Editor:
Attention all nonresident students! Because of a new state law, you may have to pay out-of-state tuition for a full year longer than you planned. For me personally, the difference is $6,000.
A statement issued by the U admissions office explains: “The Utah State Legislature has revised the law that governs residency for tuition purposes. The governor signed the bill into law. The revision becomes effective May 6, 2002. Students who have been in Utah for 12 continuous month before May 6, 2002, and meet all the other criteria, may be eligible for resident status and should apply for residency re-classification immediately. If students reach the 12-month mark after that date, they will be held to the revised law. It requires students maintain continuous Utah residency status while completing 60 semester credit hours at a regionally accredited higher education institution in the state of Utah prior to registration as a resident student…When the governor signed the bill, he sent a letter to the Legislature strongly recommending they revisit the law to include a…’grandfather clause’ allowing students currently in the school system to qualify under the old law.”
If a grandfather clause is added to the law, each non resident student in the Utah school system could save thousands of dollars. Please contact your representative. Tell them that it is important to you that a grandfather clause be added to this law. Please write as soon as possible, as the house will discuss the grandfather clause in late May.
Have others write as well. Your trouble is well worth the money you could save.
Jessica Bagley, Junior, Occupational Therapy