Students who want to declare in-state residency and save more than $6,000 per year in tuition must go through an application process that includes providing evidence of residency and financial independence and an interview by Residency Classification.

Students attempting to apply for residency at the University of Arizona have to meet three requirements that show an intent to stay in Arizona, said Interim Registrar Judy Mobasseri.

Mobasseri said for students to attain residency, they must prove physical presence in the state of Arizona for at least 12 months before the semester they begin attending the UA.

This means the applicant must have resided in Arizona for at least 12 months and must show intent to stay in the state for reasons beyond being a student, according to residency classification reports.

Second, students must show intent to stay in the state of Arizona. There are several criteria to determine this, such as vehicle registration, state and federal income tax information, and employment history, Mobasseri said.

Lastly, students must prove two years of financial independence, she said.

The Board of Regents made the change last fall from one year of financial independence to two. Students are considered independent if they pay for all expenses through self-generated funds.

All three requirements must be proven with clear and convincing evidence, Mobasseri said.

Most students want the Arizona residency because of the cheaper tuition rate. The cost to attend the UA for out-of-state students is $8,378, compared to $2,010 for in-state students this year.

If students are denied residency they can appeal the decision, Mobasseri said.

UA President Manuel Pacheco appoints a five-member committee each fiscal year for the review hearings.

A residency classification officer conducts the initial interview. If a student wishes to appeal a ruling he must file a written request with residency classification no later than 35 days after the last day of registration.

According to residency classification reports, in fall 1995, 651 students applied for in-state residency, and 439 (66 percent) were granted. Of the 212 students who were denied, 25 appealed the decision. Five were reclassified as in-state residents.

In fall 1994, 893 students applied for in-state residency and 613 (69 percent) were granted. Of the 280 students who were denied, 33 appealed the decision. Six were reclassified as in-state residents, according to reports.

A drop in applicants for in-state residency this fall could be attributed to the change from one year to two years of financial independence, Mobasseri said.

Students have until the last day of registration to apply for residency.

Students often make the assumption that the obtainment of residency is based completely on proving their education intent, Mobasseri said, but what the student must show is the intent to remain a resident in Arizona.

Jerome A. Lucido, assistant vice president for enrollment services, said residency issues are handled the best way possible.

When students are denied residency they are told the basis of the decision and are informed of the appeal process, he said.

Kristin Milenkiewicz, a junior from San Francisco studying British literature, said she was denied in-state residency because she did not meet the two-year financial independence requirement.

She was declared financially non-independent based on bank records that show her parents made a one-time gift into her account.

Milenkiewicz said that she was angry and felt that she was treated unfairly.

But, Thomas M. Thompson, university attorney, explained that when a student provides information to show her financial independence, she thereby grants access to all of the existing records.

Milenkiewicz said she was told that one option to obtain residency was to take a year off of school and work, then re-apply next fall.

"They suggested this to a student who will graduate in a year and a half," she said.

Lucido said that he does not agree with what the student was told.

"I would hope that students would use all their financial assistance options first," he said.

Mobasseri also said no one should be counseled that way.

If any residency officials are doing this, she said, she would like to find out and put a stop to it.

She added that the official should suggest alternatives, but allow the student to make the final decision.

One thing students must understand is that residency classification follows the policies of the state of Arizona, not the university, Mobasseri said.

Each student attempting to get in-state residency gets a great deal of attention, she said. Some of the interviews can take up to two hours so that the student fully understands the decision, she said.

To pay for the more expensive out-of-state tuition, Milenkiewicz said, she had to take out a loan and has had to work extra hours to make ends meet. Her main objective now is to graduate as quickly as possible because of the expenses, she said.

"The university has to see that not all students are out to get money from them. They should see what students make and realize that we don't make much," she said.

Scott M. Grossman, a marketing and human resources senior from Anaheim, Calif., said he obtained residency with no problem.

Grossman said he prepared for his interview for over a month. He went into the interview with a bag full of information, and rehearsed answers to questions that he could have been asked.

"It was a lot easier than expected - I was in and out quickly in 15 minutes," he said of his interview with Residency Classification.

Residency Classification officials said they were unable to comment.

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