Lewis and Clark follows current residency requirements set forth by the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education. Knowing your residency status as it relates to community college districts is important because it can affect your tuition rate, eligibility for certain programs and services, and other enrollment requirements.
Purpose
This procedure establishes the process Lewis and Clark Community College follows to classify students as in-district, out-of-district, out-of-state, international, employer in-district, or cooperative agreement students for tuition and fee purposes. Residency classification is based on legal residence, applicable Illinois law and administrative rules, and documentation provided by the student or other authorized source.
Residency Classification
In-District
A student is classified as in-district when the student’s legal residence is within the boundaries of Lewis and Clark Community College District No. 536 for at least 30 days immediately prior to the beginning of the academic term for which the student enrolls, and the residence was established for purposes other than attending college. If an in-district student moves outside the district after the start of the term, the in-district tuition rate will be honored through the end of that term.
Out-of-District
A student who resides in Illinois but outside the boundaries of District No. 536 is classified as out-of-district unless the student qualifies for another tuition classification under this procedure, including a cooperative agreement, employer in-district classification, military-related classification, or other applicable legal exception. If an out-of-district student moves into District No. 536 after the start of the term, the out-of-district tuition rate will remain in effect through the end of that term.
Out-of-State
A student whose legal residence is outside Illinois is classified as out-of-state unless the student qualifies for another tuition classification under applicable law, including qualifying active-duty military status or eligibility under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c). Out-of-state students will be charged the applicable tuition rate unless an exception applies.
International Student
An international student on a student visa who is enrolled in 12 semester hours or more and has been issued a Form I-20 will be charged the applicable out-of-state tuition rate. International students who have been issued a Form I-20 to attend Lewis and Clark Community College or another college or university may not establish eligibility for the in-district tuition rate solely by residing in the district while attending college.
Employer In-District
Out-of-district and out-of-state students who receive training from, and are employed by, an employer located within District No. 536 may qualify for the in-district tuition rate when the training and employment meet College requirements. The required employer verification form must be completed by the in-district employer each semester and submitted by the College’s published deadline.
Cooperative Agreements
Students who reside outside District No. 536 and attend Lewis and Clark Community College under the terms of an approved cooperative agreement between L&C and another Illinois community college district will be charged L&C’s in-district tuition rate for eligible programs or courses covered by the agreement.
Military and Veterans Tuition Classification
Beginning with the 2022–2023 academic year and consistent with Public Act 102-800 and federal requirements under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), a person who is on active duty or is an individual entitled to assistance as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) shall be deemed an in-district resident for tuition purposes for the applicable academic term. Students seeking this classification must provide documentation reasonably required by the College to confirm qualifying status.
Documentation and Verification
The College may require students to provide documentation to verify legal residence, district residence, Illinois residence, employment-based eligibility, cooperative agreement eligibility, or military-related eligibility. Acceptable documentation may include, but is not limited to, a valid driver’s license or State identification card, voter registration, lease or mortgage documentation, utility bills, property tax records, employment verification, military or veterans benefits documentation, or other official records that establish residency or eligibility.
Residency must be established by the College’s published deadline for the applicable term. A student who fails to provide requested documentation by the deadline may be classified based on the information available at the time of enrollment and charged the applicable tuition rate.
Changes in Residency Status
Residency classification is determined for each academic term. Changes in residence after the start of a term will generally apply to a future term unless otherwise required by law or approved under a separate classification described in this procedure. Students are responsible for notifying the College of any change in residence or eligibility that may affect tuition classification.
Review and Appeal
A student who believes the assigned residency classification is incorrect may request a review through the Enrollment Center or other designated College office. The student must submit supporting documentation by the published deadline. The College will review the information submitted and issue a determination consistent with applicable law, administrative rules, and College procedure.