ANN ARBOR—”Students at the University of Michigan eligible for the American Indian Tuition Waiver Program have been notified that the University will continue to honor their tuition waivers during the coming academic year despite the program’s uncertain state funding.

The program provides free tuition for Native American students who are residents of the state and who are attending a Michigan public university. In order to qualify for the program, students must be certified by their own tribal organization or home Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency as being at least one-quarter North American Indian.

In a July 9 letter to the Michigan House of Representatives, Gov. Engler stated, “As Michigan colleges and universities begin the 1995-96 school year, they must understand that I will not support further appropriations to reimburse them for tuition waived for Native American students.” Although the 1995-96 state budget includes funding for the program, those funds are to reimburse schools for awards made in 1993-94.

Nevertheless, said Walter Harrison, vice president for university relations, “We want to make sure that U-M students who are eligible for the program know they can attend the University this fall and receive their tuition waivers.” Funding of the program for 1996-97 and beyond will depend upon a final resolution by the Michigan legislature, he said.