North Carolina Residency

for Tuition Purposes

Residency Determination Office

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The North Carolina Constitution requires that higher education be available as a benefit to the people of NC as far as practicable at minimal cost.

This benefit provided by the citizen taxpayers of NC is afforded to residents of the State in anticipation of present and future benefit to the State.

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Provisions for determining resident status for tuition purposes:

Establish domicile • Physical presence and intent to make NC his/her

permanent home for an indefinite duration twelve (12) months prior to the beginning of the term (first day of classes); and

Maintain that domicile for at least twelve consecutive months, and

Not be in NC solely to attend college

All students admitted to an academic program

are initially classified in the admissions office as

either a resident or a non-resident for tuition

purposes.

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The initial residence classification is not binding on

another institution should the student apply or transfer to

another institution.

The initial residence classification is not binding should

the student transfer to a different academic level at the

same institution (undergraduate to graduate).

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Initial Classification

If the admit letter indicates that the student has

been initially classified as a non-resident and the

student disagrees with this decision, he/she may

submit a Residence and Tuition Status Application

for a complete residency review.

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The student should:

Completely fill out the application and include answers to all

pertinent questions.

Attach copies of all required supporting documentation.

Keep a copy of the application for future reference.

Provide any additional information that focuses on documented

facts and events in the year prior to the 12 months he/she

domiciled in NC.

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Domicile must be

demonstrated by this date

One year before the first day of classes

Your arrival in North Carolina

12 month period of domicile

First day of classes

Semester for which you claim residency for tuition purposes

You want your cluster

of acts to be as close

to, or before, this line

as possible

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Residence ≠Domicile

Residence is where you live

A domicile is where you intend to return and remain for an indefinite period of time

A person can have many

residences but only one domicile

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North Carolina is NOT a checklist state.

There is no absolute benchmark.

Residency decisions are based on a preponderance of

evidence.

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A preponderance of evidence refers to a cluster of

significant events demonstrating domicile (physical

presence and intent).

Gradual accumulation of evidence requires that the

residency classifier determine at what point the greater

weight of evidence for residency is demonstrated.

It is IMPORTANT to:

Pay attention to the Filing Deadlines at left

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Residency decisions are communicated to the student

by letter.

◦ If the letter indicates that the student has not met NC residency

requirements and the student disagrees, he/she may appeal to

the University Residence Status Appeals Board (URSAB). The

residency decision letter will provide instructions on how to appeal

to the URSAB.

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URSAB consists of faculty and staff other than individuals who

classify from the Offices of Admission and Residency Determination

Office

Members represent Graduate and Undergraduate student

perspective

Evaluates facts in the context of legal requirements to make

decision

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Appealing to the URSAB?

◦ Submit a request to appeal within twenty(20) days from the date

of the decision letter.

◦ Appeal request, application and all original materials submitted by

the student will be forwarded to the URSAB.

◦ A URSAB representative will contact the student regarding an in-

person hearing date.

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Student remarks to the URSAB must be factual in nature.

The URSAB does not have the authority to make

exceptions to the statutes. They are looking for a

preponderance of factual information.

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URSAB decisions are communicated to the student by

letter.

◦ If the URSAB decision letter indicates that the student has not

met NC residency requirements and the student disagrees,

he/she may appeal to the State Residence Committee (SRC).

The URSAB decision letter will provide instructions on how to

appeal to the SRC.

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Reviews appeals for all 16 campuses

Meetings generally once a month

Turn around time is usually lengthy due to volume of appeals

Process & decision controlled by General Administration

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Appealing to the SRC?

◦ Submit a written statement of appeal within ten (10) days from the date of

URSAB decision letter. The URSAB decision letter will provide

instructions on how to appeal to the SRC.

◦ The Institutional Record will be forwarded to student for inspection. The

Institutional Record includes the residency application and only those

documents that were considered for review by the URSAB.

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Agree that Institutional Record is correct and want to

proceed with appeal to the SRC?

◦ Submit a notice of appeal within twenty (20) days from the date of

receiving the Institutional Record.

◦ Institutional Record will be forwarded to the SRC.

◦ Appeal decision will be communicated to student by letter from the SRC.

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Residency Determination Office: Denny 114

A link to the NC General Statutes is located on this website

A copy of the NC Residency Manual is located on this website and:

◦ In the Residency Determination Office

◦ At the Atkins Library

The Residency Brochure is available on this website and in the

Residency Determination Office

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Residency Determination Office The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

9201 University City Boulevard - Denny 114

Charlotte, NC 28223-0001

Email: NCresidency@uncc.edu

Telephone: 704-687-5122

Fax: 704-687-1680

North Carolina Residency

for Tuition Purposes

Residency Determination Office

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