Tuition for illegal migrants vexing UA, PCC
by Multiple Authors on Jan. 11, 2007, under Education, Family, LocalThe state’s public colleges and universities are trying to determine how they will identify and charge illegal immigrant students out-of-state tuition as required by a proposition approved by voters in November.
The schools may have asked for the residency status of their students in the past, but institutions have not verified that information themselves. Under Proposition 300, it appears they must.
The University of Arizona’s main campus charges in-state students $4,764 a year, while nonresidents pay $14,970. Pima Community College charges Arizona residents $46 per credit compared with $78 for out-of-state tuition costs.
Proposition supporters hope the hefty price tags will discourage illegal immigration and provide state officials with the first accurate count of illegal immigrant students attending Arizona universities and colleges.
The law requires that schools determine and report twice a year to the Legislature how many illegal immigrants are attending their schools.
Sen. Dean Martin, R-Phoenix, said students “may have gotten to this point because of their parents, but they’re now responsible for their own behavior. What will hold undocumented students back is not lack of education but their immigration status.”
At PCC, where classes start Tuesday, employees and lawyers are analyzing the new law’s language and trying to figure out what changes must be made. Already, the college has changed its applications and will now require that students declare their legal status.
“The trick is that we want to implement procedures and polices that meet the requirements of the law, but at the same time don’t keep people out who should be here,” said Chancellor Roy Flores. “It’s not sufficient to pass the law. We need to know how to implement the law.”
Officials at UA, where the spring semester began Wednesday, have yet to make any changes, but have sought legal help on the issue.
UA determines Arizona residency through admissions forms and leaves the double-checking up to the federal government after students submit their FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, said UA spokesman Johnny Cruz. “It does not appear right now that we’re going to have to make major changes to our admissions procedures in light of the law,” Cruz said.
“We’re not going to make an absolute statement, but the process we have in place to verify eligibility for in-state tuition and financial aid appear to be in compliance with Prop. 300. Now, that’s still being reviewed to ensure we are in compliance. We’ll make any necessary changes if there is something that needs to be changed.”
The PCC district’s attorney is working on the issue and seeking advice from the Attorney General’s Office.
“Some people will say we should ask for a passport, but a lot of people don’t have a passport,” Flores said. “Then you say, use a birth certificate, but there are people born here legally – permanent residents or American citizens – who don’t have one. That’s why we’re asking what documents would suffice.”
For the illegal immigrant students whose tuition has more than tripled beginning this semester, problems are imminent. Those who pay in-state tuition sometimes receive state scholarships and state financial aid, but the new law restricts illegal immigrants from receiving financial assistance funded with state money.
By La Monica Everett-haynes, The Arizona Republic
