The following definitions of terms apply in the determination of a student’s classification for tuition purposes in the University System of Georgia.

Adoption - A legally recognized relationship that creates a parent-child relationship between individuals who are not biologically related to each other.

Asylee - A foreign national who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution, or a well-founded fear of persecution, based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Asylee status is sought by a individual physically present in the United States.

Continuous enrollment - Enrollment without a break of more than one traditional academic semester. A student who is not enrolled for two or more consecutive traditional academic semesters is not considered continuously enrolled. For the purpose of the Active Duty Military Personnel provision of the Military out-of-state tuition waiver, a student transitioning from high school to a University System of Georgia (USG) institution, from one USG institution to another USG institution, or from a Technical College System of Georgia institution to a USG institution, without a break of more than one traditional academic semester, is considered to have maintained continuous enrollment.

Dependent student - An individual under the age of 24 who receives financial support from a parent or United States court appointed legal guardian.

Domicile - An individual’s present, permanent home where he or she intends to stay indefinitely and to which he or she returns following periods of temporary absence. Domicile, once established, is not affected by mere transient or temporary physical presence outside of the state. No individual may have more than one domicile even though an individual may maintain more than one residence. Temporary residence does not constitute the establishment of domicile. To acquire domicile, an individual must demonstrate intent to remain permanently or indefinitely.

Durational Requirement - The period of domicile in the state of Georgia required for an individual to be eligible for classification as an in-state student. O.C.G.A. 20-3-66 and Board of Regents policy require that an individual establish and maintain domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes to be considered for in-state classification for the term.

Eligible non-citizens - United States lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and other categories of non-citizens recognized by the United States Department of Education as “eligible non-citizens” as outlined in the Federal Student Aid Handbook.

Emancipated - A minor who, under certain circumstances, may be treated by the law as an adult. A student reaching the age of 18 shall not qualify for consideration of reclassification by virtue of having become emancipated unless he/she can demonstrate financial independence and domicile independent of his/her parents.

Full-time employment - Employment requiring a minimum number of hours of work in a specified period of time as determined by the employer.

Independent student - An individual who is not claimed as a dependent on the federal or state income tax returns of a parent or United States court appointed legal guardian and whose parent or guardian has ceased to provide support and right to that individual’s care, custody, and earnings.

In-state student - A student who, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-3-66 and the policies of the Board of Regents, is determined to be eligible to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.

In-state tuition classification - Status granted to a student who, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-3-66 and the policies of the Board of Regents, has been determined to be eligible to pay tuition as an in-state student.

Lawful permanent resident - A non-citizen residing in the United States under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence status as an immigrant. Sometimes referred to as “LPR”, “Permanent Resident”, or “Green Card Holder”.

Legal guardian - An individual who has been granted custody of a dependent person (under the age of 24) by a court in the United States.

Military personnel - Full-time members of the Armed Forces of the United States, and active-duty commissioned officers by the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Non-citizen - A person who is not a U.S.-born or naturalized citizen of the United States.

Non-immigrant - A foreign national who maintains permanent residence abroad and seeks temporary entry to the United States.

Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 20-3-66 - The Georgia law providing the requirements for the determination of in-state resident status of students for tuition or fees.

Out-of-state student - A student who, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-3-66 and the policies of the Board of Regents, is determined not to be eligible to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.

Out-of-state tuition classification - Status granted to a student who, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-3-66 and the policies of the Board of Regents, has been determined to be ineligible to pay tuition as an in-state student.

Out-of-state tuition waiver - A waiver of the difference in tuition paid by students classified as out-of-state and those classified as in-state.

Post-secondary educational institution - An institution of higher education, public or private, above the high-school level.

Reciprocal exchange program – A reciprocal program is defined as a relationship between the USG institution and a domestic or international partner institution(s) that involves the exchange of students and/or faculty. USG institutions should work to maintain a balance in the reciprocity element of the exchange. A true one-to-one relationship is not required, but USG participants should be actively participating at the partner institution(s).

Agreements between U.S. government and civic organizations as well as partner nations and organizations are also eligible for this waiver. Examples of some qualifying programs include Fulbright and Institute of International Education Programs, AMIDEAST, LASPAU, Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Georgia Rotary Student Program.

Refugee - A foreign national who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution, or a well-founded fear of persecution, based on their race, religion, nationality, membership is a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugee status is applied for before coming to the United States.

Residency - The location where an individual currently lives.

Spouses and dependent children - For the purpose of determining eligibility of the Recently Separated Military Personnel out-of-state tuition waiver (Military waiver # 3), “spouses and dependent children” is defined to include those “covered individuals” outlined as eligible for in-state tuition under the provisions of Section 701 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. Covered individuals includes those using transferred benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill programs within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

Student from a homeless situation - Per O.C.G.A. 20-3-66, a “student from a homeless situation” means an individual United States citizen who:
(A)

1. Has graduated from a Georgia high school or an equivalent high school in another state; or
2. Has received a HiSET or general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia or the equivalent from another state; and

(B)

1. Is under the age of 24;
2. Currently lacks, or during the previous academic year lacked, a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as described under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Section 11301, et seq., as of January 1, 2021; and
3. Has evidence of such status as provided for in division (ii) of this subparagraph from:
1. A local educational agency homeless liaison, as provided for under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Section 11301, et seq., as of January 1, 2021;
2. The director, or his or her designee, of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other such program serving homeless youth or families;
3. The director, or his or her designee, of a program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Section 601, et seq., as of January 1, 2021;
4. The state or tribal organization that administers a state plan under Part B or E of Title IV of the Social Security Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Section 601, et seq., as of January 1, 2021;
5. Staff of a university accredited under the laws of this state; or
6. Such other similar professional, as deemed appropriate by the postsecondary educational institution;

provided, however, that the term “student from a homeless situation” shall not mean an individual who is or for any period within the last 12 consecutive months has been incarcerated in any correctional institution, detention center, jail, or other similar facility after having been convicted of a crime.

Title IV regulations - The federal regulations governing Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, found in Chapter Six of Title 34 of the Federal Register. The Title IV regulations outline the categories of non-citizens considered “eligible non-citizens” for the purpose of determining eligibility for classification as an in-state student.

Traditional academic semester - The fall and spring semesters are considered traditional academic semesters. The summer semester is not considered a traditional academic semester.

U.S. citizen - A citizen of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

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