INSTATE STATUS FOR TUITION PURPOSES
AT THE
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Students
applying to the University often have questions about their residency
classifications for tuition purposes. The following a general overview of the
procedures and basic criteria used to determine resident status. The
material included here is for informational purposes only. It should not be
considered all inclusive as changes may have been made in the regulations and/or
statutes between the time this text was published and the beginning of the
term of attendance. It does not replace or supersede The University of Vermont Board of Trustees
Residency Regulations which contain the specific
requirements that must be met in order to prove in-state status.
We
realize that the outcome of a residency determination is a critical factor
for many students in their enrollment decisions, but specific circumstances
can only be addressed through the residency application process. Residency
requirements are complex, and no one at the If you
have questions about the classification process or would like application
forms, call the Residency Office at (802) 656-8515 or send an email. |
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All
students at or applicants to The University of Vermont are classified as either
in-state or out-of-state for tuition purposes under The University of Vermont Board of Trustees Residency Regulations.
Students classified as in-state residents pay lower tuition than out-of-state
students. The Residency Regulations are applied uniformly to all students
throughout the university’s colleges and schools.
The University
of Vermont Board of Trustees, as mandated by Vermont State law, sets
the criteria to differentiate between
The
qualifications for in-state status at The University of Vermont are independent
of the criteria used by other state authorities to determine residency for such
purposes as income and property tax liability, driving, and voting. Those
determinations may or may not be the same as our determination of your status.
Each state determines
its own regulations as there is no federal legislation governing state tuition
classification. It is possible that a student does not qualify for residency
status in any other state. Your status at The University of Vermont, however, is
governed solely by
You must
establish residency in
In general,
to prove that you are an in-state resident for tuition, you must be able to
document that:
The
Residency Officer in the Registrar’s Office and the Residency Appellate Officer
in the Dean of Students Office administer the University’s residency
classification process. They process and review applications for in-state
status and make determinations. Residency Officers are bound by the provisions
of Vermont State law and the Board of Trustees Residency Regulations. They are
not free to make exceptions to the established rules and cannot waive any
regulations. Residency Officers judge
each application on its own merit, using the University regulations. Many factors are considered in determining
residency for in-state tuition purposes. No single factor establishes domicile.
In administering the regulations, the Residency Officers must evaluate and
interpret each individual’s actions, information, and circumstances.
We cannot
list a specific combination of factors or set of circumstances that, if met,
would ensure your being classified as a resident. If your activities and circumstances
demonstrate you have established your permanent domicile in
A new
student first indicates residency status when applying for admission to the
University or when registering for a course. Students applying for admission to
a degree or certificate program are classified as eligible or not eligible for
in-state tuition at the time their applications to the University are received
and processed. Non-matriculated
(non-degree) students are classified as eligible or not eligible for in-state
tuition at the time their registration forms are received and processed. The
classification is based on information and documentation furnished by the
student and other information available to the University.
You may be
asked to complete an Application for In-state Status if one or more of the
following circumstances apply:
Other
circumstances may also require you to file a residency application.
If you ask
to be considered an in-state student and if we initially classify you as an
out-of-state student, we usually write and ask you to fill out an Application
for In-State Status. You are responsible for enrolling under the proper residence
classification for tuition purposes and must verify your status and contact the
Residency Office if there is any question concerning your classification.
If we
classify you as a non-resident and you feel you meet the requirements for
in-state tuition and wish to be considered for in-state eligibility, you must
complete an Application for In-state Status, provide all necessary
documentation, and submit all materials on a timely basis.
It is
possible to change classification status while attending the University. However,
you will be required to document that you meet the criteria as outlined in the
If you were
classified initially as out-of-state and if you believe changes in your
situation justify reclassification, it is your responsibility to submit an
Application for In-State Status with appropriate documentation to support your
claim. The Residency Office will not initiate such an inquiry. No change to
in-state status may be obtained by a student for an academic term unless the
application is received by the last day to add/drop classes for that term. Approved
residency reclassification will not be applied retroactively to previous terms.
