Costs: Residency Status Regulations

In-state and out-of-state tuition is assessed based on the following regulations. All questions related to residency may be directed to the Office of the Registrar, Sherman Hall 110, telephone 309/298-1891.

Definitions

For purposes of this regulation, the following definitions pertain:

  1. An "adult student" is a student who is 18 or more years of age.
  2. A "minor student" is a student who is less than 18 years of age.
  3. An "emancipated minor student" is a completely self-supporting student who is less than 18 years of age. Marriage or active military service shall be regarded as effecting the emancipation of minors, whether male or female, for the purposes of this regulation.
  4. "Residence" means legal domicile. Voter registration, filing of tax returns, proper license and registration for driving or ownership of a vehicle, and other such transactions may verify intent of residence in a state. Neither length of University attendance nor continued presence in the University community during vacation periods shall be construed to be proof of Illinois residence. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, no parent or legal or natural guardian will be considered a resident unless the parent or guardian maintains a bona fide and permanent residence in Illinois, except when temporarily absent from Illinois, with no intention of changing his or her legal residence to some other state or country.

Residency Determination

Western Illinois University shall determine the residency status of each student enrolled in the University for the purpose of determining whether the student is assessed in-state or out-of-state tuition. Each applicant for admission to the University shall submit at the time of application evidence for determination of residency. The office responsible for admissions shall make a determination of residency status.

  1. If a non-resident is classified by error as a resident, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable beginning with the term following reclassification. If the erroneous resident classification is caused by false information submitted by the student, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable for each term in which tuition charges were based on such false information. In addition, the student who has submitted false information may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
  2. If a resident is classified by error as a non-resident, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable during the term in which the reclassification occurs, providing that the student has filed a written request for review in accordance with this regulation.

Residency Requirements

Adult Students

To be considered a resident, an adult student must have been a bona fide resident of Illinois for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which the individual registers at the University and must continue to maintain a bona fide residence in Illinois. In the case of adult students who reside with their parents (or one of them if only one parent is living or the parents are separated or divorced), the student will be considered a resident if the parents have established and are maintaining a bona fide residence in Illinois.

Minor Students

The residence of a minor student shall be considered to be the same as:

  1. That of the minor's parents if they are living together, or the living parent if one is deceased; or
  2. If the parents are separated or divorced, that of the parent to whom custody of the minor has been awarded by court decree or order, or, in the absence of a court decree or order, that of the father unless the minor has continuously resided with the mother for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor's registration at the University, in which latter case the minor's residence shall be considered to be that of the mother; or
  3. If the minor has been legally adopted, that of the adoptive parents, and, in the event the adoptive parents become divorced or separated, that of the adoptive parent whose residence would govern under the foregoing rules if the parent had been a natural parent; or
  4. That of the legally appointed guardian of the person; or
  5. That of a "natural" guardian such as a grandparent, adult brother or adult sister, adult uncle or aunt, or other adult with whom the minor has resided and by whom the minor has been supported for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor's registration at the University for any term if minor's parents are deceased or have abandoned the minor and if no legal guardian of the minor has been appointed and qualified.

Emancipated Minors

If emancipated minors actually reside in Illinois, such minors shall be considered residents even though their parents or guardians may not reside in Illinois. Emancipated minors who are completely self-supporting shall be considered residents if they have maintained a dwelling place within Illinois for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which they register at the University. Emancipated minors who reside with their parents and whose parents (or one of them if one parent is living or the parents are separated or divorced) have established and are maintaining a bona fide Illinois residence shall be regarded as residents.

Minor Children of Parents Transferred Outside the United States

The minor children of persons who have resided in Illinois for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to a transfer by their employers to some location outside of the United States shall be considered residents. This rule shall apply, however, only when the minor children of such parents enroll in the University within five years of the time their parents are transferred by their employer to a location outside the United States.

Married Students

A non-resident student, whether minor or adult, who is married to a person who meets and complies with all of the applicable requirements of these regulations to establish residence status, shall be classified as a resident.

Armed Forces Personnel

Non-residents of Illinois who are on active duty with one of the services of the Armed Forces of the United States who are stationed in Illinois and who submit evidence of such service and station, as well as the spouses and dependent children of such persons, shall be considered residents as long as such persons remain stationed in Illinois and the spouses and/or dependent children of such persons also reside in Illinois. If such persons are transferred to a post outside the continental United States but such persons remain registered at the University, residency status shall continue until such time as these persons are stationed within a state other than Illinois within the continental United States.

Staff Members of the University, Allied Agencies, and Faculty of State-supported Institutions in Illinois

Staff members of the University and of allied agencies, and faculties of state-supported institutions of higher education in Illinois, holding appointment of at least one-quarter time, and their spouses and dependent children, shall be treated as residents.

Teachers in Public and Private Illinois Schools

Teachers in the public and private elementary and secondary schools of Illinois shall, if subject to payment of tuition, be assessed at the resident rate during any term in which they hold an appointment of at least one-quarter time, including the summer session immediately following the term in which appointment was effective.

Residency Status Appeal Procedure

Students who take exception to their residency status classification shall pay the tuition assessed but may file a claim in writing to the registrar's office. The written claim must be filed within 30 calendar days from the date of the tuition bill or the student loses all rights to a change of residency status for the term in question. If the student is dissatisfied with the ruling in response to the written claim made within said period, the student may file a written appeal within ten calendar days of receipt of the decision to the responsible University office. Such written appeals shall be forwarded to the appropriate University vice president, who shall consider all evidence submitted in connection with the case and render a decision which shall be final.

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