ORLANDO, Fla. _ Students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will get in-state tuition at the University of Central Florida through 2023.
The move, approved Thursday by the university's Board of Trustees, will allow more than 200 students affected by Hurricane Maria to complete their degrees at a fraction of the cost they would pay if they were charged the out-of-state rate.
Trustees first agreed to charge students the lower tuition rate last September, just after the hurricane slammed the islands. Last spring, trustees extended the offer through the spring 2019 semester.
To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled at UCF, enrolled at a Florida state college or be admitted to UCF or any state college for the spring 2019 semester. To keep the in-state tuition rate, they must be enrolled in school continuously enrolled in classes.
The room erupted into applause and cheers after trustees approved the extension and UCF President Dale Whittaker and Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena walked out to the audience to high-five a group of students who attended the meeting.
A total of 244 students from the islands now attend UCF and will be able to keep paying the in-state tuition rate, including 24 students who attended the university before the storm, said Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for student development and enrollment services.
Ehasz said many students from the islands are attending school part time, so it will take them longer to finish their degrees than it would if they were full time.
Several students spoke to the board during a public comment session, including Jennifer Tirado, president of the Puerto Rican Students Association. She told trustees if they didn't allow students from the islands to continue paying in-state tuition, many of them would have to leave the university.
"This decision is also about UCF values," Tirado said. "In your hands today is the future of more than 200 students."
