Admissions - Tarleton State University

FAQs for Admissions

Q. Will the Tarleton State University Undergraduate Admissions process my application without the $30 application fee?

A. If an application is received by UADM without the $30 application fee, a letter is sent to the student reminding him/her of the fee. It is important to note that a decision will not be made regarding admissions until the fee is received.

Q. Can I send unofficial (photocopied) transcripts with my application?

A. Official transcripts are required for admission to Tarleton State University. Official transcripts must be stamped with a raised seal and signature of the registrar of each sending institution. An application will not be processed without official transcripts from all schools previously attended.

Q. Will Tarleton take CLEP scores from another school's transcript?

A. CLEP scores cannot be taken from another school's transcript. Official CLEP scores must be presented to Undergraduate Admissions for credit to given. NOTE: Tarleton State University does not give credit for all CLEP exams. Please contact UADM for more information on the acceptability of CLEP credit.

Q. . Do I have to list all of the schools previously attended or just the ones I want credit from?

A. Yes, you are required to list all schools previously attended. If a student does not list all schools and it is determined at a later date, the student could be dismissed from Tarleton State University.

Q. What if I do not meet minimum admission criteria? Is there an appeals process?

A. A high school student may be eligible for Advised Admission. Please see the Advised Admission section in the 2007-2008 Catalog. If a transfer student does not meet minimum admission criteria (see the 2007-2008 Catalog), the student may appeal the decision by filling out an appeals form with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Q. If I choose not to attend Tarleton State University for the term I apply for, do I have to apply again?

A. Yes, if a student does not enroll for the term for which he/she applied, the student must complete another application and pay the application fee for the semester of application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Q. Do all courses transfer to Tarleton State University?

A. No, developmental, technical, and vocational courses do not initially transfer to Tarleton State University. Technical/vocational courses may be used toward a BAAS degree. If you are interested in our Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree, please contact sponsoring department for more information. See the 2007-2008 Catalog for more information.

Q. Do I have to satisfy TSI (Texas Success Initiative) before coming to Tarleton?

A. TSI is required of all students who are not exempt before they enter Tarleton 2007-2008 Catalog.

Q. How will I know if my file is complete?

A. Letters will be sent periodically listing the items missing from the student's application file to the address included by the student on his/her application for admission.

Q. Do I have to supply my Social Security Number?

A. No, it is optional. However, if you do choose to use your social security account number as your student identification number, we strongly encourage accuracy. This is necessary for the tracking of scores, transcripts and other official documentation used for the admissions process. If you do not choose to disclose your social security number, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

FAQs for Texas Residency

Rules and regulations for determining residence status as established by the Texas Legislature and under the advisement of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The complete residency regulations can be found www.collegefortexans.com web site, under "library".

Q. How do I establish residency?

A. One must be independent (not claimed as a dependent for exemption income tax purposes), US citizen or permanent resident, (have a green card) and live in the state of Texas for 12 consecutive months without attending school and be gainfully employed for 12 months.

Q. What do I need to do, or what documents do I need to fill out when I apply for residency?

A. A prospective student must have an admission application on file and either they or their parents must have lived in Texas for 11 consecutive months before submitting the residency reclassification request. Currently enrolled students may submit an Application for Reclassification once they or their parents have lived here for 11 consecutive months.

Q. How can I obtain a residency questionnaire?

A. The Residency Application for Reclassification is available at the Admissions Office at Tarleton State University which is located 1297 W. Washington Stephenville, Texas. You may call TSU for a Residency Information sheet at (254) 968-9125 or click here.

Q. What other documents should I turn in with the Application for Reclassification?

A. Proof of domicile (i.e. proof of home purchase or copy of lease) and letter from the employer(s) need to be submitted with the application. If a parent is claiming the student on income tax forms, they must attach a copy of the tax form listing the student as a dependent for the year prior and year of enrollment.

Q. My parents are claiming me as a dependent. How do I establish residency or how do they establish residency?

A. If your parents are Texas residents and reside in the state of Texas and are claiming you on their federal income tax, then your residency will be Texas once your parents have met the residency requirements. Your parents would then submit documentation proving domicile in the State of Texas (i.e. employment verification, homeowner deed, voter's registration, driver's license, etc for 12 consecutive months.) An income tax form showing the student as a dependent must accompany the documentation.

Q. My parents live in (any state) and they are claiming me as a dependent on taxes, how can I establish residency?

A. If your parents claim you and they live in another state, you are not eligible to establish residency while being claimed as a dependent.

Q. I am currently a student here at TSU and I am considered a TX resident, but my parents are claiming me on their income tax and they are moving out of state. Will that affect my resident status?

A. As long as you remain continuously enrolled in school, it will not affect your tuition rate but after one year you become a resident of whatever state you parents live in.

