լ�и���

Policy Statements

1. The Board delegates authority to the Presidents to develop, recommend and, administer admission policies. The Presidents should regularly apprise the Board of these policies.
2. The Board recognizes that the nature of a university system requires considerable decentralization of administration and variation in institutional admission policies. This is because various programs of the System call for different qualifications (requirements) among students and for different measures of performance.
3. The Board recognizes the different criteria for admission at each institution and expects that the institutional policies and procedures will continue to reflect this diversity, provided, however, that they are consistent with policy herein established by The Board.
4. Institutional admission policies shall be submitted regularly to the Chancellor and the Board for approval. They shall be consistent with the following Board requirements:
   1. Admission as institution-specific: Admission is recognized only in the institution where the admission has been granted, not in the System as a whole.
   2. Outline of institutional statements on admission: Each institution of the System shall develop formal written policies and procedures for the administration of The Board’s admission policy. These written institutional policies and procedures shall provide for the following:
      1. Criteria and procedures for undergraduate students’ admission
      2. Criteria and procedures for graduate students’ admission
      3. Criteria and procedures for transfer students’ admission
      4. Criteria and procedures for out-of-state and international students’ admission
      The criteria listed above are necessary to implement The Board’s policy on admission, but shall in no way limit the institutions from promulgating additional policies and procedures relating to admission.

(Adopted December 5, 1997. Amended June 8, 2018, Amended June 7, 2019)

1. Non-resident Tuition Fee

   1. All undergraduate students registering at The University of լ�и���, The University of լ�и��� at Birmingham, or The University of լ�и��� in Huntsville who do not establish that they are “resident students” shall pay a “non- resident student” tuition, which shall be at least twice that of “resident student” tuition. Graduate students who do not establish that they are “resident students” shall pay a “non-resident student” tuition which shall be established annually by each institution as approved by the Board, but at no time shall be less than the rate charged to a “resident student.”
   2. Classification of students as “non-resident students” or “resident students” shall be made at the time of their initial registration and shall continue unchanged through all subsequent registrations at that institution until satisfactory evidence to the contrary is submitted at the time of any subsequent registration.
   3. Universities may elect to set tuition rates for programs that are exclusively delivered in a distance format regardless of the residency status of the students.

2. Definitions

   1. Minor: An individual who, because of age, lacks the capacity to contract under լ�и��� law. Under current law, this means a single individual under nineteen (19) and a married individual under eighteen (18), but excludes an individual whose disabilities of non-age have been removed by a court of competent jurisdiction for a reason other than establishing a legal residence in լ�и���.
   2. Dependent Child: An individual who is a "qualifying child" as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
   3. Supporting Person: Either or both of the parents of the student (if they are living together) or if they are divorced or living separate, then either the parent having legal custody or, if different, the parent providing the greater amount of financial support of the two. If both parents are deceased or if neither parent had legal custody, then supporting person shall mean, in the following order: legal custodian of the student, and, if none, the guardian, and, if none, the conservator.
   4. Resident: One whose residence is in the State of լ�и���. Residence means the single location at which a person resides with the intent of remaining there indefinitely as evidenced by more substantial connections with that place than with any other state.
      
      Individuals carrying resident status under this policy shall certify under penalty of perjury that a specific address or location within the State of լ�и��� is their residence, that they intend to remain there indefinitely, and that they have more substantial connections with the State of լ�и��� than with any other state. Though certification of an address and an intent to remain in the state indefinitely are prerequisites to establishing status as a resident, the ultimate determination of that status shall be made by the institution by its evaluation of the presence or absence of connections with the State of լ�и��� including the following factors:
      
