Subd. 1. Definitions.

1. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
2. (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs.
3. (c) "State college or university" means a unit of the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Subd. 2. Recognition of courses.

1. (a) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits.
2. (b) The University of Minnesota and private colleges and universities in Minnesota are encouraged to recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits.

Subd. 3. Tuition status.

A state college or university must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for purposes of determining the veteran's undergraduate tuition rate. A state college or university must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for purposes of determining the veteran's graduate school tuition rate if the veteran was a Minnesota resident on entering military service and starts attending the state college or university graduate program within two years of completing military service.

Subd. 4. Delayed payment of tuition.

A state college or university may not assess late fees or other late charges for veterans who are eligible to receive federal educational assistance and who have applied for that assistance but not yet received it, nor may they prevent these students from registering for a subsequent term because of outstanding tuition charges that arise from delayed federal payments. The state college or university may request without delay the amount of tuition above expected federal educational assistance and may require payment of the full amount of tuition owed by the veteran within 30 days of receipt of the expected federal educational assistance.