Okefenokee Technical College

Okefenokee Technical College 2012-2013 Catalog

State Resident Policy

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Georgia Residency Requirements

OTC is responsible for the verification of the lawful presence of every successfully admitted student as required by state and federal immigration laws. Legal residence in the state of Georgia requires the establishment of a domicile in the State of Georgia with the intent to remain indefinitely. Okefenokee Technical College has the responsibility of evaluating each application, while the student has the responsibility of conveying current and accurate residency information. This information is used in determining the appropriate tuition rate to be paid by each student. In accordance with the policy of the Technical College System of Georgia, OTC recognizes three student residency categories: Georgia Resident, Out-of-State Student, and Non-Citizen Student. The rate of tuition charged is based on a student’s status on the first day of the term.

Students applying for in state tuition must submit at least one secure and verifiable document defined in Georgia Code Section 50-36-2.  The Georgia Code Sections can be found at www.georgia.gov.

  • To be classified as a Georgia Resident for tuition purposes, an independent student must show that he/she has established and maintained a domicile in Georgia for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately proceeding the first day of classes for the term. ‘Independent student’ means an individual who is not claimed as a dependent on the federal or state income tax returns of a parent or United States court-appointed legal guardian and whose parent or guardian has ceased to provide support and right to that individual’s care, custody, and earnings.
  • If an independent student classified as a Georgia Resident for tuition purposes relocates out of state temporarily but returns to Georgia within 12 months of the relocation, such student shall be entitled to retain his or her Georgia Resident tuition classification.
  • A dependent student shall be classified as a Georgia Resident for tuition purposes if the dependent student’s parent or United States court-appointed legal guardian has established and maintained domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term and:

    (A) The student has graduated from a Georgia high school; or

    (B) The parent claimed the student as a dependent on the parent’s most recent federal or state income tax return.

  • 'Dependent student’ means an individual under the age of 24 who receives financial support from a parent or United States court-appointed legal guardian.
  • If the parent or United States court-appointed guardian of a dependent student currently classified as a Georgia Resident for tuition purposes establishes domicile outside of Georgia after having established and maintained domicile in Georgia, such student may retain his or her Georgia Resident tuition classification so long as such student remains continuously enrolled in a public postsecondary educational institution in Georgia, regardless of the domicile of such student’s parent or United States court-appointed legal guardian.
  • In the absence of documentation that the individual has established legal residence in Georgia, no person shall gain Georgia Resident status while attending any educational institution in this state.