      1. Payment of լ�и��� state income taxes as a resident
      2. Ownership of a residence or other real property in the state and payment of state ad valorem taxes thereon
      3. Full-time employment (not temporary) in the state
      4. Residence in the state of a spouse, parents, or children
      5. Previous periods of residency in the state continuing for (1) year or more
      6. Voter registration and voting in the state, more significantly, continuing voter registration in the state that initially occurred at least one year prior to the initial registration of the student in լ�и��� at a public institution of higher education
      7. Possession of state or local licenses to do business or practice a profession in the state
      8. Ownership of personal property in the state and payment of state taxes thereon (e.g. automobile, boat, etc.) and possession of state license plates
      9. Continuous physical presence in the state for a purpose other than attending school and except for temporary absences for travel, military service, temporary employment, etc.
      10. Membership in religious, professional, business, civic, or social organizations in the state
      11. Maintenance in the state of checking and savings accounts, safe deposit boxes or investment accounts
      12. In-state address shown on selective service registration, driver’s license, automobile title registration, hunting and fishing license, insurance policies, stock and bond registrations, last will and testament, annuities, or retirement plans
      13. Location within the state of the high school from which the individual graduated
   5. Resident Student: One who, at the time of registration:
      1. Is not a “minor” or “dependent child,” and is a resident of the State of լ�и��� and has been a resident of the state for at least one year immediately preceding the date of registration; or
      2. Is a “minor” or “dependent child,” and whose “supporting person(s)” is a resident of the State of լ�и��� and has been a resident of the state for at least one year immediately preceding the date of registration.
   6. Non-Resident Student: One who, at the time of registration is not a resident student.

3. Authority to Expand the Definition of “Resident Student”

   The President of each campus may recommend to the Chancellor for consideration by the Board of Trustees that the term “resident student” may include any one or more of the following categories, at that campus:

   1. One who, at the time of registration, is not a “minor” and:
      1. Is a full-time employee (not temporary) of the institution at which the student is registering or is the spouse of such an employee;
      2. Is able to verify full-time permanent employment within the state of լ�и��� and shall commence said employment not more than ninety (90) days after registration with the institution, or is the spouse of such an employee;
      3. Is employed as a graduate assistant or fellow by the institution at which the student is registering;
      4. Is a resident of any county within fifty (50) miles of the campus of the institution at which the student is registering, and had been a resident of that county for at least one year immediately preceding the date of registration. “Resident” shall have the same meaning, as to the relevant county, which it has as to the state of լ�и��� in the definition section of this policy statement; or
   2. One who, at the time of registration, is a “minor” or “dependent child,” and whose “supporting person(s)”:
      1. Is a full-time employee (not temporary) of the institution at which the student is registering;
      2. Is able to verify full-time permanent employment within the state of լ�и��� and shall commence said employment not more than ninety (90) days after registration with the institution; or
      3. Is a resident of any county within fifty (50) miles of the campus of the institution at which the student is registering, and has been a resident of that county for at least one year immediately preceding the date of registration. “Resident” shall have the same meaning, as to the relevant county, which it has as to the state of լ�и��� in the definitions’ section of this policy statement.

4. Rules for Veterans and United States Servicemembers

   For purposes of admission and tuition and fees, all institutions in The University of լ�и��� System shall consider that the term “resident student” to include any of the following:

   1. One who, at the time of registration, satisfies one of the following:
      1. Is a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of a qualifying Federal service, as defined by 20 U.S.C. §1015d(d), whose domicile or permanent duty station is in լ�и���¹
      2. Has been a member of the լ�и��� National Guard for a period of at least two years immediately preceding the academic term in which the student qualifies for resident tuition, and continues to be a member of the լ�и��� National Guard while enrolled at an institution in The University of լ�и��� System;
      3. Is an out-of-state active duty or veteran servicemember who is a resident of any county within ninety (90) miles of the campus of the institution at which the student is registering;
      4. One who is a veteran servicemember, provided that veteran is a resident of the state of լ�и��� and satisfies at least one of the following conditions:
         1. The veteran has served on active duty for a continuous period of time, not less than two years, and has received an honorable discharge as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214 within five years of enrolling in an լ�и��� public institution of higher education;
         2. Is currently serving in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, as verified by a memorandum from his or her commanding officer; or
         3. The veteran has been assigned a service-connected disability by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

         ¹A member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of a qualifying Federal service shall continue to be considered a “resident student” under Section IV.A.1 even if there is a subsequent change in the permanent duty station of the member outside of լ�и���.