Students
who were previously classified as in-state and who re-enroll after an absence
of more than one year may be required to submit an Application for In-State
Status with appropriate documentation to support claims of continuing
eligibility for
The
University reserves the right to audit the eligibility for resident
classification of any prospective or enrolled students at any time and to
reclassify students who are classified incorrectly.
The Application
for In-State Status is for current and former
Students
new to The University of Vermont request in-state classification by completing
the appropriate section of the Application for Admission or Continuing
Education registration form and should complete the Application for In-State
Status ONLY if contesting a determination made from the admission application
or registration information.
You must
answer all questions on the application and attach required documentation. Failure
to provide complete and accurate information or to submit the required
documentation with your application will result in a nonresident
classification. Please include any additional information you feel will help
support your application for
There are
very strict timelines for submitting your application for in-state status,
which apply to all UVM schools and colleges. An application can be submitted as
early as 75 days in advance of the first day of classes for a term. The
deadline date for continuing or previously enrolled students is always the last
day to add/drop classes of the term under consideration. Applicants to degree
programs and new non-degree students must submit materials by the date requested
by the Residency Office. Applications must be dropped off at the
Applications
are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the high volume in
our office immediately before and during registration, we cannot guarantee that
applications filed during this time period will be processed before your tuition
payment is due. If your residency status has not been resolved before you must
pay your bill, you must contact Student Financial Services regarding your situation.
If the
residency process seems rigorous and detailed, it is because we must be precise
in determining a student’s residency status. We carefully review your
application and the evidence you submit. The burden of proof rests on you, and
the Residency Office considers your situation as presented and assesses it in
relation to the Board of Trustees regulations and
In general,
your application will be reviewed within two weeks. After review, the Residency
Officer will mail you a written notification of your residency decision. If
your classification is out-of-state, your letter will include information about
the appeal process. The final decision regarding tuition status rests with the Residency
Office. You may re-apply for each semester you are enrolled, but may file only
one application per term.
A
determination of in-state status is valid only if you actually enroll for the term
in question. If you do not enroll, you must submit a new and timely Application
for In-State Status for subsequent terms.
Residency
classification can require extensive documentation. Simply completing the
Application for In-State Status is NOT sufficient to prove your residency in
Provide the
documentation requested under each section to support your claim to be a
Students
have the opportunity to appeal the decision of the Residency Officer. However, you
must first apply for and be denied residency before attempting an appeal.
The appeal
process includes an opportunity for you to meet with the Residency Appellate
Officer to discuss the application and supporting documentation. The Residency
Appellate Officer will review all information and mail a written decision to you.
The decision of the Residency Appellate Officer is final within the University.
You may reapply for in-state status for any subsequent semester in which you enroll.
It is our
responsibility:
Administrative
errors may include letters announcing an incorrect residency status, actual
misclassification, or incorrect tuition billing notices. In the absence of
fraud or knowingly providing false information, where a student receives an
erroneous notice announcing the student to be, or treating the student as,
eligible for in-state tuition, the student shall not be responsible for paying
the out-of-state tuition differential for any enrolled semester or term
commencing before the student received written notice of the administrative
error.
It is your
responsibility:
Individuals
willfully providing false or misleading information or omitting relevant
information in an application for admission or for in-state status or in any
other document related to residency eligibility may be subject to legal or
disciplinary measures. Students improperly classified as residents based on
such information will have their residency classifications changed and may be charged
nonresident tuition retroactively for the period of time for which they were
improperly classified.
If you
would like an Application for In-State Status you can:
PDF files allow you to view and
print a document exactly like the print version. Forms that are identified as
PDF require the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in. If your computer does not have
this software it will not be able to open these files.
Mail your
completed application to:
Residency
Officer
The
Office of
the Registrar
360
Waterman
You can
also deliver it to the