TUCSON, Ariz.
The University of Arizona has reviewed the legal status of 877 students identified as potentially ineligible for in-state tuition under a state law aimed at illegal immigrants, but cleared most of them.
The school determined that 758 of the 877 students were legally entitled to in-state rates, and began charging 119 others who did not provide proof they are legal residents higher out-of-state tuition rates.
Voters passed Proposition 300 in November 2006. It requires illegal immigrants to pay the higher tuition and bans them from receiving state tuition assistance.
State universities and community colleges were required to file Proposition 300 compliance reports with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by June 30 and again Monday.
In June, UA reported that 877 students had not proven their legal status to the university.
The students were notified that further documentation was needed and 758 students provided it, the university said.
Of those 119 students, six came forward to UA officials and said they would not be able to provide documentation proving legal residency, according to the report UA filed Monday.
“Rather than have them drop out of school, private donors, including the UA Foundation, agreed to pay their tuition,” said Dr. Paul R. Kohn, vice provost for enrollment management and dean of admissions.
A spokesman for the foundation was unavailable for comment Monday evening.
Kohn was out of his office and unable to access the list of students but said it is unlikely the remaining 113 are in the country illegally and also unlikely that they have paid the out-of-state tuition bill.
He noted they are more likely graduate students receiving graduate tuition assistance that covers out-of-state tuition or are children of UA employees who qualify for reduced tuition and thus didn’t feel pressured to provide documentation that would allow them to qualify for in-state tuition.
Pima Community College also filed a report on Monday, said spokesman David Irwin, but he was unable to provide details because of the holiday.
—Associated Press
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