Residency Officer, Admissions
250 Student Services Building

Mailing address:
University of Utah
Admissions Office
201 S 1460 E RM. 250S
Salt Lake City, UT  84112-9057

Phone: (801) 581-3089
Fax: (801) 585-7864
http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss
Email: Residency@sa.utah.edu

Following applicable state laws, the Admissions Office classifies all applicants for admission as either residents or non-residents for tuition purposes.  If there is a question about the status, applicants are considered non-residents until they are officially reclassified through the residency application process.  Classification as a resident, either at the time of admission or after the formal reclassification process has been completed, can be reviewed and reversed if there is an error or change in facts that justifies an inquiry.  This policy applies even if the error was on the part of the University.

During the 2007 legislative session, the Utah State Legislature changed the definition of a resident student for tuition purposes.  Under the new definition, the Legislature has allowed each institution the ability to implement its own policy regarding residency.  The institutional policy cannot be more lenient than the new one year rule or harsher than the requirement of 60 hours or living in Utah for three years.  (See Section 4.1.1. Policies for Students Enrolled in Credit-Bearing Degree Programs of the Board of Regents Policy amended June 8, 2007.)

The following outlines the University of Utah Institutional Policy for determining residency for tuition purposes.  Individuals coming to Utah for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education beginning Fall Semester 2007 or anytime thereafter, must meet the following guidelines to establish residency:

UNDERGRADUATE DOMESTIC NON-RESIDENT STUDENT must:

• Reside in Utah for twelve continuous months, starting July 1, 2007, or anytime thereafter;
• Not be claimed as a dependent on the tax returns of a person who is not a resident of Utah;
• Take steps to establish intent to become a resident of Utah, for example obtaining a Utah driver’s license, within a reasonable period prior to application (See Board of Regents Policy 4.6. Creating Utah domicile); and,
• Submit an application for resident reclassification by the term deadline.     

GRADUATE DOMESTIC NON-RESIDENT STUDENT, EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN THE MD PROGRAM must:

• Earn forty (40) credit hours at the University of Utah, in not less than twelve continuous months;
• Take steps to establish intent to become a resident of Utah, for example obtaining a Utah driver’s license, within a reasonable period prior to application (See Board of Regents Policy 4.6. Creating Utah domicile); and,
• Submit an application for resident reclassification by the term deadline.

GRADUATE DOMESTIC NON-RESIDENT STUDENT IN THE MD PROGRAM must:

• Earn sixty (60) credit hours at the University of Utah, in not less than twelve continuous months;
• Take steps to establish intent to become a resident of Utah, for example obtaining a Utah driver’s license, within a reasonable period prior to application (See Board of Regents Policy 4.6. Creating Utah domicile); and,
• Submit an application for resident reclassification by the term deadline.

Current students who began their studies at the University of Utah prior to Fall Semester 2007 will qualify for residency for Fall Semester 2007, Spring Semester 2008, and Summer Term 2008, under the following guidelines:

• Have completed sixty (60) credit hours from Utah institution(s) while living in Utah (AP and CLEP credits do not count), OR
• Have lived in Utah for three (3) continuous years, OR
• Have lived in Utah for twenty-four (24) or more continuous months as a non-student in the Utah System of Higher Education;

AND;

• Have taken steps to establish intent to become a resident of Utah, for example obtaining a Utah driver’s license;
• Have submitted a residency application for reclassification by the term deadline.

The University honors the resident status determination by other Utah colleges or universities unless the resident classification was obtained under false pretense or the facts existing at the time of the granting of residency have significantly changed.

Foreign nationals who are present in the United States on visitor, student, or other visas that have authorized only temporary presence in this country do not have the capacity to intend to reside in Utah for an indefinite period and therefore are classified as non-residents for tuition purposes.  Foreign nationals who have been granted legal immigrant or permanent U.S. resident status are classified for purposes of resident status according to the same criteria applicable to U.S. citizens.  However, a clause in the new residency law, HB 118, allows a foreign national to be exempt from paying the non-resident portion of total tuition if he/she is a foreign national legally admitted to the United States, attended high school in Utah for three or more years, and graduated from a high school in Utah or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Utah.  (See Board of Regents Policy and Procedures R512-7.2.)  If you qualify for this benefit, contact the International Admissions Office at (801)  581-3091.

QUALIFYING AS A RESIDENT FOR OTHER REASONS – There are a number of non-academic reasons for a move to Utah that allow the Admissions Office to waive the credit hours or the time requirement to grant residency immediately.  To review these exceptions to the general rule of the law, please read the Board of Regents Policy and Procedures found at the Admissions Office web site: http//www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/.  If you select “Residency” from the index on the left of the panel, you will find detailed information on qualifying for residency for tuition purposes.

A person’s resident status can be determined only upon a complete statement of facts made by the individual.  A complete residency application or certification packet must be submitted by the term deadline.  A complete packet includes the application and all required supporting documentation.  Please note that all materials submitted as supporting documentation with a residency application become a permanent part of the applicant’s residency file and will not be returned.  Therefore, the applicant should submit photocopies of all supporting documentation.

Applications or certification forms received after the term deadline must include a letter of appeal requesting the application be processed late for the current term.  The applicant must explain why it was beyond his/her ability to file a complete packet by the term deadline.  Appeal requests will not be considered after the tuition deadline for the current term.  Applications/certification forms received after the term deadline with no appeal letter attached, will be processed for the subsequent academic term. NO APPEAL REQUESTS TO PROCESS RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS/CERTIFICATION FORMS FOR PAST ACADEMIC TERMS ARE GRANTED.

An individual must be admitted or eligible to enroll in classes at the University of Utah before a request for residency reclassification will be processed.

If the reclassification is denied, the student may meet with the residency officer to submit additional information or have the application reviewed in person.  If a student wants to appeal the denial of resident status, he/she may do so through the director of admissions.  An appeal with the Appeal Officer/Admissions Director should take place within 10 days of the residency officer’s final decision.  If the Appeal Officer maintains the denial, the student may request a hearing through the Appeal Officer with the full Residency Appeals Committee.  Again, this request must be made within 10 days of the residency officer’s final decision.

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU READ THE BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOUND AT THIS WEB SITE, ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION AND INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR FURTHER DETAIL ON RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY.  THIS WILL ASSIST YOU IN DETERMINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY UNDER UTAH STATE LAW.  THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO ADVISE YOU OF THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION YOU MUST PROVIDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION.  REMEMBER TO MAKE EARLY APPLICATION TO AVOID MISSING THE TERM APPLICATION DEADLINE.  EARLY FILING WILL ACCOMMODATE EARLY NOTIFICATION OF RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY.

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE