/Institutions/Pensacola-State-College/json/2015-2016/Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Pensacola-State-College/json/2015-2016/Catalog.json

2015-2016 Catalog > Admissions, Regulations, Financial Aid, and Graduation > Admissions > Residency Classification

Residency Classification

For purposes of tuition assessment, each Pensacola State College student will be classified as a Florida resident, an Alabama resident, or a non-Florida resident. The criteria for determining the residency status are detailed in the Florida Statutes and the administrative rules of the State Board of Education. Detailed information for residence classification is available in the Registrar’s Office and at www.flvc.org. The Residence Statement, included in the Application for Admission, is required of every new student and any returning student with an absence of twelve months or more.

A Florida resident for tuition purposes is a person (or the parent or legal guardian of a person) who has established and maintained legal residence in Florida for the 12 months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester for which residence classification is requested. Residence in Florida must be for the purpose of establishing a permanent home and not merely incidental to enrollment at an institution of higher education.

To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, the independent student or the parent or legal guardian of a dependent student must be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or certain non-citizens granted indefinite stay by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Living in or attending school in Florida does not, in and of itself, establish legal residence. A student who depends on out-of-state parents for support is presumed to be a legal resident of the same state as his or her parents unless one parent has established legal residence in Florida for more than 12 months. Documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months before the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residence status is sought. A student cannot hold an out-of-state driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc., and be eligible for Florida residency.

Providing false residency information is a violation of Florida Law and could result in disciplinary action being initiated. The College will correct the fees assessed of any student who misrepresents his or her places of legal residence. An invoice will be issued for the increase in tuition.

Dependent/Independent

A dependent student is any person under the age of twenty-four who is eligible to be claimed by his or her parent or legal guardian as a dependent under the federal income tax code and who receives at least 51% of his or her cost of living expenses from his or her parent or legal guardian. A student classified as a dependent student will be required to have his or her parents or legal guardians complete the Residence Statement. A copy of the student’s or parent’s most recent tax return or other documentation may be required to establish dependent or independent status.

A student under the age of twenty-four may be classified as an independent student if certain criteria as indicated below are met and documentation for the exception is attached to the Residence Statement:

1. The student is married.
2. The student has a child who receives more than half of his or her support from the student.
3. The student has other dependents who live with and receive more than half of their support from the student.
4. The student is currently serving on active duty in the United States armed forces for purposes other than training or is a veteran of the United States armed forces.
5. Both of the student’s parents are deceased or the student is/was a ward/dependent of the court system until the age of eighteen.

Exceptions/Qualifications

Other persons not meeting the twelve month legal residence requirement may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes only if they meet the requirements of a limited special category authorized by the Florida Legislature in FS 1009.21 (11). These exceptions are listed below:

1. Active duty service members of the United States armed forces stationed in or residing in Florida (spouse and dependent children included);
2. Active duty service members of the United States armed forces not stationed in Florida but whose legal state of residence certificate, the DD2058, is Florida (spouse and dependent children included);
3. Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the Florida public school system, Florida college system, or Florida university system (spouse and dependent children included);
4. A dependent child who has lived with an adult relative, who is not a parent or legal guardian, for at least the four years preceding the first day of class for the term of enrollment;
5. Persons who were enrolled as Florida residents at a state institution of higher learning but who abandon Florida residency for less than one year Latin American/Caribbean Scholars;
6. United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama who have completed 12 consecutive months of college-level course work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch (spouse and dependent children included);
7. Full-time employees of state-agencies or political subdivisions of the State when the student fees are paid by the agency or subdivision for the purposes of job-related law enforcement or corrections training;
8. Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Pre-Paid Postsecondary Expense Program as provided in Florida Statute; and
9. A dependent child whose parents are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart, will be considered a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida, regardless of which parent claims the minor for tax purposes.

The law allows non-citizens such as lawful permanent residents, temporary permanent residents, asylees, parolees, and refugees who have applied for and been approved for such status and who otherwise meet the twelve month legal residence requirements, to be eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes. For a list of these non-immigrant categories (visa categories and INS classifications) eligible to establish Florida residence for tuition purposes, contact the Registrar’s Office or visit www.flvc.org (click Admissions then Residency Guidelines).

Documents Required for Classification as a Resident for Tuition Purposes

Listed below are the documents established by the state as items required for classification as a resident for tuition purposes. A student, or the dependent student’s parent or legal guardian, must be able to present two of these documents, and one of the documents must be a Tier One document. All documents submitted must be dated, issued, or filed at least twelve months prior to the first day of classes for the term of enrollment.

Tier One Documents (at least one of the two documents submitted must be from this list)

1. A Florida driver’s license;
2. A State of Florida ID card;
3. A Florida voter’s registration card.;
4. A Florida vehicle registration;
5. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the applicant or by the applicant’s parent if the applicant is a dependent;
6. Proof of homestead exemption in Florida;
7. Transcripts from a Florida high school for three or more years provided the Florida high school diploma or GED diploma was earned within the last 12 months; or
8. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least thirty hours per week for a consecutive 12-month period.

Tier Two Documents (may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier One; if the student or the dependent student’s parent provides two Tier One documents, no Tier Two document is required.)

1. A Declaration of Domicile filed in Florida (at least twelve months prior to the first day of classes for the term);
2. A Florida professional or occupational license;
3. Florida incorporation;
4. A document evidencing family ties in Florida;
5. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization; or
6. Any other document that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parent’s name) along with proof of twelve consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parents name) along with proof of twelve consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.

Reclassification of Residence

A student classified as non-resident for tuition purposes may request reclassification as a resident at such time as he or she has met the criteria for residence classification. Reclassification will be granted to the student who presents clear and convincing evidence that living in Florida is for the purpose of establishing a legal residence, maintaining Florida as the permanent home, and that attendance at the College is not the primary purpose for living in the State of Florida. The clear and convincing evidence must include three documents from the listing above, two of which must be Tier One documents.

A student who becomes eligible for residence classification during a semester will be eligible for classification with the next semester of enrollment. At no time will a student be permitted to be classified as a non-resident for one session within a semester and a resident for another session within the same semester.

A student who is married to an individual who meets Florida residency criteria and who has obtained a Tier One document may reclassify from non-Florida to Florida even if the 12-month residency requirement has not been met. The spouse must complete a Residency Statement, provide the Tier One and Tier Two documents, as well as a copy of the marriage license.

Residency Appeals

In cases where the applicant expresses a desire to appeal the residency classification determined by the College, the matter will be referred to the Residency Appeals Committee in accordance with the College’s official appeals process. The student must submit a request for review and include clear and convincing evidence that he or she is entitled to classification or reclassification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. The Residency Appeals Committee will provide the final residency determination and the reasons for the determination in writing.