9.2.10 - Residency Policy

Last updated on May 30, 2023

POLICY:  Spoon River College determines student residency for state reporting, state funding, and local tuition purposes.

SCOPE:

This policy applies to all Spoon River College Students.

DEFINITIONS:

Domicile:  Place where a student lives and which they intend to be their permanent home as evidenced by appropriate documentation.

In-District Student:  A student whose legal residence is within the boundaries of Spoon River College District #534.

Out-of-District Student:  A student whose legal residence is outside the boundaries of Spoon River College District #534, but whose legal residence is within the State of Illinois.

Out-of-State Student:  A student whose legal residence is in a U.S. state other than Illinois.

International Student:  A student whose legal residence is outside the United States or Territories thereof.

DETAILS:

  1. Residency must be determined 30 days prior to the beginning of each semester. Any student whose residency cannot be established as in-district under this policy is categorized as out-of-district.
  2. The Dean of Student Services is ultimately responsible, along with the Registrar, to ensure compliance with residency determinations. Advisors are to request only updated address information from the student.

PROCEDURE(S):

  1. The acceptable forms of documentation to determine student residency are verified by an approved staff member of the College and may include one of the following:
    1. a copy of the student's driver's license;
    2. automobile registration;
    3. voter registration card;
    4. latest state income tax form;
    5. property tax statement or deed; or
    6. other similar documentation providing verification of the student's address.

    Approved forms are placed in the student's permanent file.

  2. A student determined to be in-district for the current term, will remain in-district until there is notification of an address change. It is the student’s responsibility to provide notification of any address changes.
  3. Emancipated students' residency status is verified based on their documentation.
  4. Concurrently enrolled full-time (12 hours) Western Illinois University students qualify for in-district status.
  5. Students residing in the Snapper Villas qualify for in-district status. Students must provide copy of current Snapper Villas lease.
  6. Students with documented verification of full time employment (at least 35 hours per week) within the district qualify for in-district status.
  7. Students who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or have been recently emancipated from DCFS and had a placement change into a new community college district shall be exempt from the 30-day requirement if they demonstrate proof of current in-district residency. Documentation of current residency may be submitted to the district from the student, a caseworker or other personnel of the Department, or the student’s attorney or guardian ad litem.
  8. Students with documented verification of federal job corps status who are stationed in Illinois qualify for in-state residency without meeting the 30-day residency provision.
  9. Students with documented verification of current active-duty military status who are stationed in Illinois qualify for in-state residency without meeting the 30-day residency provision.
  10. Students with documented verification of current incarceration at correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in Illinois qualify for in-state residency without meeting the 30-day residency provision.
  11. Students with documented verification of full-time employment (at least 35 hours per week) In Illinois qualify for in-state residency.