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RESIDENCY INFORMATION

All determinations concerning the classification of students as in-state or out-of-state for fee purposes are made in the Admissions Office. The determinations are based on regulations and guidelines of the state of Tennessee. If, for any reason, there is a question about a student’s state residency classification for fee payment purposes, the student is responsible for requesting a review of their residency status before classes begin. Requests for review should be made to the Admissions Office.

All admission credentials become the property of the University and will not be forwarded or returned. Credentials will be maintained in active files for 12 months, after which they will be destroyed.

For international applicants, the I-20 or IAP-66 needed to secure an F-1 or J-1 visa is enclosed with the official letter of admission.

INTENT

The public institutions of higher education in the State of Tennessee shall apply uniform rules, as described in these regulations, for the purpose of making admission decisions and determining whether out-of-state tuition shall be charged to a student enrolling at the University of Memphis (“University”). These rules are promulgated in accordance with the principle that as a state, tax-supported institution, the University extends preference in admission and tuition to residents of the state of Tennessee.

DEFINITIONS

  1. Continuous Enrollment: Continuously enrolled: Attendance at a school or schools in the state of Tennessee shall be deemed “continuous” if the person claiming continuous attendance has been enrolled at a public higher education institution in Tennessee as a part-time or full-time student. Such person need not enroll in summer sessions or other such inter-sessions beyond the normal academic year in order that his or her enrollment be deemed continuous, notwithstanding lapses in enrollment occasioned solely by the scheduling of the commencement and/or termination of the academic year.
  2. Domicile: A physical presence in the state of Tennessee with simultaneous intent to make Tennessee one’s permanent home and place of habitation and abandonment of any former domicile.
  3. Emancipated/Independent Student: A student whose parents or legal guardian/custodian have entirely surrendered the right to the care, custody, and earnings of such person and who no longer are under any legal obligation to support or maintain such emancipated/independent person.
  4. Parents: a person’s father or mother. If there is a non-parental guardian or legal custodian of an un-emancipated person, then “parent” shall mean such guardian or legal custodian; provided, that there are not circumstances indicating that such guardianship or custodianship was created primarily for the purpose of conferring the status of an in-state student on such un-emancipated person.
  5. Performance Based Program: Recognized University programs with entrance criteria based on clearly established academic standards or satisfactory program participation that must be maintained to continue participation in the program.
  6. U.S. Armed Forces: the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION AND IN-STATE TUITION

A student will be considered a Tennessee resident for admission and in-state tuition purposes if the student is a citizen of the United States, has resided in Tennessee for one (1) year immediately prior to the beginning of the term being applied to, and meets one of the following conditions:

  • Graduated from a Tennessee public secondary school;
  • Graduated from a private secondary school that is located in Tennessee; or
  • Earned a Tennessee high school equivalency diploma.

A student who is domiciled in the state of Tennessee will be considered a Tennessee resident for admission and in-state tuition purposes.

· A student can establish domicile by establishing that the student, or the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian/custodian if the student is considered a dependent student, as a physical presence in the state with simultaneous intent to make Tennessee one’s permanent home and place of habitation and abandonment of any former domicile.

  • Presence in Tennessee primarily for educational purposes is insufficient to establish domicile.
  • Undocumented aliens cannot establish domicile in Tennessee, regardless of length of residence in Tennessee.
  • Decisions regarding domicile will be made by the University based on a review of all evidence presented and upon consideration of its reliability, authenticity, credibility and relevance.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY OUT-OF-STATE TUITION

  1. An unemancipated/dependent, currently enrolled student whose parent(s) or legal guardian/custodian relinquish residence or domicile in the state of Tennessee shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition at the University so long as he or she maintains continuous enrollment at a state of Tennessee public higher educational institution or institutions.
  2. Students participating in an approved University performance-based program may not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. Such programs may include, but are not limited to: the Helen Hardin Honors College, ROTC, and the National Student Exchange program.
  3. A person who otherwise meets admission requirements shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition if they reside in a county of another state lying immediately adjacent to a county where the University is located or if they reside within thirty (30) miles of the University.
  4. Unemancipated/dependent students of divorced parents shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition when one (1) parent, regardless of custodial status, is domiciled in Tennessee.
  5. A student who is a United States citizen or permanent resident and is the spouse of a current student classified as in-state for tuition purposes shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
  6. Academic Common Market: Students enrolled at the University of Memphis in an approved and designated Academic Common Market degree program or concentration shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
  7. An unemancipated/dependent person whose parent is not domiciled in Tennessee but is a member of the armed forces and stationed in Tennessee pursuant to military orders shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. Further, such a person who maintains continuous enrollment shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition if his or her parent thereafter is transferred on military orders.
  8. Part-time students who are not domiciled in Tennessee but who are employed by one (1) or more employers in the State and such employment is equivalent to full-time employment shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
  9. U.S. Armed Forces personnel, their spouses, and dependents, stationed in the State of Tennessee, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. This provision shall not apply to military personnel and their spouses who are stationed in Tennessee primarily for educational purposes.
  10. Active-duty military personnel who begin working on a college degree at the University while stationed in Tennessee and who are transferred or deployed prior to completing their degrees, can continue completion of the degree(s) at the University without being required to pay out-of-state tuition, as long as he/she completes at least one (1) course for credit each twelve (12) month period after the transfer or deployment. Exceptions may be made in cases where the service member is deployed to an area of armed conflict for periods exceeding twelve (12) months.
  11. Qualified, dependent children entitled to scholarship or exemption from out-of-state tuition by statute, including but not limited to, T.C.A. § 49-4-704 and T.C.A. § 49-7-164, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
  12. Veterans or other individuals eligible to receive educational benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition or any out-of-state fee, if the veteran or individual is:
  • Enrolled in any public institution of higher education in Tennessee;
  • Utilizing such benefits at the enrolling institution; and
  • Living in the state of Tennessee, regardless of the individual’s formal state of residency.

APPEAL

Initial residency classification will be determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation for undergraduate students and the Graduate Admissions Office for graduate students. Students may appeal their initial residency reclassification by submitting a written request for reclassification with supporting documentation on forms prescribed by the University. Appeals for the current term must be made to the Residency Appeals Committee on or before the last day to add or change sections for the current full term. Appeals received after this date may only change a student’s residency for future terms. Individuals disagreeing with the decision of the Residency Appeals Committee may appeal that decision in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

RECLASSIFICATION

If a student classified as out-of-state or international applies for in-state tuition and is subsequently reclassified, his or her in-state classification shall be based on the date the appeal form was received by the appeal committee. However, out-of-state tuition will be charged for any quarter or semester during which reclassification is sought and obtained unless application for reclassification is made in accordance with University policy.