Section 16-64-2 Requirements for Qualification as Resident Student; Rules and Guidelines.

(a) For purposes of admission and tuition, a public institution of higher education may consider that the term resident student includes any of the following: (1) One who, at the time of registration, is not a minor and satisfies one of the following: a. Is a full-time permanent employee or is the spouse of a full-time permanent employee of the institution at which the student is registering. b. Is currently permanently employed full-time within this state, or will commence the permanent, full-time employment within 90 days of registration with the institution, or is the spouse of a person who is either currently permanently employed full-time within this state or who will commence the permanent, full-time employment within 90 days of registration with the institution. c. Is employed as a graduate assistant or fellow by the institution at which the student is registering. d. Is an accredited member of or the spouse of an accredited member of a consular staff assigned to duties in Alabama. e. Is in a program or takes courses within an interstate consortium of colleges or universities that either offers reciprocal resident student tuition to residents of Alabama in the program or courses offered by colleges or universities not within Alabama, or is enrolled in a program or courses through an interstate consortium of colleges or universities which assesses tuition at a uniform rate for all students enrolled in that course or program. f. Is, at the time of passage of this chapter, a student enrolled at a public college or university and who is currently classified as a resident for tuition purposes, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment at that institution. (2) One who, at the time of registration, is a minor and whose supporting person satisfies one of the following: a. Is a full-time permanent employee of the institution at which the student is registering. b. Can verify full-time permanent employment within the State of Alabama and will commence the employment within 90 days of registration with the institution. c. Is an accredited member of a consular staff assigned to duties in Alabama. (b) For purposes of admission and tuition, a public institution of higher education shall consider that the term resident student includes any of the following: (1) One who, at the time of registration, is not a minor and satisfies one of the following: a. Is a member or the spouse of a member of the United States military on full-time active duty stationed in Alabama. b. Commencing on May 22, 2012, has been a member of the Alabama National Guard for a period of at least two years immediately preceding the student qualifying for resident tuition and continues to be a member of the Alabama National Guard while enrolled at the public institution of higher education. c. Is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, provided that the veteran has become a resident of Alabama and satisfies at least one of the following conditions: 1. The veteran has served on active duty for a continuous period of time, not less than two years, and has received an honorable discharge as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214 within five years of enrolling in an Alabama public institution of higher education. 2. The veteran is currently serving in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, as verified by a memorandum from the commanding officer of the veteran student. 3. The veteran has been assigned a service-connected disability by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. d. Is an out-of-state veteran who resides within 90 miles of a campus located in Alabama and has enrolled at an institution whose board of trustees has voted to allow nonresident in-state tuition for active and retired military. (2) One who, at the time of initial registration, is a minor and whose supporting person is a member of the United States military on full-time active duty stationed in Alabama. A student establishing residency pursuant to this subdivision shall continue to be considered a resident student, regardless of any transfer of his or her supporting person to an out-of-state duty station, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment at that institution. (3) One who, at the time of registration, is a full-time undergraduate student enrolled at an institution whose board of trustees has authorized resident tuition rates to apply to those non-resident students receiving a partial or full scholarship award in recognition of a particular talent or ability, provided the student possessed the talent or ability at the time of initial enrollment and maintains continuous scholarship eligibility at that institution. (c) The boards of trustees of each public institution of higher education in the state shall adopt rules and guidelines necessary to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that constitutionally created boards of trustees comply with the requirements of this section.