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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's universities and colleges adequately screen student applicants for their residency status; however, two state colleges have been told to beef up their documentation process.
Out-of-state students pay up to four times the tuition that resident students pay among Utah's nine higher education institutions. State officials say the reason is that nonresident students have exhibited no intention to stay in Utah and contribute to the community.
"Nonresident students must show their intent to contribute to the community which subsidized his or her education," Utah's Residency Officer's Handbook states.
Nonresident students make up between 4 to 14 percent of Utah's total higher education student population.
Nonresident students must show their intent to contribute to the community which subsidized his or her education.
–-Utah's Residency Officer's Handbook
A legislative audit released Tuesday singled out two state colleges for failing to keep adequate documentation of a student's residency status. The audit found record keeping at Dixie State College and College of Eastern Utah were both lacking.
Of the student files examined, almost one quarter (23 percent) lacked proper documentation proving residency, according to the audit. The audit also noted that in the past Dixie State had made residency questions on their application optional. State auditors found three students that had been inappropriately determined as residents.
CEU was also found to lack proper documentation in a handful of cases. While student applications at CEU fell between 2009 and 2010, auditors noted that incidents of residency errors increased. A sample of applications found 6 percent of applications had errors in 2009 and 14 percent in 2010.
The audit did note that as of last year Dixie State had tightened its controls over their application process.
As for Utah's major institutions, such as University of Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Utah Valley universities, auditors found their residency processes and requirements were functioning properly.
Auditors recommended that CEU's residency reclassifications be taken over, or at least be monitored, by USU.
Efforts have already been made to improve documentation and other processes regarding residency determination
–- William Sederburg
In an official response to the audit, state higher education officials said they appreciated the audit recommendations. "Efforts have already been made to improve documentation and other processes regarding residency determination," William Sederburg, commissioner of higher education, stated in an official response.
Utah law outlines the requirement for student residency. According to the code, a student must have maintained continuous residency in Utah for one full year before applying. Applicants must also sign a written declaration that they have relinquished residency in another state and submit objective evidence that they have established residency. Forms of proof can include: Utah high school transcript, a Utah driver's license, state tax return, existing voter registration, utility bill, pay stub or rental agreement.
Similar audits have taken place in other states; some with problems much larger than what Utah found. An audit at the University of Georgia found that 28 percent of applications for residency should not have been granted, resulting in a $2 million loss in out-of-state tuition revenue. An audit in Florida found that errors in residency cost that state over $28 million.
The audit showed that Utah's requirements are comparable to surrounding states, such as Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. A few surrounding states have more stringent requirements for residency, such as Arizona, which requires students to show proof of U.S. citizenship, in addition to proof of residency.
Email:gfattah@desnews.com
