NC RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES CHANGES & GUIDANCE

What is RDS? Residency Determination Service (ncresidency.org) Centralized system that provides one residency determination for admissions applications to multiple North Carolina public colleges and universities CRITERIA FOR OBTAINING RESIDENCY STATUS HAS NOT CHANGED Mandated by NC legislature Undergraduates began using RDS in Spring 2017 Graduate and professional student populations statewide are transitioning throughout Fall 2018 term

What does RDS mean for graduate applicants? Applicants for admission to 2019 terms who claim to be NC residents while completing the admissions application are routed to RDS for a residency determination Applicants who do not claim NC residency during the application process are coded as Non-Residents and do not go to RDS at this time. They will likely engage RDS for the first time during their second year.

WHAT AN APPLICANT SEES IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS APPLICATION

What does RDS mean for enrolled graduate students? Students who are already residents do not need to take any action Students should engage RDS no earlier than 365 days after arriving in NC and completing domiciliary acts Timing becomes much more individualized Same RDS process as for applicants Students must notify UNC-CH when they obtain residency in RDS (via their ConnectCarolina StudentCenter – see screenshots) Current policy: RDS determinations on or before the census date are applied to the current term. Determinations after census are applied to the next term

ConnectCarolina StudentCenter View

ConnectCarolina StudentCenter View

The RDS “interview” process Students who engage RDS will be asked a series of questions designed to determine residency Do you have a NC drivers license? What is the number? Did you file a NC tax return last year? Students will not be asked to upload documents; the RDS system queries state databases The evidence required to prove residency has not changed

Takeaways Different process and timing, but overarching concepts and fundamentals remain the same Students can apply NOW for Spring 2019 residency Graduate School remains involved in discussions regarding process and business rules Graduate School will continue to act as a resource for students and programs Informational sessions for programs and students Ongoing website updates and information circulated grad_residency@unc.edu

Transition to RDS Go-Live Applicants to Graduate School programs – August 1, 2018 Enrolled Students – after The Graduate School’s Fall 2018 reclassification application closed on September 4, 2018 RDS transmits residency information to institutions and updates campus systems RDS decision overrides existing residency determinations If you have questions – ASK

Additional RDS Resources RDS (ncresidency.cfnc.org/residencyInfo) RDS Campus Help Line (for staff only): 1-844-417-0164 10 Things to Know Before You Start RDS (for students/applicants) Office of the University Registrar Web: registrar.unc.edu/academic-services/residency Email: residency@unc.edu Telephone: 919.962.3954