Residency Guidelines
Maine Residency
Classification
There are many factors that will
be considered in determining residency for in-state tuition
purposes. No one factor can be used to establish domicile, rather
all factors and circumstances must be considered on a case-by-case
basis. A domicile or residency classification assigned by a
public or private authority neither qualifies nor disqualifies a
student for UMS in-state status.
A student applying for admission
to a degree program is classified as eligible, or not eligible,
for in-state tuition at the time of acceptance to the University.
A non-matriculated (non-degree) student is classified as eligible,
or not eligible, for in-state tuition at the time of
registration. The decision, made by the Chief Financial Officer,
or other officials designated by the campus, shall be made based
on information and documentation furnished by the student and
other information available to the University. No student is
eligible for in-state tuition classification until he or she has
become domiciled in Maine, in accordance with University
guidelines, before such registration. If the student is enrolled
full-time in an academic program, as defined by the University, it
will be presumed that the student is in Maine for educational
purposes, and that the student is not in Maine to establish a
domicile. A residence established for the purpose of attending a
UMS campus shall not by itself constitute domicile. The burden
will be on the student to prove that he or she has established a
Maine domicile for other than educational purposes. An individual
who has lived in the State of Maine, for other than educational
purposes, one year prior to registration or application to a
campus is considered an in-state student.
In general, members of the Armed
Forces and their dependents will be granted in-state tuition
during such periods of time as they are on active duty within the
State of Maine or if their Military State of residency is Maine as
evidenced by appropriate official documentation. A Maine resident
who is absent from the State for military or full-time educational
purposes will normally remain eligible for in-state tuition.
A student, spouse, or domestic
partner of a student, who currently has continuous, permanent
full-time employment in Maine before the student decides to apply
for degree status at the University will be considered in-state
for tuition purposes. A student who is dependent on his/her
parent(s) and/or legally appointed guardian (or to whom custody
has been granted by court order) is considered to have a domicile
with the parent(s) for tuition purposes.
In-state tuition is not available
to anyone who holds a non-immigrant U.S. visa. If an individual is
not a domiciliary of the United States, they cannot be a
domiciliary of the State of Maine.
A student who attended an
out-of-state educational institution at in-state tuition rates in
the immediately preceding semester, shall be presumed to be in
Maine for educational purposes and not to establish a domicile.
Again, the burden will be on the individual to prove that he or
she has established a Maine domicile for other than educational
purposes.
Please note that initial
residency is determined by the admissions office for
undergraduate students and the graduate school for graduate
students based on application information.
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Change of
Residency Classification Procedure
To change tuition status, the
following procedures are followed:
I. A "Request for Change in
Tuition Status" cover sheet and application must be filed with
the Associate Bursar at the University of Maine, Bursar's Office,
5703 Alumni Hall, Orono, Maine 04469-5703 before the first day of
classes for the summer session, fall, or spring semester for which
residency is requested. All applications are prospective.
II. If the Associate Bursar's
written decision, to be issued within 30 days of the first day
of classes is considered incorrect by the student, the student may
appeal that decision in writing within 30 days, in the following
order:
1. The Bursar. After receiving a
written decision from this level within 30 days, the student has
30 days to submit a written appeal to:
2. The Chief Financial Officer.
After receiving a written decision from this level within 30 days,
the student has 30 days to submit a written appeal to:
3. The President (or designee).
After receiving a written decision from this level within 30 days,
the student has 30 days to submit a written appeal to:
4. The Treasurer of the
University System whose decision shall be final.
In the event that the Associate
Bursar, or other designated official, possesses facts or
information indicating a student's change of status from in-state
to out-of-state, the student shall be informed in writing of the
change in status and will be given an opportunity to present facts
in opposition to the change. The student may appeal the decision
of the Associate Bursar or other designated official as set forth
in the preceding paragraph.
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