per credit is applied to all credits.

A technology fee of $5 per credit to a maximum of 12 credits, not to exceed $60. This fee was established by a student vote to cover the cost of equipment, printing, and tech support for the open computer labs.

A facilities fee of $20.25 minimum for 1 to 5 credits, and $4.05 per credit after 5 credits, no maximum.

A student center fee of a flat $45. This fee was established by a student vote to cover the cost of a new student center.

An eLearning fee of $12 per class applied to all classes taught hybrid or online.

Space-Available Waiver Course Fees

To use the space-available waivers, enrollment must be no earlier than the 4th day of the quarter in fall, winter, and spring quarters; and the 3rd day of the quarter in summer. Instructor permission is required by this day of the quarter.

Washington State Employee - $61.02 per class, plus class fees

• A Washington State Employee Tuition Exemption Form is required each quarter
• Instructor permission is required for each class
• Waiver of tuition and fees for state employees and educational employees - RCW 28B.15.558
• To be eligible for the tuition exemption program, an employee must be a full-time/part-time permanent employee of a state agency and be certified as eligible for the exemption according to chapter 88, Laws of 1990, 51st regular session. 

Senior Citizen - $5.00 per class, plus college and class fees

• Two class limit
• Instructor permission is required for each class
• 60 years of age or older and a Washington resident, proof required - RCW 28B.15.540
• This waiver is not for students intending to use credits for increasing credentials or salary increases

Other Fees

Student Financial Obligations

All outstanding amounts resulting from nonpayment of tuition and fees are the responsibility of the student. Withdrawal from school, officially or unofficially, will not cancel any financial obligation already incurred. Failure to pay all financial obligations may result in debts being turned over to a collection agency. Collection fees, including attorney fees and other charges necessary for the collection of any amount due, will be added to the student’s account balance. Students who default on any financial obligations to Green River College are responsible for collection fees, attorney fees, court fees, and other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the collection of any debt, in accordance with RCW 28B.10.293 and RCW 19.16.500.

Residency Requirements for Tuition Paying Purposes

The state of Washington has established specific criteria for students to qualify as residents for tuition paying purposes (References: RCW 28B.15 and WAC 250.18).

A Washington resident student is one who is a U.S. citizen, or has permanent or temporary resident status, or holds “Refugee-Parolee” or “Conditional Entrant” status with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service or is otherwise permanently residing in the United States under code of law; and is either a:

1. Financially independent student:
   1. Has established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington primarily for purposes other than education for a period of one year immediately before the first day of the quarter for which they have registered at any institution; and
   2. Is financially independent.

OR

2. Financially dependent student:
   1. Is a dependent student with one or both of their parents or legal guardians having maintained a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for at least one year immediately before the first day of the quarter for which they have registered at any institution.

Residency Reclassification

To apply for residency reclassification, students must submit the following information to the Office of the Registrar no later then the 30th calendar day of the quarter:

• Residency Questionnaire
• Required documentation to support independent or dependent status
• Required documentation to support previous 12 months domicile in Washington State

Refer to the Residency Reclassification Checklist on the third page of the Residency Questionnaire for complete details. Residency Questionnaires are available online, in the Office of the Registrar, or by calling (253) 288-3383.

Washington State Higher Education Residency Affidavit

This option is open to all Washingtonians, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. It is the only option available to people with undocumented status and have never had DACA or to people who are pending asylum without an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Students who qualify:

• Pay resident tuition and fees at all public colleges and universities, and 
• Meet residency requirements for all state financial aid programs, including Washington College Grant. Students must also meet program requirements.

To qualify, students must meet all of the following requirements:

• Earn a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent before their first term at the college determining residency.
• Maintain a primary residence in Washington for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before their first term at the college determining residency.
  • NEW REQUIREMENT AS OF 6/9/22: The Washington residence must be for purposes other than college. If a student takes any courses at another Washington college during the prior 12 months, they cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. Students exceeding that limit must prove that they have a Washington residence for non-college reasons.
• Sign an affidavit saying they meet the above requirements and that one of the following is true:
  • They will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States (green card) as soon as they are eligible to apply. And that they are willing to engage in activities designed to prepare them for citizenship, including citizenship or civics review courses or
  • They are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

The first two requirements can be done at the same time or at different times, as long as they are both completed before starting at the college determining residency.

