IMPORTANT CHANGES:
 
Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes: A new bill has been signed into law that will substantially revise the method by which a student's residency status will be determined for tuition purposes.  Generally, the new law will require that a student must have established residency in Florida for 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment in an institution of higher learning.  The new residency law will take effect on July 1, 2009 and may have the effect of preventing out-of-state students from reclassifying as residents for tuition purposes while continuously enrolled at USF.  For forms and information, please visit http://www.registrar.usf.edu/Residency/.
 
 
Excess Hours Surcharge: The 2009 Legislature enacted a student charge for excess hours.  Specifically, students enrolling at a State University in or after Fall Semester 2009 will pay a surcharge equal to 50% of the tuition rate for each excess credit hour.  The Florida Legislature has defined "excess hours" as hours that exceed by 120% the completion requirements for your baccalaureate degree program at the University. This is the equivalent of 144 hours for students in a 120-hour degree program. 
The law provides for the following exceptions, in which instance the excess hours surcharge will be waived for additional college coursework taken:           

1. Articulated accelerated credit (e.g. Advance Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, Dual Enrollment, etc.)
2. Internship credit
3. Certification/Recertification credit (e.g. teacher, nurses, etc.) and certificate program credits
4. Credits withdrawn due to medical or personal hardship
5. Credits taken by active-duty military personnel
6. Credits required to achieve a dual major (NOTE: the law only exempts those hours "required" to obtain a dual major, rather than every credit hour a dual major student chooses to enroll in.)
7. Remedial and English as a Second Language (ESOL) credit
8. Military Science credits in Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs

 
 
Repayment for Dropped/Withdrawn Courses funded by Bright Futures:  A student receiving Bright Futures in or after Fall Semester 2009 will be required to repay Bright Futures for any course dropped or withdrawn unless an exception is recommended.  The University of South Florida will only grant exceptions for documented, verifiable illness or emergency beyond the student's control approved by the Academic Regulations Committee (ARC).  NOTE:  Repayment for dropped or withdrawn courses is required to renew a Bright Futures award for a subsequent academic year in addition to the normal Bright Futures Renewal Requirements <http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/> .  Students with an unpaid balance for dropped/withdrawn courses will automatically be placed on a registration hold.