Q. I am an international student and I want to know how I can establish residency?

A. An international student is not eligible for Texas residency.

Q. I just became a permanent resident (holder of a valid I-551), am I eligible to pay in-state tuition?

A. An individual who has just become a permanent resident must meet the residency requirements in order to be reclassified. This means that the individual must be independent and will need to physically live in Texas for 12 consecutive months without attending an institution of higher education and be gainfully employed.

Q. I am currently active duty military. How can I have my out of state tuition waived so I can pay in-state tuition?

A. Active duty military may have there out of stat tuition waived to in state tuition. A person must submit a letter fromm their commanding officer on military letterhead with the student's name and social security on the letter, stating that he or she is active duty or complete an Active Duty Certification Form. Active duty must be with a Texas Unit. A new letter must be submitted every year. The student will remain non-resident status for admission purposes but will be eligible to pay in-state tuition until he/she separates from the armed forces or retires. At that time, the student must apply for reclassification using the Application for Reclassification.

Q. I am a member of the military. What are the general rules that constitute me as a resident?

A. Establishment of a domicile in Texas requires twelve consecutive months physical presence in the state. The military member must simultaneously file a copy of the DD2058 used to change state of legal residence to Texas and additional appropriate documentation to change his or her military records to reflect Texas as the state of legal residency. If 4 of the listed items below items have been completed at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the date of enrollment and continue to be in effect, the member has established a domicile in Texas unless he or she continues to vote and register his or her will in the same state other than Texas:

1. Purchasing a residence and claiming it as a homestead.
2. Registering to vote and voting in local elections.
3. Registering automobiles in Texas and paying personal property taxes there in.
4. Maintaining a Texas Driver's License.
5. Maintaining checking accounts, saving accounts, or safe deposit boxes in Texas.
6. Having wills or other legal documents that indicate a residence of Texas.
7. Having membership in professional organizations or other state organizations.
8. Establishing a business in Texas.

Q. I live in (any state) and I am marrying a Texas resident. Does marriage to a Texas resident make me a Texas Residents?

A. Marriage to a Texas resident does not give that person immediate residency. A U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident who is the spouse of a Texas resident must live in the state of Texas for 12 consecutive months. The spouse is allowed to attend school during the 12 months if he or she chooses but will pay out of state tuition for the first 12 months. After 1 year, if there is enough evidence to indicate that the individual has otherwise made Texas their permanent residence they may apply for reclassification. Current guidelines recommend that the individual be employed full-time in the field of such as driver's license, voter registration, etc.

Q. I applied for residency and was denied Texas residency by the residency officer. What can I do now?

A. You can appeal this decision. You need to write a letter stating why you should be considered as Texas resident and any additional information to state your case further. The Residency Appeals Committee will review the appeal. These letters along with supporting documentation should be mailed to Office of Admissions, Box T-0030, Stephenville, Texas 76401.

Q. What is the residency status for Teachers, Professors, and their Dependents?

A. Teachers and professors employed at least half time on a regular monthly salary basis by any Texas public institution of higher education, may pay the same tuition as a resident of Texas for themselves, their spouses, and their dependent children, regardless of the length of resident in the state if their effective date of employment is on or prior to the official census date of the relevant term(s). To be entitled to pay the resident tuition fees, such employment from the director of personnel or a designated representative of the institution of higher education by which he or she is employed. This provision applies to eligible teachers and professors and their dependents no matter which Texas public instituition of higher education they may attend. It is the intent of this rule that employment is for the duration of the period of enrollment for which a waiver is awarded. These requests should be directed to Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Q. I am a student and employed as a Teaching or Research Assistant, can I get in-state tuition?

A. Non-residents (including citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. and all foreign students) employed by public institutions of higher education as research or teaching assistants on at least a half-time basis in a position related to their degree programs are entitled to pay the resident tuition rate at any public institution of higher education in the state for themselves, their spouses and children regardless of how long they have lived in the state. The institutions that employ the students shall determine whether or not the students' jobs relate to their degree programs. It is the intent of this rule that employment is for the duration of the period of enrollment for which a waiver is awarded. If the spouse or children attend an institution other than the one employing the research or teaching assistant, they must provide their college proof of his/her current employment. These requests should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in the Administration Building.

Q. I received Resident status some time after classes started. Will I get a refund for the out-of-state portion fee bill that I have previously paid?

A. Residency Applications for Reclassification must be submitted by the first class day of the relevant term in order for a Texas resident classification to be effective for that current semester.

Q. If I have questions about House Bill 1403 which enables non-citizens to pay resident tuition, who do I contact?

A. Please contact Cindy Hess, the residency official for Tarleton State University, for more information at uadm@tarleton.edu or call 1-800-687-8236 or locally at 968-9123.

Q. I couldn't find an answer to my question in this FAQ list. Who can I contact for more information?

A. If you have read this FAQ thoroughly and could not find the answer to your question, you may contact the Residency Officer, Cindy Hess, for more information by calling her directly at 1-800-687-8236 or locally at 968-9123. You may also contact Cindy Hess by e-mail at uadm@tarleton.edu.