The Board of Supervisors for the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges System (LCTCS) has established policies and procedures for determining residency for tuition and fee purposes (LCTCS Policy #2.008 Residency). Eligibility for classification as a Louisiana resident is determined by the Office of Admissions after the completed application for admission and other related documents have been submitted. After enrollment, changes in residency status are made in the Office of the Registrar.
Owning property in Louisiana, paying Louisiana state taxes, or establishing voter privileges in Louisiana do not, in themselves, qualify an applicant for Louisiana residency.
For tuition purposes, a Louisiana resident is defined as one who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, abandoned all prior domiciles and has been domiciled and is employed part-time or full-time in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester of enrollment for which resident classification is sought. In accordance with the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, eligible military personnel and their spouse/dependents are also classified as residents for tuition purposes.
Residency categories are as follows:
- Have lived and worked in Louisiana for at least one full year
- Married to a Louisiana resident
- A dependent child of a Delgado Community College graduate
- Dependent child of a Louisiana resident
- Dependent child of a Louisiana resident living with a legal guardian
- Permanent resident - must be in possession of Form I-551 (alien permanent resident card) or must show proof of permanent resident approval)
- Military Personnel/Spouse/Dependent as defined below
-An active duty member of the Armed Forces (including National Guard and Reserves) may be classified as a Resident for tuition purposes upon submission of documentation signed by the unit commander verifying active duty.
-An honorably discharged and retired veteran of the Armed Forces may be classified as a Resident for tuition purposes upon submission of documentation verifying military discharge/retirement status.
-A spouse, minor child or dependent of an active duty, honorably discharged or retired member of the Armed Forces may enroll as a Resident upon submission of documentation verifying spouse/dependent status.
Veteran/Service Member/Dependent/Spouse Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Request Forms, which outline the required supporting documentation to verify non-resident tuition eligibility, are available in the Office of Admissions and on the Delgado web site (www.dcc.edu). The form and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions within 21 days after the first day of classes.
Other persons not meeting the 12-month legal residency requirement may be classified as temporary residents for tuition purposes only if they meet the requirements for one of the following categories.
Temporary Residency Classification Categories:
- Visa categories: A, E, G, I, H, K, L
- Non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted to the United States as Refugee, Amnesty Alien, Temporary Protective Status
Residency Reclassification
Students in the process of working to have their classification as non-residents changed to residents must present satisfactory written documentation proving that they meet one of the categories to be classified as a Louisiana resident for tuition purposes.
To qualify as a Louisiana resident for tuition purposes, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen; a legal permanent resident; a non-U.S. citizen who can demonstrate that he or she has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; or meet one of the classifications of temporary resident as defined above.
Non-U.S. citizens must be a permanent resident in possession of Form I-551 (alien permanent resident card) or proof of approval for such status before beginning the process of establishing residency by meeting the criteria to be classified as a Louisiana resident. Non-U.S. citizens not in possession of Form I-551 are referred to International Student Admissions for determination of residency status.
Non-Louisiana Residency Reclassification Applications, which outline the required supporting documentation, are available in the Office of Admissions and on the Delgado web site (www.dcc.edu). The application along with all supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions for new students or to the Office of the Registrar for readmit and continuing students within 21 days after the first day of classes.
Upon notification of a denial for reclassification, students have 10 days to submit an appeal. Appeals of denial for reclassification must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for consideration by the College’s Residency Appeals Committee. The Residency Appeals Committee consists of not less than three voting members of the College staff appointed by the Chancellor’s designee, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The College Registrar serves as an additional, non-voting member. If the Committee finds from the evidence submitted that the student is entitled to reclassification under the established regulations, the Committee makes a recommendation to the Chancellor’s designee regarding the reclassification of a student who has appealed his or her classification as a non-resident.
Within 21 days of the receipt of the appeal, the student will be notified by the Registrar’s Office regarding the College’s decision. If the decision is to reclassify the student to a resident, the classification will be effective with the current term and a refund of non-resident fees will be made to the student, if applicable. Failure of the student to comply timely with the residency appeals procedure will constitute a waiver of all claims for reclassification for the applicable semester/session. Exceptions to the policy may be made by the Chancellor’s designee.
All students classified as residents are subject to reclassification to non-resident and payment of all non-resident fees not paid. If incorrect classification results from false or concealed facts by the student, the student is also subject to the College’s student judicial procedures.
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