# Fee Waivers
From its inception, COIL Connect has supported both developed and emerging COILing Higher Education Institutions – even those with limited resources. We are dedicated to continuing this inclusivity, but we must also raise funds to professionally support our membership. This is why we are asking for your support and are now charging a yearly fee to HEI members.
We do understand that many COIL initiatives are under-resourced or lack operatin budgets. For that reason, we are offering fee waivers for those HEIs that cannot pay the $250 fee this year. Any HEI can create or renew their institutional membership and as part of that process, they may apply for a fee waiver. We very much look forward to reading short fee waiver proposals from under-resourced HEIs. We will do our best to consider waiving your fee if you answer our questions honestly and clearly, and if we have the funds to do so while properly supporting our mission.
**The following are three questions to which you should respond, in order to qualify. But you must do this while creating a new HEI membership application or renewing your present membership.**
1. Why does your HEI want to become or remain an institutional member of COIL Connect? Be as specific as possible. If your HEI receives a fee waiver, how will you engage with, contribute to and participate in COIL Connect tools and activities during the coming year? (80 words maximum)
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 management/administration ready to provide support, and what are the main challenges to the development of COIL at your institution. (120 words).
3. COIL Connect needs our members’ support so we can better serve the COIL Virtual Exchange community. This is why we are charging an annual fee of $250. We will offer a limited number of one-year fee waivers, but we expect members that receive fee waivers this year to be able pay this fee a year from now. Please
explain why your HEI cannot pay this fee at the present time, and how you expect to be able to do so in 2025. (120 words).
**Review Process**
- Submissions: **HEIs may submit fee waiver applications at any time**, but they must also complete all five-steps of their HEI dashboard, as part of their new or renewal HEI membership application.
- Review: A committee of the COIL Connect (CVEF, Inc.) executive board will review all applications.
- **Decisions will be announced monthly.**