I. General Guidelines
A. An initial determination of in-state status will be made by the University at the time a student’s application for admission is under consideration. The determination made at that time, and any determination made thereafter, shall prevail for each subsequent semester until the determination is successfully challenged in a timely manner.
1. Newly admitted undergraduate students seeking a review of their initial residency determindation must first contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitement. Newly admitted graduate students must contact the Graduate School.
B. A student may request a re-evaluation of the student’s residency status by filing an Application for Change in Residency Classification for Admission, Tuition and Charge-Differential Purposes (hereinafter referred to as “Application”).
C. A STUDENT MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IN-STATE STATUS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETED APPLICATION (INCLUDING ALL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED THEREIN) BY THE LAST DAY OF LATE REGISTRATION FOR THE SEMESTER THE STUDENT WISHES TO ESTABLISH IN-STATE STATUS (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS DEADLINE). NO CHANGE IN STATUS REQUESTED BY A STUDENT SHALL BE GIVEN RETROACTIVE EFFECT PRIOR TO THE SEMESTER FOR WHICH AN APPLICATION WAS FILED BY THE STUDENT. ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER SEMESTER MAY BE FILED BY A STUDENT.
1. Applications may be obtained from the Office of Records and Registration.
2. All required supporting documents are listed within the body of the application. For your convenience, a checklist of required documents is also provided. Please note that the checklist is designed as an aid and is not a substitute for the requirements stated in the application or residency policy.
3. Applications will only be accepted and evaluated if accompanied by ALL supporting documents. Applications submitted without the required documentation may not be accepted and the applicant will need to apply for a subsequent semester.
4 Late petitions will not be accepted.
D. A determination of in-state status is valid only if the student actually enrolls in the semester for which the student applied. Determinations which are made in cases where the student does not actually enroll are not valid for a subsequent semester.
E. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that the student meets all requirements of this Policy and that an instate classification is appropriate. The student applying for in-state status must furnish appropriate documentation as required by the University. Within the sole discretion of the President or the President’s designee’s, upon the student’s written request, a waiver of a residency requirement may be considered.
F. In the event that incomplete, inaccurate, false, and/or misleading information is presented, the University may at its discretion, revoke any subsequent assignment of in-state status. In such cases, the student shall be required to pay all cost differentials between in-state and out-of-state status beginning with the semester for which in-state status was obtained. In the event instate status is assigned as a result of administrative or clerical error, the University may, at its discretion, revoke this assignment. In such cases, the student may be required to pay all cost differentials between in-state and out-of-state status beginning with the semester for which in-state status was erroneously assigned.
G. During the time when requests for reclassification are being considered, fees and charges based on the previous out-of-state determination must be paid. The student is responsible for the payment of any late charges, severance fees, and collection charges assessed for the unpaid out-of-state differential during that time. If in-state status is granted, the out-of-state differential will be refunded for the semester in which a timely application was filed.
H. The student shall notify the University in writing within fifteen (15) days of any change of circumstances which may affect the student’s residency status.
II. Policy Guidelines
A. Students must meet the criteria provided in Section I.C & II of the Board of Regents Policy on Student Residency Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes (hereafter referred to as “Policy” to be eligible for in-state status. The University implements those critera as follows:
1. A student’s residency classification will be based ont he student’s ability to meet the criteria indicated in Sections I.C & II of the Policy, even if the student is financially dependent on another person. If the student is financially dependent on another person who is not a resident of Maryland, the presumption shall be that the student is residing in the State of Maryland primarily for the purpose of attending an educational institution. The burden shall be on the petitioning student to rebut this presumption to the satisfaction of the University.
2. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States may satisfy criterion II.H of the Policy if they hold specific visas as determined by the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland. Students may contact the Office of the Registrar to inquire about the eligibility of specific visa types.
3. Section IV.C of the Policy, which applies to active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, does not include members of the U.S. “Uniformed Services” (e.g., U.S. Public Health Service) or Reservists.
4. Students may not sue post office boxes (PO boxes) as their address for purposes of this policy. A bona fide street address must be provided.
III. Appeals
A. To the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) or designee - A student who has been denied in-state reclassification following the submission of an Application may request a personal interview with the VPAA or designee in order to present any and all evidence relevant to the student’s residency classification, and to answer questions which may have been raised about the student’s status. Such request must be in writing and must be received by the University no later than fifteen (15) working days from the date which appears on the University’s written denial of the Application. Failure to appear for a scheduled appeal, or to reschedule an appeal at least twenty-four (24) hours beforehand, will mean that the applicant has decided not to appeal. Therefore, the application will not be reviewed, no secondary decision will be made, and the initial decision will be maintained.
B. To the President or President’s designee - If the decision of the VPAA is adverse to the student, a written appeal may be filed with the President or designee. Such written appeal must be received by the President or designee no later than fifteen (15) working days from the date of the written adverse decision of the VPAA and should present any information upon which the appeal is based and of which the student would like the President or designee to be aware. The written appeal shall be considered by the President or designee which shall reach a decision in the case. Unless otherwise specifically requested by the President or designee, information and arguments not presented by the student to the Director of The Office of the Registrar shall not thereafter be considered on appeal. It is the student’s responsibility to provide complete and timely responses to requests for information by the University. Failure to do so may result in a denial of the appeal.
|