S.C. Code Regs. § § 62-609

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 62-609 - Exceptions

A. Persons in the following categories qualify to pay in state tuition and fees without having to establish a permanent home in the state for twelve months. Persons who qualify under any of these categories must meet the conditions of the specific category on or before the first day of class of the term for which payment of in state tuition and fees is requested. The following categories apply only to in state tuition and do not apply to State supported scholarships and grants. Individuals who qualify for in state tuition and fees under the following exceptions do not automatically qualify for LIFE, SC HOPE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships. However, where all scholarship & grant timelines related to residency and academic requirements are met, persons in categories (1), (3) and (4) may qualify for state scholarships or grants:

(1) "Military Personnel and their Dependents": Members of the United States Armed Forces who are permanently assigned in South Carolina on active duty and their dependents are eligible to pay in state tuition and fees. When such personnel are transferred from the State, their dependents may continue to pay in state tuition and fees as long as they are continuously enrolled or transfer to an eligible institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms, immediately following their enrollment at the previous institution. In the event of a transfer, the receiving institution shall verify the decision made by the student's previous institution in order to certify the student's eligibility for in-state tuition rates. It is the responsibility of the transferring student to ensure that all documents required to verify both the previous and present residency decisions are provided to the institution. Members of the United States Armed Forces who are permanently assigned in South Carolina on active duty (and their dependents) may also be eligible to pay in state tuition and fees as long as they are continuously enrolled after their discharge from the military, provided they have demonstrated an intent to establish a permanent home in South Carolina and they have resided in South Carolina for a period of at least twelve months immediately preceding their discharge. Military personnel who are not stationed in South Carolina and/or former military personnel who intend to establish South Carolina residency must fulfill the twelve month "physical presence" requirement for them or their dependents to qualify to pay in state tuition and fees.

(2) "Faculty and Administrative Employees with Full Time Employment and their Dependents": Full time faculty and administrative employees of South Carolina state supported colleges and universities and their dependents are eligible to pay in state tuition and fees.

(3) "Residents with Full Time Employment and their Dependents:" Persons who reside, are domiciled, and are full time employed with an employer that is physically located in the State and who continue to work full time until they meet the twelve month requirement and their dependents are eligible to pay in state tuition and fees, provided that they have taken steps to establish a permanent home in the State. Steps an independent person must take to establish residency in South Carolina are listed in Section 62-605 entitled ("Establishing the Requisite Intent to Become a South Carolina Domiciliary").

(4) "Retired Persons and their Dependents:" Retired persons with taxable retirement income received as monthly/quarterly/annual disbursements from a retirement account, or who are receiving a pension or annuity who reside in South Carolina and have been domiciled in South Carolina as prescribed in the Statute for less than a year may be eligible for in state rates if they maintain residence and domicile in this State. All retirement income must show South Carolina income tax withholdings prior to the first day of classes for the term in which residency is being sought. Social Security is not considered as a type of eligible retirement income. Persons on terminal leave who have established residency in South Carolina may be eligible for in state rates even if domiciled in the State for less than one year if they present documentary evidence from their employer showing they are on terminal leave. The evidence should show beginning and ending dates for the terminal leave period and that the person will receive a pension or annuity when he/she retires. Steps an independent person must take to establish residency in South Carolina are listed in Section 62-605 entitled ("Establishing the Requisite Intent to Become a South Carolina Domiciliary").

(5) "Covered Individuals Receiving Specific Education Benefits:" Covered individuals living in South Carolina, who are enrolled in a public institution of higher education and receiving educational assistance under Chapter 30, Chapter 31 and Chapter 33, Title 38 of the United States Code, are entitled to pay in-state tuition and fees without regard to the length of time the covered individual has resided in this State. For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is defined as:

(a) a veteran who served ninety days or longer on active duty in the Uniformed Service of the United States, their respective Reserve forces, or the National Guard;

(b) a person who is entitled to and receiving assistance under Section 3319, Title 38 of the United States Code by virtue of the person's relationship to the veteran described in subitem (a);

(c) a person using transferred benefits under Section 3319, Title 38 of the United States Code while the transferor is on active duty in the Uniformed Service of the United States, their respective Reserve forces, or the National Guard;

(d) a person who is entitled to and receiving assistance under Section 3311(b)(9), Title 38 of the United States Code; or

(e) a person who is entitled to and is receiving assistance under Section 3102(a), Title 38 of the United States Code.

A covered individual shall remain eligible for in-state rates as long as he remains continuously enrolled in an in-state institution or transfers to another in-state institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms, immediately following his enrollment at the previous in-state institution. In the event of a transfer, the in-state institution receiving the covered individual shall verify the covered individual's eligibility for in-state rates with the covered individual's prior in-state institution. It is the responsibility of the transferring covered individual to ensure all documents required to verify both the previous and present residency decisions are provided to the in-state institution

B. South Carolina residents who wish to participate in the Regional Contract Program sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) must have continuously resided in the State for other than educational purposes for at least two years immediately preceding their submission of the residency status application and must meet all other residency requirements during this two year period. Individuals who qualify for in-state tuition and fees are not automatically classified as South Carolina residents. A determination of one's resident status made at the time of one's initial application to be certified as a South Carolina resident for purposes of participation in the Regional Contract Program does not prevail for each subsequent academic year. A South Carolina resident student who has been certified as a State resident for the purpose of participating in the Southern Regional Education Board Contract Program must be recertified prior to the beginning of each fall semester for each academic year for which benefits are requested.

C. South Carolina residents who wish to participate in the Academic Common Market program sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board must be a resident for at least one year, or satisfy the conditions of an exception as provided in R.62-609A(1), R.62-609A(3) or R.62-609A(4), immediately preceding application for consideration and must meet all other residency requirements during this one year period.

S.C. Code Regs. § 62-609

Added by State Register Volume 18, Issue No. 4, eff April 22, 1994. Amended by State Register Volume 20, Issue No. 6, Part 1, eff June 28, 1996; State Register Volume 28, Issue No. 6, eff June 25, 2004; State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 2008; State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009; State Register Volume 42, Issue No. 03, eff. 3/23/2018; State Register Volume 44, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2020; State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.