Chapter TCS 10

TCS 10.02   Definitions.

TCS 10.03   Wisconsin residence.

TCS 10.04   District residence.

TCS 10.05   Appeal of state or district residence determination.

TCS 10.06   Exemptions from payment of fees and tuition.

TCS 10.07   Program admission priorities.

TCS 10.08   Tuition and fee refunds.

Ch. TCS 10 Note Note: Chapter A-V 10 was renumbered chapter VTAE 10, Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; chapter VTAE 10 was renumbered chapter TCS 10 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, June, 1994, No. 462.

TCS 10.01 TCS 10.01 Purpose and application. The purpose of this chapter is to establish policies, procedures and administratively interpret ss. 38.22 (4) to (6) and 38.24 (1m), (2) and (3), Stats., relating to determinations of residency for persons attending district schools, exemptions from payment of program fees, priorities for admission of district residents, non-district state residents and non-state residents to district programs, and fee refunds. These rules are adopted pursuant to ss. 38.22 (5), 38.24 (3) (d), and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

TCS 10.01 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; correction under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register July 2015 No. 715.

TCS 10.02 TCS 10.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

TCS 10.02(1) (1) “Alien” means a person who is not a citizen of the United States.

TCS 10.02(2) (2) “Board” means the technical college system board.

TCS 10.02(3) (3) “Director” means the person appointed by the board under s. 38.04 (2), Stats.

TCS 10.02(4) (4) “District” means a technical college district.

TCS 10.02(5) (5) “District director” means a person employed by a district pursuant to s. 38.12 (3), Stats.

TCS 10.02(6) (6) “District resident” means a person whose permanent residence is within the district as determined under s. TCS 10.04 (2).

TCS 10.02(7) (7) “Materials fees” means the fees for consumable materials established by the board pursuant to s. 38.24 (1m) (c), Stats.

TCS 10.02(8) (8) “Minor” means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.

TCS 10.02(9) (9) “Non-district state resident” means a person whose permanent residence is outside the district, but inside the state.

TCS 10.02(10) (10) “Non-state resident” means a person whose permanent residence is outside Wisconsin.

TCS 10.02(11) (11) “Out-of-state tuition” means the nonresident fee established by the board under s. 38.24 (3), Stats.

TCS 10.02(12) (12) “Program fee” means the fee established by the board pursuant to s. 38.24 (1m), Stats.

TCS 10.02(13) (13) “Refugee” means an alien who is outside his or her country of citizenship due to actual or well-founded fear of racial, ethnic, religious or political persecution as stated in 8 USC 1101 (a) (42), and who is determined to be a refugee by the immigration and naturalization service.

TCS 10.02(14) (14) “Registration” means the procedure by which students are assigned to class including approval of courses to be taken by the student, organization of sections, and assessment and collection of fees.

TCS 10.02 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94.

TCS 10.03 TCS 10.03 Wisconsin residence.

TCS 10.03(1) (1) General provisions. In this section:

TCS 10.03(1)(a) (a) Any person who is a resident of the state at the beginning of any semester or session for which the person makes application, is a resident of the state for admission and fee purposes.

TCS 10.03(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a person who enters and remains in this state principally to obtain an education is presumed to continue to reside outside this state and the presumption continues in effect until rebutted by clear and convincing evidence of residence in the state, which may be demonstrated by the verifications indicated in sub. (2) (b).

TCS 10.03(1)(c) (c) State residence and district residence, as determined in s. TCS 10.04 (2), may be established concurrently.

TCS 10.03(1)(d) (d) Aliens may establish residence in the state according to the provisions of this section.

TCS 10.03(2) (2) Determination of residence.

TCS 10.03(2)(a) (a) In determining state residence for the semester or session of application, the intent of the applicant to establish and maintain a permanent residence in Wisconsin is determinative.

TCS 10.03(2)(b) (b) In addition to representations by the applicant, state residence and intent to remain in Wisconsin may be demonstrated or disproved by factors including, but not limited to, filing of Wisconsin income tax returns, eligibility to vote in the state, motor vehicle registration in the state, possession of a Wisconsin motor vehicle operator’s license, place of employment, and self-support.

