New England Regional Student Program Policy
The Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education elects to participate in the New England Regional Student Program.
The current program is, as follows, described in the New England Regional Student Program Statement of Policies, 1993-94:
1. Available Programs
a. The only programs of study available through the Regional Student Program (RSP) at the undergraduate level in any academic year are those listed in the RSP undergraduate catalog for that particular year. If a program of study is not listed, it is not available as an RSP program even if it is not offered in the student’s home state.
b. Some graduate programs might be available under RSP even though they are not listed in the Apple Book. Students are encouraged to contact the RSP graduate representative at the institution that offers the specialized graduate program of choice. In some cases, negotiation to participate as an RSP student maybe possible.
2. Determination of programs: Each participating institution or system has the right to determine which of its programs of study will be available under the RSP
3. Qualified Programs
a. The two-year collegesand institutions may make available under the RSP any program of study (diploma, certificate, or degree) offered at their institutions.
b. The state colleges and university may make available under the RSP only those programs of study that are not offered in a state college in one or more of the other New England states.
4. Nearer-to-Legal-Residence Opinion: When a degree program is offered under the RSP at both an in-state and an out-of-state institution, and the out-of-state institution is nearer to the student’s legal residence, then that student may apply for RSP status at the out-of-state institution.
5.Tuition
a. Rhode Island institutions may (with approval from the Board of Governors) charge students enrolled under the RSP (both full-time and part-time) either the in-state tuition or 50 percent above the amount. All students enrolled in a given institution as RSP students must be charged the same tuition rate.
b. Each participating institution should make an effort to inform students of benefits available to them. The final responsibility for securing RSP status, however, rests with the student at the time of initial admission. The institution is under no obligation to provide retroactive tuition reduction to students unaware of RSP programs.
6. Admissions Preference
a. All undergraduate applicants (including transfer applicants) for admission under the RSP should be accorded preference among out-of-state applicants.
b. At the graduate level, only the state colleges, not the universities, give preference in out-of-state admissions to the RSP applicants.undergraduate applicants (including transfer applicants) for admission under the RSP should be accorded preference among out-of-state applicants.
c. If an out-of-state student applying for admission under the RSP has the same qualifications as a non-New England applicant, the New England student applying under the RSP should be accepted first.
7. Transfer Students: A student may transfer into a RSP program of study either from another program at the same institution or from another institution. In both cases, the student is eligible for RSP status from the first semester of enrollment in the RSP program of study. If a student transfers from a RSP program of study into one that is not offered under the RSP, this student is charged out-of-state tuition rates.
8. Withdrawal/Termination of Program: If a program of study is being terminated at an institution, that program will be deleted from the next RSP catalog. If an institution decides however to withdraw the program only from the RSP, two years’ advance notice is required.
9. “Grandfathering”: if a program of study is withdrawn for the RSP, students actively enrolled in the program of study at the time of withdrawal will be allowed to complete their studies in that program under the RSP.
10. Enrollment Goals (Quotas): An institution has the right to establish enrollment goals, limiting the number of RSP system students admitted to a particular program of study or the number or the number of RSP students to the institution.
11. Application Procedure: To apply for the benefits of the RSP, students should state clearly on their college applications that they are applying to a program of study available through the RSP.
12. Notification of Students: Students applying for admission under the RSP should be notified by the institution of their tuition status upon acceptance as a RSP student into that institution.