Withdrawal and Refund Rules

Credit Classes

The refund period is the first 15 calendar days of the quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the college or from individual courses. Students must withdraw online or submit a Enrollment Change Request form to guarantee the accuracy of their permanent records and to begin refund procedures, when applicable. The student may receive a refund under the following conditions:

• 100 percent refund of tuition and fees - when courses or programs are canceled by the college.
• 100 percent refund of tuition and fees - through the fifth instructional day of the quarter when a student officially withdraws from class.
• 40 percent refund of tuition only (no fees will be refunded after the 100 percent refund period ends) - when official withdrawal occurs after the fifth instructional day of the quarter through the end of the refund period (see next bullet).
• No refunds - after the 15th calendar day of the quarter. The 15th calendar day is the end of the refund period.
• Short-term classes - 100 percent refund of tuition and fees - when official withdrawal occurs prior to or on the first day of class only. Short-term classes are indicated by dates published with the class listing.
• Refunds of less than ten dollars ($10) will not be processed.
• Appeals to the refund policy must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in written form with official supporting documents attached. Refund appeals must be received by the Office of the Registrar within one academic quarter of the quarter in question.
• A separate refund policy applies to students receiving financial aid. Tuition refunds must be returned to the financial aid account and not the student.

A separate refund policy applies for students enrolling in continuing education non-credit classes.

Students forfeit all claims to refunds of tuition when:

• They discontinue their class(es) without completing the proper forms and procedures.
• They withdraw after the 15th calendar day of the quarter or after 25 percent of the course or program has elapsed, whichever comes first.
• They discontinue their class(es) due to misconduct.
• The fees are indicated to be nonrefundable in the college catalog, class schedule, or course announcement.

Please note these additional conditions:

• Course fees for self-supporting, continuing education and some Kent Location classes are exempt from this refund policy. (Contact the Continuing and Community Education Office or Kent Location for further information.)
• Exceptions may be made for emergency extenuating circumstances such as medical, family emergency, military duty, etc. A Withdrawal/Refund Exception Request must be submitted to the Registrar with official supporting documentation. See the form for details.
• Students who have paid fees for equipment or materials which have a return or refund value must have the responsible instructor or staff person complete the appropriate form approving the refund.
• Co-op, technology, and facility fees will be refunded for withdrawals during the 100 percent refund period (or prior to or on the first session of class for identified late-start classes that begin after the first week of the quarter).
• Other non-refundable fees not subject to this policy will be set by the college’s Board of Trustees and identified as such in the quarterly class schedule.

Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance Refund Policy

Students must be eligible for Military Tuition Assistance. See Cashier’s Office for questions.

The Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program has it’s own refund procedures. Classes paid for by the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program will be issued refunds under the following conditions: 

The refund period for fall, winter, and spring quarters ends after the eighth (8th) week of the quarter. 
 

 The refund period for summer quarter ends after the fifth (5th) week of the quarter. 

Complete Withdrawal from the College

We strongly encourage students to discuss any plans for withdrawal with their faculty advisor or an educational planner. If students wish to terminate enrollment in the college, they must do the following:

Students may drop classes in ctcLink through the eighth week of the quarter (fifth week in summer quarter).

Please refer to the college’s Academic Standards and Progress Policy  in the Academic Information section of this catalog.

Forms

Enrollment Change Request forms are available in the Office of the Registrar and on the Green River website. Forms are also available for requesting an exception to the refund policy.

Withdrawal/Refund Exceptions

Exceptions may be made for emergency extenuating circumstances such as medical, family emergency, military duty, etc. A Withdrawal/Refund Exception Request must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office with official documentation supporting the extenuating circumstances the student faced. See the form for details.

Requests for refunds must be submitted by the end of the following quarter. Requests for late withdrawal, resulting in a “W” grade on the transcript and no refund, must be made within one calendar year. All requests require official supporting documentation.

Refunds/Return of Federal Financial Aid Funds

A refund of tuition and/or a repayment of grant dollars may be required for students who fail to complete any credits during a quarter (whether they have quit attending or have withdrawn, received 0.0-0.9 grades or an incomplete). Green River’s tuition refund policy operates independently from the return of federal financial aid funds policy required for financial aid recipients. Tuition refunds are not returned directly to financial aid recipients; instead, funds are returned to financial aid accounts.

When students withdraw from classes or quit attending before 60 percent of the quarter has elapsed, unearned Title IV federal funds (grant and loan) must be returned to the federal accounts by both the student and the college. The amount of earned and unearned funds is based upon the number of calendar days of class attendance. The percentage of assistance earned is equal to the percentage of the payment period completed. The percentage of Title IV funds not earned equals 100 percent minus the percent of Title IV aid earned. The student and the college may retain the earned portion of aid, but must return a portion of the unearned aid to the grant and loan accounts.