# Fee Waivers - New and Renewing
The COIL Connect annual HEI membership runs for one year from the day of payment or in the case of fee waivers, from the date of approval. The present HEI membership fee is $250 but will increase to $300 on July 1, 2025.
Membership fees provide 80% of COIL Connect’s operating budget, so they are critical to our existence. At the same time, we understand that many COIL initiatives are under-resourced. For that reason, in 2024 we offered fee waivers to qualified HEIs that could not pay the $250 fee. Our hope was that during their first membership year, these institutions would prepare themselves to pay the full fee in 2025, because this year we must limit the number of fee waivers we can provide, especially to those institutions that have previously received them. Instead, we will offer qualified HEIs a 40% membership discount reducing the cost to $150.
To apply for either a 100% waiver or for the 40% discount, you must complete the fee waiver form below. In most cases, you will receive the 40% discount; we are able to grant a full waiver to a only a few institutions. You may also be denied both forms of assistance if your application is not complete or if you do not convince us that you cannot afford a $150 fee while managing your COIL Program.
**Review Process**
- Submissions from HEIs that hold current 2024 fee waivers (renewal requests):
Renewing Fee Waiver HEIs must submit their fee waiver applications at least two weeks before their current membership expires to receive timely review.
- New Fee Waiver Submissions: Please submit your application by May 31, 2025. Reviews will take place during June.
- Review: Members of COIL Connect (CVEF, Inc.) staff and its executive board will review all applications.
- Decisions will be announced approximately 10 days after requests are submitted.
**Please fill out the following questions to request a fee waiver for your Higher Education Institution.**
- Individual applicant’s name:
- Email Address for Fee Waiver Decision Notification:
1. Why do you want to become or remain an institutional member of COIL Connect? Be as specific as possible. How have you contributed or taken advantage of the site so far? If your university/college receives a fee waiver or a discount, how will you contribute and participate in COIL Connect activities during the coming year? (100 words)
2. Describe the development of COIL Virtual Exchange at your university/college. How long has it been practiced, how many COIL exchanges are currently being offered, is your leadership (administration) ready to provide support, and what are the main challenges to the development of COIL at your institution. Please explain why your HEI cannot pay the $250 fee at the present time, and how you expect to be able to do so next year. (150 words)
3. We will offer a limited number of one-year fee waivers this year but will primarily offer 40% HEI membership discounts to HEIs that qualify. Do you wish to receive a fee waiver? Do you wish to receive the discounted membership if you are not offered a fee waiver? Your answer to the latter question will not affect our review of your fee waiver request, but if you do not indicate your interest in the 40% discount now, you will not be able to apply for it again in 2025. (25 words)
- Jon Rubin, Director
- Daysi Rueda C., Operations Manager
- email: info@coilconnect.org