TCS 10.03(3) (3) Statutory residents. Pursuant to s. 38.22 (6), Stats., the following persons, in addition to persons determined state residents under subs. (1) and (2), are state residents for purposes of admission and fees:

TCS 10.03(3)(a) (a) Any person who was employed, or whose parent or legal guardian was employed as a migrant worker for at least 2 months each year for 3 of the 5 years preceding the semester of application for admission, or at least 3 months each year for 2 of the 5 years preceding the semester of application for admission. In this paragraph, migrant worker status is determined by s. 103.90 (5), Stats.

TCS 10.03(3)(b) (b) Any minor or adult who, under 26 USC 152 (a), is a dependent of a parent or legal guardian, and whose natural parents are legally separated or divorced, if one parent was a bona fide state resident for at least 12 months preceding the beginning of the semester for which application is made.

TCS 10.03(3)(c) (c) Any person continuously employed full time in Wisconsin, who was relocated by his or her current employer or moved to the state for employment, and who accepted current employment before moving and before applying for admission to a district school, if the person demonstrates an intent to make Wisconsin a permanent home as set forth in sub. (2). State residence admission under this paragraph extends to the spouse and dependents, as specified in 26 USC 152 (a), of persons determined eligible.

TCS 10.03(3)(d) (d) Any refugee, as defined in s. TCS 10.02 (13), who moved to this state immediately upon arrival in the United States, and who has resided in the state continuously, and who demonstrates an intent to make Wisconsin a permanent home as set forth in sub. (2).

TCS 10.03 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94.

TCS 10.04 TCS 10.04 District residence.

TCS 10.04(1) (1) General provisions. In this section:

TCS 10.04(1)(a) (a) Any resident of the state who has maintained a permanent residence within the district prior to application at a district school is a district resident for admission priority as determined under s. TCS 10.07 and tuition and fees determinations under s. 38.24, Stats.

TCS 10.04 Note Note: Section 38.28 (6), Stats., was repealed by 2013 Wis. Act 20.

TCS 10.04(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a person who enters and remains in a district principally to obtain an education is presumed to continue to reside outside the district, and the presumption continues in effect until rebutted by clear and convincing evidence of residence in the district, which may be demonstrated by the verifications indicated in sub. (2) (b).

TCS 10.04(1)(c) (c) District residence, and state residence under s. TCS 10.03, may be established concurrently.

TCS 10.04(2) (2) Determination of district residence.

TCS 10.04(2)(a) (a) In determining district residence for the semester or session of application, the person’s current address and a written declaration by the applicant of intent to establish and maintain a permanent residence in the district are determinative.

TCS 10.04(2)(b) (b) In addition to representations of the applicant, district residence prior to application may be documented by address verifications from, but not limited to, the most recently filed Wisconsin income tax return, motor vehicle registration, motor vehicle operator’s license, bank accounts, and voter registration.

TCS 10.04(3) (3) Minors. Any minor whose parents or custodial guardian have maintained a permanent residence in a district immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person makes application at a district is considered a resident of that district for fee purposes.

TCS 10.04 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; CR 21-035: am. (1) (a) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21; correction in (1) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2021 No. 788.

TCS 10.05 TCS 10.05 Appeal of state or district residence determination.

TCS 10.05(1) (1) Applicants for admission and students attending a district technical college shall cooperate with district officials and supply requested residence verification and information as deemed necessary by a district to make the determinations required under ss. TCS 10.03 and 10.04.

TCS 10.05(2) (2) A residence determination reached by an admissions official under ss. TCS 10.03 and 10.04 may be appealed, in writing, to the district director, or his or her designee, within 30 days after the student has received the determination. After review of available documentation, the director or designee shall issue a written decision within 30 days after the date a written appeal is received.

TCS 10.05(3) (3) Prior to the beginning of any semester or session for which admission is applied, a person may petition the district admissions office for a reconsideration of a residence determination based on changed circumstances. Upon receipt of such petition, the district official charged with residence determinations shall issue a written decision. The written decision may be appealed to the district director or designee as provided in sub. (2).

TCS 10.05(4) (4) A decision made by a director or designee shall be subject to review pursuant to ch. TCS 4, and ch. 227, Stats.

