Residency Verification

The College applies the following definitions as required by state law in the classification of students as residents or non-residents for the assessment of fees: 

1. LEGAL RESIDENCE OF A MINOR. The residence of a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age is that of either parent. If both parents are dead, the residence of the minor is that of the last surviving parent at the time of that parent’s death, unless the minor lives with his or her legal guardian, duly appointed by a proper court of Mississippi in which case the residence becomes that of the guardian.
2. LEGAL RESIDENCE OF AN ADULT. The residence of an adult is that place where he or she is domiciled, that is, the place where he actually physically resides with the intention of remaining indefinitely or of returning there permanently when temporarily absent.
3. EFFECT OF REMOVAL OF PARENTS FROM MISSISSIPPI. If the parents of a minor who is enrolled as a student in an institution of higher learning move their legal residence from the State of Mississippi, the minor is immediately classified as a nonresident student.
4. ADMISSION OF MISSISSIPPI RESIDENT. No student may be admitted to any institution of higher learning as a resident of Mississippi unless his residence, as defined hereinabove, has been in the State of Mississippi preceding his admission.
5. RESIDENCE STATUS OF A MARRIED PERSON. A married person may claim the residence status of spouse or may claim independent residence status under the same regulations, set forth above, as an adult.
6. CHILDREN OF PARENTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. Children of parents who are members of the faculty or staff of any institution under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of any community/junior college or the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning may be classified as residents without regard to the residence requirement of twelve (12) months, for the purpose of attendance at the institution where their parents are faculty or staff members.
7. MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED ON ACTIVE DUTY STATIONED IN MISSISSIPPI. Members of the Armed Forces on extended active duty and stationed within the State of Mississippi may be classified as residents for the purpose of attendance of state-supported institutions of higher learning and junior colleges of the State of Mississippi. Resident status of such military personnel, who are not legal residents of Mississippi as defined under “Legal residence of an adult,” subsection 2, shall terminate upon their reassignment for duty in the continental United States outside the State of Mississippi.
8. CHILDREN OF MILITARY PERSONNEL. Resident status of children of members of the Armed Forces on extended active duty shall be that of the military parent for the purpose of attending state-supported institutions of higher learning and junior colleges of the State of Mississippi during the time that their military parents are stationed within the State of Mississippi and shall be continued through the time that military parents are stationed in an overseas area with last duty assignment within the State of Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments en route from Mississippi. Resident status of minor children shall terminate upon reassignment under Permanent Change of Station Orders of their military parents for duty in the continental United States outside the State of Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments en route from Mississippi.
9. CERTIFICATION OF RESIDENCY OF MILITARY PERSONNEL. A military person on active duty stationed in Mississippi who wishes to avail himself or his dependents of the provisions of subsection 7, must submit a certificate from his military organization showing the name of the military member; the name of the dependent, if for a dependent; the name of the organization of assignment and its address (may be in the letterhead); that the military member will be on active duty stationed in Mississippi on the date of registration at the state-supported institution of higher learning or junior college of the State of Mississippi, that the military member is not on transfer orders; the signature of the Commanding Officer, the Adjutant, or the Personnel Officer of the unit of assignment with signer’s rank and title. A military certificate must be presented to the Registrar of the state supported institution of higher learning or junior college of the State of Mississippi each semester or tri-semester at (or within 10 days prior to) registration each semester for the provisions of subsection 7 of this act to be effective.
10. STUDENT MUST REGISTER UNDER PROPER RESIDENCE STATUS; PENALTY. The responsibility for registering under his proper residence status is placed upon the student. In addition to any administrative action which may be taken by governing authorities of the state-supported institutions of higher learning or junior colleges concerned, any student who willfully presents false evidence as to his residence status shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may be fined not to exceed $100.