Operating Procedures for Residence Classification of Students

These procedures supplement the policy on Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes (II.D.1). Refer to the policy for contact information and applicable definitions. 

Responsible Office: Office of the Registrar, West Lafayette campus.

Effective Date:  August 1, 2017

I.  Determination of Residence Classification

A.  When determining a Student's residence classification, the University official will consider each Student's individual situation. Contributing conditions may include, but are not limited to the following (none of which, in and of themselves, guarantee that the Student will be classified as a Resident):

1. Existence of non-academic reasons for coming to Indiana and abandoning the previous Domicile.
2. Issuance of an Indiana driver’s license and registration of automobiles in Indiana.
3. Reliance on Indiana sources of income and paying Indiana income tax.
4. Acceptance of an offer of permanent employment in Indiana.
5. Obtainment of a professional license to practice in Indiana.
6. A significant change in family circumstances, such as a job transfer, death, loss of job or health reasons that affect the Student or an immediate family member with whom the Student shares a Domicile, that precipitate relocation to Indiana.
7. Immigration status.

B. The University official may request documentation to substantiate residency claims. Examples of documentation include, but are not limited to:

1. Immigration paperwork,
2. Driver's license,
3. Vehicle registration,
4. Voter registration,
5. Signed state and federal income tax returns,
6. Employment records,
7. Professional licensing documentation,
8. Housing rental agreement or mortgage contract
9. Divorce degree,
10. Statement from a health care provider, and
11. Military orders or other documents specifically stationing a person to serve active duty in Indiana.

II.  Changes from Non-Resident to Resident

1.  The University will presume that the initial non-Resident classification determined by the appropriate University official is accurate until sufficient evidence is presented to warrant reclassification as a Resident. It is the responsibility of the Registrar’s Office to review and render a decision on applications for a change from non-Resident to Resident.
2. A Student’s application for reclassification as a Resident must be submitted on the appropriate form supplied by their campus Registrar’s Office any time after the Domicile requirement has been met (including one year of consecutive residence), but no later than 15 business days after the first day of classes of the academic semester or session for which reclassification is sought.

Note: For Purdue West Lafayette and Polytechnic Statewide students: The application portal will open on the first day of classes of each academic semester or session for which residence classification is sought and will remain open for 15 business days after the first day of classes. A link to the Academic Calendar can be found here.  More information about the Residence Form and Filing Deadlines for each campus is available here.

III.  Changes from Resident to Non-Resident

A.  A Student who is classified as a Resident by the University must notify the Office of the Registrar of any change in factors that might prevent him or her from continuing to meet the definition of Resident. Examples include, but are not limited to:

1. A change in the Student's (if Independent) or the Parent's or Legal Guardian's (if a dependent) Domicile.
2. A change by the Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Student’s resident or immigration status.

B.  The Office of Admissions will initiate a reclassification inquiry upon receipt of any changes in facts that would justify such an inquiry.

C.  Reclassification of a Student to non-Resident will be effective beginning with the first academic semester or session following the event or fulfillment of circumstances that prompted the change in status.

IV.  Residence Classification Appeal

A.  A Student who is not satisfied with the determination concerning his or her residence classification may appeal the decision to the Residence Appeal Committee at the campus where he or she is Enrolled. The appeal must be filed within 30 business days after the first day of classes of the academic semester or session for which the determination is effective, or within 30 business days after the original decision was rendered, whichever occurs later. Failure to file an appeal within this specified time limit will constitute a waiver of all claims for reconsideration for that academic semester or session.

B. The appeal must be in writing and include reason(s) for the appeal and a complete statement of the facts upon which the appeal is based. The written appeal may be forwarded to:

Registrar
Residence Appeal Committee
Purdue University, 128 Memorial Mall
West Lafayette, IN 47907

C.  Consistent with the general intent and purpose of this policy, the Residence Appeal Committee may uphold or reverse the decision of the classifying official. The committee is authorized to classify a Student as a Resident, though not meeting the specific requirements herein set forth, if the Student's situation presents unusual circumstances, and the classification is within the general scope of this policy. Persons otherwise responsible for determining residence classification of Students may assist the committee in a consultative capacity. The decision of the committee in all cases is final.

V.  History and updates

[August 1, 2017]: These procedures were separated from their related policy. Contributing conditions and examples of documentation for determining residency were expanded. The process for changing a classification from Resident to non-Resident was clarified.