Student Services Manual (SSM)

Effective: 8/15/1969

Revised: 7/1/2013

SSM 205–01: Residency Reclassification—General Policy

Purpose

To allow student reclassification to resident status for tuition purposes

Sources

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 15–1801 to –1807; 15–1825

Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual - 4–201 to –208

Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes, an Arizona Board of Regents’ publication

Policy

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Status Change

A student who initially is classified a nonresident for tuition purposes when admitted or readmitted to ASU may petition through the Residency Classification Section for a change to resident status.

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Petition Period

For Spring Semester

The petition period for a spring semester residency reclassification is November 1 through the last day of regular registration for credit for the spring semester. Failure to petition within this time period constitutes a waiver of the right to petition for reclassification for the specified enrollment period.

For Summer Session I

The petition period for summer session I residency reclassification is April 1 through the last day of regular registration for credit for the first summer session. Failure to petition within this time period constitutes a waiver of the right to petition for reclassification for the specified enrollment period.

For Summer Session II

The petition period for summer session II residency reclassification is April 1 through the last day of regular registration for credit for the second summer session. Failure to petition within this time period constitutes a waiver of the right to petition for reclassification for the specified enrollment period.

For Fall Semester

The petition period for a fall semester residency reclassification is April 1 through the last day of regular registration for credit for the fall semester. Failure to petition within this time period constitutes a waiver of the right to petition for reclassification for the specified enrollment period.

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Eligibility for Resident Status

All students who seek resident tuition status must provide evidence of U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status, or lawful immigration status. Students whose eligibility cannot be verified will be classified as nonresident for tuition purposes.

Domicile

Residency for tuition purposes is based on having established an Arizona domicile. A domicile is a person’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where the student intends to return when leaving without intending to establish domicile elsewhere.

Meeting Domicile Requirements

Generally, to qualify for resident status, a student must be one of the following:

Independent Student

A student must couple his or her physical presence within Arizona for twelve months with clear and convincing objective evidence of good faith intent to make Arizona his or her permanent home. Actions of intent include financial independence for the two years immediately preceding the last day of registration for credit, state issued driver’s license, or identification card and vehicle registration, employment history, evidence of filing state income taxes, and other indicators of intent. Financial independence for purposes of this policy means a student has demonstrated that he or she has met expenses from self-generated funds under his or her control and has not been claimed as an income tax dependent by parents or any other individual for the two preceding years.

Actions indicating intent to be a resident (Arizona driver’s license or identification card, Arizona voter’s registration, Arizona vehicle registration) must be accomplished at the beginning of the domicile year.

Dependent Student

The domicile of the student’s parent is in this state and the parent is entitled to claim the student as an exemption for federal and state tax purposes.

Spouse of Arizona Resident

The person is domiciled in this state and:

1. his or her spouse has established domicile in this state for at least one year immediately preceding the last day of registration and has demonstrated financial independence
   
   

   and

2. his or her spouse is entitled to claim the person as an exemption for federal and state income tax purposes.

Native American/Indian Student

A student who:

1. is a member of an Indian tribe recognized by the United States Department of the Interior whose reservation land lies in Arizona and extends into another state
   
   

   and

2. is a resident of the reservation.

Military Status

A student who:

1. is a member of the armed forces stationed in Arizona
2. is a member of an Arizona National Guard unit or Arizona reserve unit
3. is honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States and has declared Arizona as his or her legal residence one year prior to discharge and taken the other appropriate actions, including filing an Arizona income tax return
   
   

   or

4. is the spouse or dependent of a member of the armed forces in any of the above categories.

Veteran Status

A student who:

1. is honorably discharged from the armed forces of the Unites States
2. is registered to vote in Arizona
   
   

   and

3. has established intent to establish domicile in Arizona.

Transferred by Employer Status

A student who is an employee of an employer that transferred the student to this state for employment purposes or a student who is the spouse of such an employee.

Full-Time Certified Teacher or Full-Time Noncertified Classroom Aide Status

A student who is a full-time certified teacher or a full-time noncertified classroom aide may be eligible to pay in-state tuition for courses necessary to complete certification requirements as established by the state board of certification.

Alien or Refugee Status

A student who:

1. has alien or refugee status and has established a domicile in Arizona for one full year preceding the last day of registration for credit for the semester
   
   

   and

2. the alien must not hold a visa that prohibits establishing domicile in Arizona.

ProcedureD

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Responsibility	Action
Student	Obtain the residency classification guidelines and a Petition for Change of Residency from the Residency Classification Section. Complete and return the petition, along with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Residency Classification Section before the published deadline for reclassification.
Residency Classification Section	Advise the student regarding the specific documentation necessary. Review the petition and documentation and make a decision regarding the appropriate residency status, when the documentation is complete.
	If residency is denied:
	Mail notification of the decision to the student.
	If residency is granted:
	Update the student’s residency status in PeopleSoft, and mail notification of the decision to the student.

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endtable

Cross-References

For information on residency reclassification appeals, see SSM 205–02, “Residency Reclassification Appeals.”

For further information, see SSM 402–01, “Residency—General Guidelines.”

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