Georgia's Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Program: Literature Review, Pilot Study, Evaluation Proposal, and Recommendations for Future Research

Abstract

Georgia's Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Program (SCTWP) became law in 1976. This program allows senior citizens age 62 and older to attend University System of Georgia (USG) institutions tuition free. With the ultimate aim of improving the current program, the purpose of the proposed evaluation of the SCTWP is to determine the ongoing implementation of the program including the status of the promotion of the program, the assistance being provided to seniors aimed at facilitating entry into the program, and the level of satisfaction of program participants. Preliminary research indicates that information about the program may be difficult to obtain or misleading, that the program is not actively promoted, that there is a relatively low rate of participation and graduation, and that USG institutions differ in the way they administer the program. Suggestions are provided for conducting a more thorough investigation of the SCTWP's current implementation and efficacy: e.g., by acquiring data through individual interviews, surveys, and/or focus group sessions with current and former program participants and admissions officers; by reviewing the SCTWP content of all USG Web sites and catalogues; and, by determining the awareness by Georgia's senior citizens of the availability of the SCTWP.

Georgia’s Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Program: Current Status, Web Presence, and Web Content

“…It is assumed that senior citizens who are prospective students would likely go directly to the website of the higher education institution they would prefer to attend. This paper is an extension of prior research by Ariail (2017) regarding Georgia's SCTWP. That study called for future research investigating how well the web sites of USG institutions inform senior citizens about the program.…”

“…This paper addresses one of the future research suggestions identified by Ariail (2017). Other areas for future research include investigation of 1. how admissions personnel advise senior citizens about the SCTWP; 2. the experiences of senior citizens who have utilized the SCTWP including their experiences with the administration of the program, with acclimation into to higher education, with relationships with younger students, and with institution support; 3. the reasons for the relatively low SCTWP participation rate by Georgia's senior citizens; 4. the knowledge of Georgia's senior citizens of the availability of this educational benefit; 5. how younger students may benefit from having senior citizens in the classroom; and, 6. the senior citizen tuition waiver programs offered by other states, with a focus on determining best practices that can be implemented in Georgia.…”