Article 3—Academic Policies and Regulations
Part 9. Residency Status Regulations
§ 3-901 In General
(a) The University of Illinois is a land-grant institution supported
by funding from state of Illinois tax revenue. As a state tax-supported
institution, the University (with some exceptions) extends preference
in admission and tuition to residents of the state of Illinois—that
is, to persons whose circumstances conform to the University’s
definition of resident status stated below.
(b) Principal elements that determine residency are domicile in
Illinois and actions which evidence the intent to make Illinois
the person’s permanent residence. A person has but one domicile
at any time. Mere physical presence in Illinois, regardless of how
prolonged, is insufficient to establish residency without action
and intention to make the place a permanent residence and principal
home. To establish bona fide residency in Illinois under this policy,
a person must demonstrate presence and intent to reside permanently
in Illinois for reasons other than educational objectives.
(c) The burden of establishing that a person is domiciled in Illinois
for other than educational purposes is upon the person. The regulations,
factors, and procedures enumerated in this policy will be considered
by the University in determining the residency status.
(d) Residency Status Regulations are subject to change from time
to time at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. A person holding
nonresident status is subject to rules in effect when the petition
seeking Illinois residency is filed. Nothing in these rules shall
be applied retroactively to reverse in-state residency status previously
granted under former regulations.
(e) The University’s definition of the term “resident”
may be different from the definitions developed by other, non-University,
agencies. Thus, a person who is an Illinois resident for tax or
voting purposes, for example, is not necessarily a resident for
University of Illinois tuition and admission purposes. The University’s
definition of resident status applies both to payment of tuition
and admission to the University of Illinois.
§ 3-902 Regulations
The following regulations are used to determine the resident status
for admission and tuition assessment.
(a) A person’s domicile is presumed to be that of the parent(s)
or legal guardian unless the person is independent and establishes
a separate domicile. For the purposes of these Regulations, legal
guardian and parent are interchangeable.
A person who is dependent upon his/her parent(s) or other person
in authority, other than spouse, for financial support shall not
be considered independent for the purpose of these regulations.
A person claiming independence may be requested to present satisfactory
evidence that his/her parent(s) has not contributed significantly
to his/her support or claimed him/her as a dependent for federal
or state income taxes during the period in which the person attempts
to establish and/or maintain residency. Filing and payment of Illinois
income tax is necessary to establish residency.
(b) In order to be classified as a resident for purposes of admission,
an independent person shall be domiciled in Illinois and a bona
fide resident for at least one calendar year immediately preceding
the date of receipt of the application for admission. To be considered
a resident for purposes of assessment of tuition, an independent
person must be a bona fide resident for at least one calendar year
immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes for the
term for which residency is sought.
(c) During the one-year period in which a person attempts to establish
residency, a person must be financially independent. He/she must
rely upon gainful employment in Illinois or prove reliance upon
resources in Illinois for more than fifty percent of the income
sufficient to provide for tuition, fees, and normal living expenses,
e.g., food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Income earned
as a result of University enrollment, such as educational loans,
graduate assistantships, or student employment, is not considered
evidence of intent to establish residency. To establish residency,
a person must reside in Illinois for one calendar year primarily
for other than educational purposes.
(d) A person who is not a citizen of the United States of America
may establish resident status unless the person holds a visa which
precludes an intent to permanently reside in the United States.
A list of the visa classifications may be obtained from the Office
of Admissions and Records.
(e) Noncitizens may commence establishment of residency with notification
of permanent residency status by the United States Immigration and
Naturalization Service provided the person meets and complies with
all the applicable requirements of these Regulations.
(f) The minor children of persons who, having resided in this
state for at least twelve months immediately prior to such a transfer,
are transferred by their employers to some location outside the
United States shall be considered an Illinois resident for purposes
of the computation and payment of tuition. However, this Section
shall apply only when the minor child of such parents enrolls in
a state-supported college or University within five years from the
time the parents are transferred to some location outside the United
States.
If the resident parent(s) establishes a domicile outside Illinois
after a dependent is admitted, the dependent shall continue to be
classified as a resident until degree completion, assuming timely
matriculation, continuous enrollment, and maintenance of a separate
residence in Illinois.
(g) A person who claims Illinois domicile while living in another
state or country must provide proof of continued Illinois domicile.
Proof may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the person
(or parent or legal guardian as applicable) has not acquired a domicile
in another state, has maintained a continuous voting record in Illinois,
and has filed and paid regular Illinois resident state income tax
returns during the absence.
(h) A person whose parent(s) moves to Illinois may become a resident
at the beginning of the next term following the move.
An independent person whose parent(s) has established and is maintaining
a bona fide residence in Illinois will be regarded as a resident
if the independent person lives in Illinois.
Even though a divorced or separated parent who is not a resident
of Illinois provides significant financial support, a person shall
be classified as a resident as long as the other parent is a bona
fide resident of Illinois.
(i) A nonresident shall be classified as a resident if his/her
spouse is a resident of Illinois and meets the applicable requirements
of these regulations. A noncitizen may establish residency through
his/her resident spouse, provided the noncitizen complies with subsection
(d) above.
(j) A person who is actively serving in the Armed Forces of the
United States and who is stationed and/or present in the state in
connection with that service may be eligible for a waiver of the
nonresident portion of tuition as long as the person remains stationed
and/or present in Illinois. The waiver is extended to the person’s
spouse and dependent children who also live in the state. A resident
of Illinois, and the spouse and dependent children, who is stationed
outside of Illinois in active service in the Armed Forces of the
United States and who has maintained residency under section (g)
shall be classified as a resident.
(k) Staff members of the University and of allied agencies, and
faculties of state-supported institutions of higher education in
Illinois, holding an appointment of at least one-quarter time, and
their spouses and dependent children, shall be treated as residents.
