UAB students are governed by the
Board of Trustees' Non-Resident Tuition Policy which applies to students enrolled in each of the campuses of the University of Alabama System. The policy is implemented at UAB in accordance with the following guidelines:
Introduction
The Board of Trustees has established a "Non-resident Tuition Policy" which addresses non-resident tuition, certification of residency status by campus officials, and establishment of campus policies to administer an appeals process. This UAB policy implements certain provisions of that Board policy.
Policy Statement
The Division of Student Affairs, the Graduate School, and the admissions/registration offices of the Health Affairs schools, as appropriate, are designated as the offices empowered at UAB to determine and certify "resident" or "non-resident" student status. These offices are responsible for documenting each residency status evaluation and for maintaining the records used to substantiate that evaluation.
As the provisions of Section II of the Board policy indicate, "though certification of an address and an intent to remain in the state indefinitely are prerequisites to establishing status as a resident, ultimate determination of that status shall be made by the institution by its evaluation of the presence or absence of connections with the state of Alabama. . ." However, meeting the specific criteria included in Section II of the Board policy may not in all circumstances result in certification as a "resident student."
Also, according to the provisions of the Board policy, UAB has been given the authority to expand, and has by separate Board resolution expanded, the definition of "resident student" to encompass all the categories in Sections III. A and III. B of the Board policy. [In general, international students who have not been issued a U.S. resident alien card may not be considered for residency status for tuition purposes unless they hold a graduate assistantship or fellowship and meet certain criteria. International students who have been issued a U.S. resident alien card will be considered for residency status for tuition purposes in the same manner as are U.S. citizens.]
The decision by an admissions or registration officer concerning certification of residency status may be appealed in writing by the student to the Vice President for Student Affairs who may overrule the decision or may, at his or her discretion, convene a review committee composed of a representative from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, a representative from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a representative from the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs [or appropriate current UAB officials]. If the decision of the review committee is appealed by the student, the Vice President for Student Affairs may add a recommendation of concurrence or non-concurrence with the review committee and forward the findings to the President for determination. The decision of the President is final.