The Legislature of the State of Florida has created eleven International Linkage Institutes to assist in the development of strong economic, educational, and social ties between Florida and countries considered important to Florida’s future. One of these Institutes, the Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute, was established in 1986, as one of the three initial Institutes.

The Legislature took an additional step to facilitate the enrollment of students from counties represented by the Linkage Institutes, and authorized the exemption of non-resident tuition fees for up to 25 full-time equivalent Costa Rican students to attend publicly supported universities and community colleges in Florida.

TUITION EXEMPTION GUIDELINES

1. Only Costa Rican citizens are eligible to apply for the Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute’s out-of-state tuition exemption.

2. Tuition exemptions can be awarded only upon certification of the student’s current enrollment in, or admission to, a publicly supported university or community college in Florida. Applicants for graduate tuition exemptions also must verify acceptance by the college/department of the university.

3. Students awarded a tuition exemption are required to return to their home country, after their studies, for a length of time equal to their exemption period.

4. Exemptions may be awarded at the undergraduate, graduate, and vocational levels, for degree, non-degree and certificate programs of study. Priority will be given to degree-seeking students. Applicants will be considered on an ongoing basis. The exemptions cannot be used for non-credit intensive English study.

5. Selections will be made primarily on the academic merit of the student, and in relation to the Institute’s program priorities. Completion of the application and submission of all requested material is not a guarantee that the applicant will receive a tuition exemption. The files of each applicant will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and only those applicants whose qualifications are deemed high enough by the selection committee and the co-director, will be chosen to receive exemptions. Relevant factors considered by the committee and co-director include, but are not limited to: grade point average (GPA), quality of the statement of purpose, type of degree program, and demonstration of progress towards a degree with an intent to graduate (if the applicant is a degree-seeking student) To be considered for a Tuition Exemption, a GPA of 3.0 is REQUIRED.

6. It is IMPERATIVE for the applicant to include all materials requested on the checklist page. Applications received without current official transcript, copies of both Costa Rica passport and identity card, statements of purpose, letters certifying acceptance or current enrollment at applicant’s institution, or any other required documents, will be placed in an incomplete application file. Any applicant whose file is still incomplete by the application deadline will not receive the tuition exemption, and his/her file will be closed. Due to the heavy volume of applications that must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, NO EXCEPTIONS can be made to this rule. Applicants who, for some reason, cannot include one of the requested documents (example: a current transcript that is not included because the student has been accepted, but has not taken classes at the Florida institution) should indicate this on the application form, or with an explanation in a separate letter. Applications for these students will be considered individually, and the Florida-Costa Rica Institute office will contact the applicant to determine if alternate documentation may be substituted in order to have the application processed.

7. Exemptions will be granted for up to 12 undergraduate credit hours or up to 9 graduate credit hours of study per semester. There is no guarantee that the requested number of hours will be granted to the applicant, and in no case will an award be given which is greater than the maximum.

8. Exemptions are granted on a semester-by-semester basis. Therefore, students must submit an application for each semester.

CHECK LIST

1. Completed application form.

2. Copy of letter confirming that you have been accepted by the school, or certification of current enrollment.

3. Statement of Purpose, parts A and B.

4. A sealed official current transcript. Unofficial transcripts that do not indicate current GPA will not be accepted, the same applies to photocopies of recent grade reports or report cards.

5. Copy of Costa Rican passport and copy of Costa Rican ID.

PLEASE NOTE

Deadlines for 1998 are as follows:

Summer semester ‘98 - March 27, 1998

Fall semester ‘98 - June 26, 1998

Spring semester ‘99 - November 25, 1998

Applications can be obtained by writing, calling, faxing or sending an e-mail to the Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute office. Please be sure to include an address when requesting an application.

Dr. Erasmo G. Gerato, Co-Director
The Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute
The Florida State University
University Center, Room A5529
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2510
Phone: (850) 644-1414
Fax: (850) 644-1416
e-mail: mefox@mailer.fsu.edu