Hello,
In addition to discussing the residency questionnaire and the possibility of some centralized resources (maybe a common residency page that all schools could link to as a residency guide) we are hoping to have a discussion on some specific sticking points. Below is a list of issues we are going to offer as prompts for the discussion. If you have other suggestions, please get them to me by the end of the week.
Thanks
Residency Issues
This document is to track complicated Residency petitions issues that we can ask Board of
Regents legal counsel before the next MACRO presentation.
- The yearlong process requires a student to be financially independent (51%) from the parents. If the parent deposits money for the year of tuition one day before the year - long process begins...does that count for or against the student's financial independence. How much reporting documentation is collected to establish 51% (parent plus loans are the obvious check, but what about a car registered in another
state to the parent – how should that be addressed?)
- If a student completed their tax returns but did not “sever all legal ties (didn’t get a driver’s license, voter registration, or vehicle registration) ” within the 6 month requirement of the state, can we award in-state residency based on the in-state taxes?
- 6 credit limit doesn’t allow for some benefits of the University (military requires 7 for housing allowance, some courses are 4-credit). How stringent is the policy? Can students take 7 credits one semester and 5 the next?
- Out of state parent claims student as a dependent but the student is residing with in-state parent while going to school and that parent is paying tuition?
- Must a student register their vehicle if owned by parent?
- Montana Taxes are identified as a means to “start the clock ticking” can we use the date claimed as “part year resident and the self-reported residency began field” as the start date?
- How strict are we on guidelines. Do you have to get your drivers license within 6-months or just prior to filing for residency (assuming other documentation is in order)?
- What about staying in the dorms. Is it reasonable to say that you didn’t come here for educational purposes if you are staying in the dorm?
Tony Campeau
Registrar
Montana State University
406.994.2604
RESPECT … INTEGRITY … STUDENT SUCCESS … EXCELLENCE
