By Kari Tarbet
Students who came to Utah expecting to enjoy resident tuition within one year are probably out of luck.
The Utah State Legislature met Wednesday in a special session to discuss the budget, which will be increased as early as next fall with the tuition dollars of nonresident students.
House Bill 331, passed earlier this year, does not award resident status to students until 60 credit hours have been completed.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, a BYU graduate, stiffens residency requirements for students attending state colleges and universities. The bill goes into effect July 1.
Executive Director of Utah College Republicans Josh Kotter attended the legislative special session on Wednesday.
The presidents of the state colleges and universities testified about the results of previous budget cuts before the joint subcommittee on education.
House Bill 331 was not on the agenda but was referred to again and again. The college presidents explained that the bill would be counter-productive by cutting income as well as expenditures, Kotter said.
John Devilbiss, executive director of public relations at Utah State University, said USU is backing those students who came to Logan a year ago with the expectation of attaining resident status this fall.
'We want them to know we are with them still. We will find a way internally to keep our commitment to them,' Devilbiss said. He further said tuition waivers and scholarship dollars were possible aids that may become available.
Summer programs and classes held after 4 p.m. are exempt from the nonresident bill requirements, he said.
Sen. Hillyard, R-Logan, is interested in a 'grandfathering' clause, which would allow students who already live in Utah and are expecting a resident tuition break. Devilbiss said USU and Sen. Hillyard will continue to support such a grandfathering bill.
'We''re a border school. It affects us differently than other institutions,' said DeVilbiss.
The University of Utah provides a different view to this issue.
Paul Brinkman, senior vice president for academic affairs at the U of U said, 'We have to follow the law.'
Brinkman said that grandfathering doesn''t exist yet. 'It''s just talk. There is no legislation,' he said.
Brinkman said this issue is not over yet, but added, 'I think we will follow the letter of the law.'
Governor Leavitt is definitely interested in a solution, said Natalie Gochnour, press secretary to the governor.
'He has always had an interest in seeing a crosswalk for students caught in this change,' Gochnour said.