PA Residency Information

The rules and regulations relating to PA residency for tuition purposes are defined by Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Board of Governors. These rules and regulations, along with types of evidence to submit as proof of residency, may be found on the State System’s Board of Governors Student Domicile Regulations website. The rules clearly state that the student must convincingly prove that he/she is domiciled in Pennsylvania permanently or indefinitely, and is not in the state for the sole purpose of obtaining an education.

The Residency Classification process is operated by the Enrollment Management Office. You will be required to fill out the Residency Classification Data Collection Form and submit it to: Margaret Omwenga at momwenga@cheyney.edu. Copies of all proof of PA residency should be attached to the form when it is submitted.

If you need to speak with someone about your particular residency situation, please call 610-399-2196 for assistance. All students with non-PA high schools will be required to fill out the Residency Classification Data Collection Form if they are using a PA address on their Admissions application to prove they have permanently established domicile in PA.

STUDENT DOMICILE (IN STATE TUITION ISSUES)

Student Domicile is specifically defined by Commonwealth Regulation and Board of Governors Policy. Although there are many statutes in the Commonwealth that discuss what constitutes domicile, decisions as to whether in state tuition rates are appropriate are exclusively governed by these two authorities.

The burden of proving domicile, the place where one intends to remain and live permanently or definitely, is on the student. Therefore, when a student appeals any decision by a University as to a determination of domicile status, great care should be taken by the student to throughly present any and all evidence he or she deems relevant to the issue.

Initial decisions as to domicile are made at the University level. In the event that you want to appeal a University’s decision, it is at that time that the Office of the Chancellor should be contacted. Prior to the appeal stage, it would be premature for the Chancellor’s Office to become involved.

Appeals should be received by the Office of the Chancellor within 30 days of a University’s determination. Domicile appeals should be mailed to:

Domicile Appeal
Office of the Chancellor
Dixon University Center
2986 N. Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110