      5. Is receiving or entitled to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI-Bill or Montgomery GI-Bill programs, or other federal law authorizing veterans’ educational benefits, and satisfies at least one of the following conditions:
         1. A Veteran who lives in the state of լ�и��� (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls within (3) years of receiving an honorable discharge, as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214, from a period of active duty service of (90) days or more;
         2. A spouse or dependent child using transferred benefits who lives in the state of լ�и��� (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls within (3) years of the transferor’s honorable discharge, as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214, from a period of active duty service of (90) days or more; or
         3. A spouse or dependent child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state of լ�и��� (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls within (3) years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of (90) days or more.
      6. One who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, not eligible under subsection 3 above, provided that veteran resides in the State of լ�и���, and satisfies at least one of the following conditions:
         1. The veteran has served on active duty for a continuous period of time, not less than two years, and has received an honorable discharge as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214 within five years of enrolling in an լ�и��� public institution of higher education;
         2. Is currently serving in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, as verified by a memorandum from his or her commanding officer; or
         3. The veteran has been assigned a service-connected disability by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs.
   2. In addition to the foregoing, the Board authorizes the Chancellor, in consultation with the Presidents of each campus, to determine whether the term “resident student” should be expanded to include an eligible student who is receiving any one or more of the following educational benefits whose authorizing law requires such resident classification as a condition to receive such benefits:
      1. Educational benefits provided for under the Post-9/11 GI-Bill or Montgomery GI-Bill programs, or other federal law authorizing veterans’ educational benefits, that are received by a veteran or the spouse and dependent(s) of an active or veteran Servicemember who is living in the State of լ�и��� while enrolled; and
      2. Supplemental Educational Assistance Benefits provided to any members of the լ�и��� National Guard, regardless of his/her state or residence, as provided for in §31-10-21.1 in the Code of լ�и���.
   3. To be eligible for resident tuition as provided for in this Section IV., and to maintain such eligibility, the student shall:
      1. Have secured admission to and enrolled full-time or part-time at an institution in The University of լ�и��� System; and
      2. Provide all required documentation to support status as an լ�и��� resident or presence in լ�и��� (as applicable), as well as status as an active or veteran Servicemember.
      3. Maintain full-time or part-time enrollment at an institution in The University of լ�и��� System; and
      4. Satisfy the admission and retention standards of both the institution in The University of լ�и��� System, and when applicable, meet and maintain all required eligibility requirements necessary to receive education benefits.
   4. A student who has previously met the requirements of this section shall continue to be classified as a resident student as long as the qualifying student continues to reside in the State of լ�и��� while enrolled at an institution in The University of լ�и��� System. If an individual provided for this Section is released or discharged dishonorably, such release shall be grounds for revocation of resident status.
   5. “Servicemember” means a member of the uniformed services as defined by federal law, which includes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), and commissioned officers for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Public Health Service (PHS).

5. Rules for Citizens of Freely Associated States

   For purposes of admission and tuition and fees, all institutions in The University of լ�и��� System shall consider that the term “resident student” includes citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic Palau.

6. Authority to Implement Policy

   1. The Presidents are authorized (and authorized to delegate to admissions officers and others) and directed to implement this policy by appropriate written policies, guidelines, and procedures. Provided however, with respect to campus admission policies related to Section IV of this Rule, the campuses shall coordinate with the System Office to ensure the development an application of consistent policies across the System.
   2. Such policy shall provide that classification as a “resident student” shall be based upon the required certificate and other written evidence to be filed in the admissions office and that any decision by an admissions officer may be appealed by the student to a review committee that shall be constituted, appointed, and operated as provided in such policy.
   3. The decision of the review committee may be appealed to the President, or his or her designee, whose action thereon shall be final.

(Adopted as Resolution by Executive Committee on August 21, 1975; amended February 18, 1981, September 22, 1989, May 23, 1997; adopted as Board Rule December 5, 1997; amended November 14, 2008; September 13, 2013; April 10, 2015; June 16, 20187; November 3, 2017; June 7, 2019; June 4, 2021; and June 7, 2024.)

At institutions in The University of լ�и��� System, the general authority for the governance of students enrolled at any of the campuses is vested by law in the Board of Trustees. [լ�и��� Constitution, Article XIV, Section 264, as amended by Amendment 399, and Section 16-47-34, Code of լ�и��� (1975, as amended).] The Board delegates responsibility for supervision of students to the respective campus Presidents, which the President may then delegate to others.

(Adopted December 5, 1997; amended November 14, 2008.)

It shall be the policy of the Board of Trustees, upon recommendations of the President, to award posthumous degrees for students who have successfully completed a substantial portion of their academic programs with diplomas to specifically indicate a posthumous degree, the language of which would cite the circumstances warranting such award. Such diplomas may be presented at appropriate private ceremonies at the discretion of the President with the appropriate commencement program noting that the degree is posthumous.

(Adopted May 28, 1981 as Rule 610; amended and renumbered December 5, 1997.)