The term “staff member” as used in these regulations
shall mean a person appointed to a faculty, academic professional,
or permanent civil service position for a specific amount of time
at a salary or wage commensurate with the percentage of time required.
The appointment shall require service for not less than three-fourths
of the term. For purposes of residency, the term “staff member”
shall not apply to persons employed on an hourly basis in an academic
capacity, nor to persons on leave without pay.
(l) Nonresident teachers in the private and public elementary
and secondary schools in Illinois holding an appointment of at least
one-quarter time shall, if required to pay tuition, be assessed
at the resident rate. This privilege also extends to the summer
session immediately following the term of appointment.
Any nonresident teacher who qualifies for resident tuition as
described above shall become subject to nonresident tuition for
the entire term if the school appointment is vacated prior to completion
of three-fourths of the term in question. Resignation or cancellation
of the appointment prior to the close of the spring term also cancels
the eligibility for the resident tuition privilege in the following
summer term.
§ 3-903 Factors in Determining Residency
(a) Bona fide residency must be maintained in Illinois for at
least one calendar year immediately preceding the date of receipt
of the application for admission, or, for tuition purposes, one
calendar year immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes
for the term for which resident classification is sought. The following
circumstances, although not necessarily conclusive, have probative
value in support of a claim for resident classification:
(1) Continuous physical presence—defined as no more than
a three-week absence from the state of Illinois—for at least
one calendar year as described above.
(2) Domicile in Illinois of parent(s) or legal guardian, or spouse.
(3) Voting or registration for voting in Illinois.
(4) Illinois driver’s license or identification card and
automobile registration.
(5) Financial independence and payment and filing of Illinois
income/property taxes and/or ownership of property in Illinois during
the tax year or partial tax year immediately preceding the term
for which the person is requesting resident classification. Just
the filing of Illinois state income taxes, or filing without substantial
Illinois income earned, will not be judged as a significant criterion
for reclassification.
(6) One calendar year of gainful employment in Illinois or prove
reliance upon resources in Illinois for more than fifty percent
of the income sufficient to provide for tuition, fees, and normal
living expenses, e.g., food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
Reliance upon income earned from loans is not viewed as evidence
of intent to establish residency. Employment must be in other than
graduate assistantships or student employment.
(7) The lease of living quarters and payment of utility bills
in Illinois.
(8) Former domicile in the state and maintenance of significant
connections therein while absent.
(9) Admission to a licensed practicing profession in Illinois.
(10) Long-term military commitments in Illinois and/or proof that
Illinois is the home of record. The petitioner must complete a Military
Certification Form, which can be obtained at the Office of Admissions
and Records.
(11) Domicile for one calendar year in the state for other than
educational purposes.
(12) Establishment of financial accounts at Illinois institutions.
(13) Public records, for example, birth and marriage records.
(14) Other official documents verifying legal, official connection
with Illinois or with organizations or institutions within the state
of Illinois.
(15) Exclusive use of the Illinois address when home or mailing
address is requested.
(b) The University may request additional documentation of the
evidence. Missing evidence, the lack of evidence, or inconsistent
evidence may be used to refute the claim of residency.
§ 3-904 Procedures
(a) The Registrar or a designee shall determine the initial residence
classification of each person at the time the person enters or re-enters
the University.
(b) A student who is not satisfied with a determination concerning
his/her residence classification may request that the responsible
official reconsider the determination. For the purposes of admission,
the written request must be received by the Office of Admissions
and Records within twenty calendar days from the date of notification
of residency status. For the purposes of assessment of tuition,
the written request must be received by the Office of Admissions
and Records by September 30 for the fall term, February 15 for the
spring term, and June 20 for the summer term or some other date
as set by the Office of Admissions and Records.
(c) The request should include the Petition for Determination
of Residency Status (available from the Office of Admissions and
Records/Enrollment Services) and all other materials applicable
to the claim. The request and accompanying documentation will not
be returned, and the person is advised to maintain a copy for his/her
record.
(d) If the person is still not satisfied with the determination
after it has been reconsidered, the person may appeal the decision
to the director, University Office for Academic Policy Analysis.
The appeal shall be in writing and shall include reasons for the
appeal. The appeal must be received by the Associate Provost for
(responsible for the Office of Admissions and Records) within twenty
calendar days of the notice of the ruling. The appeal will then
be referred to the director, University Office for Academic Policy
Analysis. A person who fails to file such an appeal within twenty
calendar days of the notice of the ruling waives all claims to reconsideration
for that academic session. Filing deadlines cannot be extended or
waived and applications and appeals untimely filed will not be reviewed.
The decision of the director, University Office for Academic Policy
Analysis, shall be final in all cases.
(e) A person may be reclassified at any time by the University
upon the basis of additional or changed information. If the person
is classified in error as a resident student, nonresident tuition
shall be assessed in the next term; if the person is classified
in error as a nonresident, resident tuition shall be assessed in
the term in which the classification occurs, provided the person
has filed a written request for a review in accordance with these
regulations.
(f) A person who fails to notify the University of a change of
facts or provides false information which might affect classification
or reclassification from resident to nonresident status and/or who
provides false information or conceals information for the purpose
of achieving resident status may be subject to appropriate disciplinary
action, as well as other penalties which may be prescribed by law.
(g) Further information or clarification may be secured by contacting
one of the offices listed below:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Office of Admissions and Records
901 West Illinois Street
Urbana IL 61801
University of Illinois at Chicago
Office of Admissions and Records
Student Services Building
P.O. Box 5220
Chicago IL 60680
University of Illinois at Springfield
Office of Enrollment Services
Building F-20
Springfield IL 62794-9243
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