Nevada students impacted by shutdown might get tuition deferment

UNLV Photo Services

For students and families struggling to make college tuition payments due to the partial government shutdown, relief may soon be on the way from the Nevada Board of Regents.

At the suggestion of Gov. Steve Sisolak, the regents are scheduled to discuss a proposal Friday to temporarily defer tuition and registration fees for the spring 2019 semester for students impacted by the shutdown at Nevada System of Higher Education institutions.

NSHE announced the proposal Sunday.

“The situation these students and their families have been placed in, by no fault of their own, is very unfortunate,” regents Chair Kevin Page said in a news release. “I want to thank Gov. Sisolak for his leadership at this time. A disruption of the educational process mid-academic year due to this unexpected financial hardship could be detrimental to the success of these students.”

The shutdown has affected about 3,000 Nevadans. Without the deferral, students at UNR face a Jan. 19 deadline to pay fees and tuition. Payments are due at other NSHE institutions soon after.

NSHE oversees the College of Southern Nevada; Desert Research Institute; Great Basin College; Nevada State College; Truckee Meadows Community College; UNLV; UNR; and Western Nevada College. NSHE provides educational opportunities to more than 100,000 students.