I. Purpose
A. The purpose of this Policy on Tuition and Residency Requirement (“Policy”) is to establish classifications of student residency for assessment of tuition by Anne Arundel Community College (“AACC” or “College”).
B. This Policy further establishes exceptions to the residency requirements for tuition purposes.
II. Scope and Applicability
This Policy applies to prospective and current students.
III. Definitions
A. Armed Forces includes the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and the reserve components thereof.
B. Continuously Enrolled means enrolled in courses at the College other than during regularly scheduled breaks between Fall and Spring terms.
C. Dependent Child means a financially dependent child of an active-duty member of the Armed Forces.
D. Domicile means the Student’s permanent place of abode, where physical presence and possessions are maintained with the intention of remaining indefinitely; or the permanent place of abode of any person or persons contributing more than half (1/2) of the Student's financial support during the most recently completed year.
E. In-County Resident is a Student who has attested to maintaining their Domicile in Anne Arundel County in accordance with the criteria below.
F. In-State Resident is a Student who has attested to maintaining their Domicile in Baltimore City or a county within Maryland that is not Anne Arundel County in accordance with the criteria below.
G. MHEC is the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
H. Out-of-State Resident is a Student who whose Domicile is outside of Maryland.
I. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer means a person who has been certified by the Director of the Peace Corps as having served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps volunteer.
J. Servicemember is an active-duty member of the Armed Forces.
K. Sponsor is a member of the Armed Forces upon which a Student is dependent, including spouses and Dependent Children.
L. Student includes a person who has been admitted to the College and is enrolled in at least one (1) course at the College.
M. Tuition is the basic instructional charge for courses offered at the College and does not include any fees or costs associated with a self-supporting program or fees for registration, application, administration, or laboratory work.
IV. Determination of Residency Status
A. Unless an exception or waiver applies, a Student will be charged Tuition according to the Student’s residency classification as one of the following:
1. In-County Resident;
2. In-State Resident; or
3. Out-of-State Resident.
B. A Student will be classified as an In-County Resident if:
1. The Student has maintained Domicile in Anne Arundel County for at least three (3) months before the start date of the session in which the Student has enrolled;
2. Another person maintaining Domicile in Anne Arundel County contributed more than one-half (1/2) of the Student’s financial support during the most recent completed tax year; or
3. The Student is receiving an Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship from MHEC and is Domiciled in Anne Arundel County at the time of admission.
C. A Student will be classified as an In-State Resident if:
1. The Student has maintained Domicile in Baltimore City or a County within Maryland other than Anne Arundel County for at least three (3) months before the start date of the session in which the Student has enrolled;
2. Another person maintaining Domicile in Baltimore City or a County within Maryland other than Anne Arundel County contributed more than one-half (1/2) of the Student’s financial support during the most recent completed tax year;
3. The Student is receiving an Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship from MHEC and is Domiciled in Baltimore City or a County within Maryland other than Anne Arundel County at the time of admission; or
4. The Student is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and is Domiciled in Maryland at the time of admission.
D. A Student will be classified as an Out-of-State Resident if the Student does not meet the criteria for being an In-County Resident or an In-State Resident, unless an exception or waiver applies to the Student.
E. Upon request of the College, a Student must provide documentation to establish residency for tuition purposes, or the College may classify the Student as an Out-of-State Resident.
V. Exceptions
A. Students have the responsibility to provide appropriate documentation to establish that an exception applies for tuition purposes.
B. Servicemembers and Their Spouses and Dependent Children
1. A Student who is a Servicemember will be classified as an In-County Resident for tuition purposes, regardless of the Student’s Domicile, duty station, or residence.
2. A Student who is the spouse or Dependent Child of a Servicemember will be classified as follows:
a. As an In-County Resident if the Student’s Sponsor currently resides in Anne Arundel County, regardless of the length of residency; or
b. As an In-State Resident if the Student’s Sponsor currently resides in Baltimore City or a County within Maryland that is not Anne Arundel County, regardless of the length of residency.
3. A Student classified as an In-County Resident or In-State Resident based on a Sponsor’s residency will maintain the classification assigned as long as the Student remains Continuously Enrolled at the College.
4. If there is a break in enrollment, the College may re-assess residency at the time the Student re-enrolls.
C. Maryland National Guard, Veterans, and Eligible Transferees of Benefits
1. The following will be classified as an In-County Resident if the Student resides in Anne Arundel County before the start date of the session in which the Student has enrolled, regardless of the length of residency:
a. A Student who is a qualified member of the Maryland National Guard;
b. A Student who is an honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces;
c. A Student who is receiving educational benefits pursuant to the Montgomery G.I. Bill®[1] or Post-9/11 GI Bill®;
d. A Student who is receiving a Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship; or
e. A Student is entitled to rehabilitation under 38 U.S.C. § 3102(a).
2. A Student who meets the criteria listed in this Section but does not reside in Anne Arundel County before the start date of the session in which the Student has enrolled will be classified as an In-State Resident, even if the Student resides outside of Maryland.
3. A Student classified as an In-County Resident or In-State Resident based on being a member of the Maryland National Guard will maintain the classification assigned as long as the Student a member.
4. A Student classified as an In-County Resident or In-State Resident based any other criteria in this Section will maintain the classification assigned as long as the Student remains Continuously Enrolled at the College.
5. If there is a break in enrollment, the College may re-assess residency at the time the Student re-enrolls.
D. Public School Teachers
1. A Student who is an Anne Arundel County public school teacher who enrolls in a course required for employment will be classified as an In-County Resident, even if residing outside of Anne Arundel County.
2. A Student who is a public school teacher at a school located in Baltimore City or a County within Maryland other than Anne Arundel County who enrolls in a course required for employment will be classified as an In-State Resident.
3. A Student classified as an In-County Resident or In-State Resident based on being a public school teacher will maintain the classification assigned as long as the Student remains employed by the public school.
4. If there is a break in enrollment, the College may re-assess residency at the time the Student re-enrolls.
E. Undocumented Immigrants
1. A Student who is an undocumented immigrant who meets the criteria for a qualified student set forth in Maryland law and who graduated from a high school located in Anne Arundel County will be classified as an In-County Resident.
2. A Student who is an undocumented immigrant who meets the criteria for a qualified student set forth in Maryland law and who graduated from a high school in Baltimore City or a County other than Anne Arundel County will be classified as an In-State Resident.
3. This Section does not apply to a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15).
F. A Student may qualify for any other exception provided under Maryland law.
IV. Student may qualify for a full or partial waiver of tuition in accordance with the Policy on Waivers to Tuition and Fees or any waivers provided under Maryland law.
*38 U.S.C.A. § 3679(c). GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Policy Title: Interim Policy on Tuition and Residency Requirements
Policy Category: Student Affairs
Policy Owner: Vice President of Learner Support Services
Policy Administrator: Dean of Enrollment Services
Contact Information: Dr. John Grabowski, jfgrabowski@aacc.edu; 410-777-2231
Approval Date: July 1, 2022
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
History: Adopted January 11, 2005; Revised April 12, 2011; June 9, 2015; September 13, 2016; May 8, 2018
Applies to: All College prospective and current students.
Related Policies: Policy on Waivers to Tuition and Fees
Related Procedures: N/A
Forms/Guidelines: N/A
Relevant Laws: Md. Code, Educ., § 15-106 et. seq. 38 U.S.C. § 3679