Posted on: Friday, March 18, 2005

Out-of-staters at UH may lose a break

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAHULUI, Maui — It would be more difficult for out-of-state students at the University of Hawai'i to switch to cheaper resident status under a proposal that was tentatively approved yesterday by the Board of Regents.

UH officials said the tightening of residency rules could result in substantial additional revenues for the university.

Public hearings to amend the Hawai'i Administrative Rules are expected to occur in May before the regents adopt the changes and then send them to the governor for final approval.

"I think it's long overdue," said Kitty Lagareta, board vice chairwoman.

"I'm thrilled," said regent Jane Tatibouet. "For years and years I've been bothered by this."

The difference between resident tuition and nonresident tuition is substantial. At UH-Manoa, an undergraduate resident pays $1,752 per semester while a nonresident pays $4,992. A graduate resident pays $2,400 per semester, while a nonresident pays $5,544.

At UH-Hilo, an undergraduate resident pays $1,236 per semester, while a nonresident pays $4,042. A graduate resident pays $2,160 per semester, while a nonresident graduate pays $4,992.

Nonresident students now may convert to resident status after one year. Under the proposal approved yesterday, nonresidents will not be allowed to convert to resident status if they are in Hawai'i primarily to attend college, are enrolled for six credits or more and are financially dependent on nonresident parents.

In addition, they may not even apply their first year of enrollment toward meeting the 12-month residency requirement.

Doris Ching, vice president for student affairs, said fears the change would cut out-of-state student enrollment are balanced by the fact that many public universities, especially in the West, are doing the same thing in an effort to generate additional revenue.

"We are not alone," Ching said. "Students are going to find this in many other states."

Last fall, nearly 40,000 students, or 77 percent of the UH student body, were residents, while 9 percent, or 4,388 students, were nonresidents, and about 6,000 students were nonresidents with tuition exemptions. Some 908 students, or 2 percent of the UH student body, were nonresidents who had converted to resident status.

If approved, the tuition changes would take effect in fall 2006.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.