Purpose

Definitions

1. Rules for Determination of Status
   1. Every person having his or her domicile in this State shall be classified “in-state” for fee and tuition purposes and for admission purposes.
   2. Every person not having his or her domicile in this State shall be classified “out-of-state” for said purposes.
   3. The domicile of an un-emancipated person is that of his or her parent, except as provided in section E of this rule.
   4. Un-emancipated students of divorced parents shall be classified “in-state” when one parent, regardless of custodial status, is domiciled in Tennessee, except as provided in section E of this rule.
   5. A student is classified “in-state” for fee and tuition purposes if the student is a citizen of the United States, has resided in Tennessee for at least one (1) year immediately prior to admission and has:
      1. Graduated from a Tennessee public secondary school;
      2. Graduated from a private secondary school that is located in this state; or
      3. Earned a Tennessee high school equivalency diploma.
   6. The spouse of a student classified as “in-state” shall also be classified as “in-state”, subject to the requirements of T.C.A. Title 4, Chapter 58.
2. Out-of-State Students who are Not Required to Pay Out-of-State Tuition
   1. An un-emancipated, currently enrolled student shall be reclassified out-of-state should his or her parent, having theretofore been domiciled in the State, remove from the State. However, such student shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition nor be treated as an out-of-state student for admission purposes so long as his or her enrollment at a public higher educational institution or institutions shall be continuous.
   2. An un-emancipated person whose parent is not domiciled in this State but is a member of the armed forces and stationed in this State or at Fort Campbell pursuant to military orders shall be classified out-of-state but shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. Such a person, while in continuous attendance toward the degree for which he or she is currently enrolled, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition if his or her parent thereafter is transferred on military orders.
   3. A person whose domicile is in a county of another state lying immediately adjacent to Montgomery County, or whose place of residence is within thirty (30) miles of Austin Peay State University shall be classified out-of-state but shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition at Austin Peay State University.
   4. A person whose domicile is in Mississippi County, Arkansas, or either Dunlin County or Pemiscot County, Missouri and who is admitted to Dyersburg State Community College shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
   5. A person, who is not domiciled in Tennessee, but has a bona fide place of residence in a county which is adjacent to the Tennessee state line and which is also within a 30 mile radius (as determined by THEC) of a city containing a two year TBR institution, shall be classified out-of-state, but admitted without tuition. The two year institution may admit only up to three percent (3%) of the full-time equivalent attendance of the institution without tuition. (THEC may adjust the number of the non-residents admitted pursuant to this section every three (3) years.) (See T.C.A. § 49-8-102)
      1. Students originally admitted to a TBR community college authorized to grant a border county waiver of out-of-state tuition are not entitled to that waiver at any other TBR institution, except as provided in subsection 2.
      2. The waiver of out-of-state tuition granted to a border county student at an admitting institution will follow the student ONLY from a community college to a TBR university if the student transfers from the community college after successfully completing as associate’s degree UNLESS this condition is waived by the community college as being in the student’s best interest; provided, in any case the student must complete the general education requirement at the TBR community college.
   6. Part-time students who are not domiciled in this State but who are employed full-time in the State, or who are stationed at Fort Campbell pursuant to military orders, shall be classified out-of-state but shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. This shall apply to part-time students who are employed in the State by more than one employer, resulting in the equivalent of full-time employment.
   7. Military personnel and their spouses stationed in the State of Tennessee who would be classified out-of-state in accordance with other provisions of these regulations will be classified out-of-state but 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 this State primarily for educational purposes.
   8. Dependent children who qualify and are selected to receive a scholarship because their parent is a law enforcement officer, fireman, or emergency medical service technician who was killed or totally and permanently disabled while performing duties within the scope of their employment shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. (T.C.A. § 49-4-704)
   9. Active-duty military personnel who begin working on a college degree at a TBR institution while stationed in Tennessee or at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and who are transferred or deployed prior to completing their degrees, can continue to completion of the degrees at that same institution 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.
   10. Students who participate in a study abroad program, when the course/courses in the study abroad program is/are the only course/courses for which the student is registered during that term, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
   11. Students who are awarded tuition waiver scholarships for participation in bona fide campus performance-based programs, according to established guidelines, shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
   12. A veteran enrolled in any TBR institution of higher education in this state shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition or any out-of-state fee, if the veteran:
       1. Has not been dishonorably discharged from a branch of the United States armed forces or the national guard;
       2. Is eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits or Montgomery GI Bill benefits; and
       3. Enrolls in the TBR institution, after satisfying all admission requirements, within twenty-four (24) months after the date of discharge as reflected on the veteran’s certificate of release or discharge from active duty, Form DD-214, or an equivalent document.
          1. To continue to qualify for in-state tuition and fees, a veteran shall:
             1. Maintain continuous enrollment as defined by the TBR institution at which the veteran is enrolled; and
             2. Within one (1) year of enrolling in the TBR institution:
                1. Register to vote in this state; or
                2. Demonstrate by objective evidence intent to be a resident of this state by obtaining at leaste two (2) of the following:
                   1. A Tennessee driver license;
                   2. A Tennessee motor vehicle registration;
                   3. Proof of established employment in the state; or
                   4. Other documentation clearly evidencing domicile or residence in the state, as determined by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
3. Honors Programs
   1. Each institution will establish policies regarding out-of-state tuition scholarships for students selected for admissions into formal honors programs at the institution.
4. Presumption
   1. Unless the contrary appears from clear and convincing evidence, it shall be presumed that an emancipated person does not acquire domicile in this State while enrolled as a full-time student at any public or private higher educational institution in this State, as such status is defined by such institution.
5. Evidence to be Considered for Establishment of Domicile
   1. If a person asserts that he or she has established domicile in this State he or she has the burden of proving that he or she has done so. Such a person is entitled to provide to the public higher educational institution by which he seeks to be classified or reclassified in-state, any and all evidence which he or she believes will sustain his or her burden of proof. Said institution will consider any and all evidence provided to it concerning such claim of domicile but will not treat any particular type or item of such evidence as conclusive evidence that domicile has or has not been established.
6. Appeal
   1. The classification officer of each public higher educational institution shall be responsible for initially classifying students “in-state” or “out-of-state”. Appropriate procedures shall be established by each such institution by which a student may appeal his or her initial classification.
7. Effective Date for Reclassification
   1. If a student classified out-of-state applies for in-state classification and is subsequently so classified, his or her in-state classification shall be effective as of the date on which reclassification was sought.
   2. 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 to the admissions officer on or before the last day of registration of that quarter or semester.
8. Effective Date
   1. These regulations supersede all regulations concerning classification of persons for fees and tuition and admission purposes previously adopted by the State Board of Regents, and having been approved by the Governor, become effective July 1, 1983, or upon their becoming effective pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. Section 4-5-101 et seq. as amended.