TCS 10.05 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94.

TCS 10.06 TCS 10.06 Exemptions from payment of fees and tuition.

TCS 10.06(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

TCS 10.06(1)(a) (a) “Adult basic education” means instruction providing basic skills in the language arts, science, math and exploratory experiences for adults.

TCS 10.06(1)(b) (b) “Adult high school” means an instructional program for adults to complete their education leading to a high school diploma.

TCS 10.06(1)(c) (c) “English as a 2nd language” means a course designed for persons who speak a primary language other than the English language.

TCS 10.06(1)(d) (d) A “needy and worthy” student means a student who:

TCS 10.06(1)(d)1. 1. Meets the normal admissions requirements of a district board for enrollment and who maintains satisfactory academic progress according to the district’s standards; and,

TCS 10.06(1)(d)2. 2. In the case of a U.S. citizen, has financial need under 20 USC 1087kk; or, in the case of a non-U.S. citizen, lacks the financial means to pay out- of-state tuition as determined by a district board based on documentation that available assets and income are insufficient to fund educational expenses including out-of-state tuition.

TCS 10.06(2) (2) Exemptions:

TCS 10.06(2)(a) (a) Students enrolled in adult high school, adult basic education or English as a second language courses are exempt from program fees under s. 38.24 (1m), Stats.

TCS 10.06(2)(b) (b) Students 62 years old and older are exempt from program fees under s. 38.24 (1m), Stats., in vocational adult education courses.

TCS 10.06(2)(c) (c) Students admitted under interstate reciprocity agreements approved under s. 39.42, Stats., are exempt from non-state resident fees as provided in the reciprocity agreement.

TCS 10.06(3) (3) Remission of non-state resident tuition. The director may authorize a district board to remit fees under s. 38.24 (3) (a), Stats., but not fees under s. 38.24 (1m), Stats., for needy and worthy students. The total number of students for which out-of-state tuition may be remitted shall not exceed 0.5% of the full-time equivalent statewide enrollment of the technical college system in the fiscal year prior to the year which remissions are authorized.

TCS 10.06(4) (4) Exchange agreements. The director may authorize a district board to remit fees under s. 38.24 (3) (a), Stats., but not fees under s. 38.24 (1m), Stats., for students enrolling under agreements with foreign educational institutions that provide for the exchange of an equal number of students.

TCS 10.06 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1999, No. 525.

TCS 10.07 TCS 10.07 Program admission priorities.

TCS 10.07(1) (1) Applications.

TCS 10.07(1)(a) (a) Each district shall have a single application process which applies to all residence categories.

TCS 10.07(1)(b) (b) For each district program, districts may limit the number of applications accepted or limit the time period during which applications are accepted, provided that limits are applied equally to all applicants.

TCS 10.07(2) (2) District residents.

TCS 10.07(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (5) (c), district residents who apply on or before the following dates shall have admission priority:

TCS 10.07(2)(a)1. 1. For programs commencing any time during the fall semester, the preceding January 1.

TCS 10.07(2)(a)2. 2. For programs commencing any time during the spring semester, the preceding May 1.

TCS 10.07(2)(a)3. 3. For programs commencing any time during the summer semester, the preceding October 1.

TCS 10.07(2)(b) (b) After the dates provided in par. (a), district residents shall have priority equal to non-district state residents for program admission.

TCS 10.07(3) (3) Non-district state residents. After the dates specified in sub. (2) (a) 1. to 3. for district residents, non-district state residents shall have priority equal to district residents for program admission.

TCS 10.07(4) (4) Non-state residents. Non-state residents shall be admitted to district programs, after district and non-district state residents, as spaces remain available.

TCS 10.07(5) (5) Waiting lists.

TCS 10.07(5)(a) (a) Waiting lists shall be maintained by districts for admission to all district programs.

TCS 10.07(5)(b) (b) District and non-district state residents who are not admitted because of program capacity limitations shall be notified of their non- admission in writing and of the option to be included on a waiting list if they inform the district, in writing, that they wish to exercise the option. Those exercising the option shall be placed on a waiting list for the next available program admission.