Academic Regulations

The academic regulations of the institution are set forth in Academic Affairs policies and procedures. All academic policies and procedures conform to SACSCOC expectations to be approved through appropriate institutional procedures, published in appropriate institutional documents, accessible to those affected, and enforced by the institution. These academic policies are available in PolicyTech. Changes may be made to the academic policy or procedure at any time to promote the best interests of UMMC and its students.

Schools

OFFICE OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Legal Residence

UMMC applies the definitions and conditions stated here as required by state law in the classification of students as residents or nonresidents for the assessment of fees. Requests for a review of residency classification should be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management.

RESIDENCE OF A MINOR — The residence of a person less than 21 years of age is determined based on the residence of the father, the mother or a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court in Mississippi. If a court has granted custody of the minor to one parent, the residence of the minor is that of the parent who was granted custody by the court. If both parents are dead, the residence of the minor is that of the last surviving parent at the time of that parent's death, unless the minor lives with a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court of Mississippi, in which case his/her residence becomes that of the guardian. A minor student who, upon registration at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, presents a transcript demonstrating graduation from a Mississippi secondary school and who has been a secondary school student in Mississippi for not less than the final four years of secondary school attendance shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition.

RESIDENCE OF AN ADULT — The residence of an adult is that place where he/she is domiciled, that is, the place where he/she actually physically resides with the intention of remaining there indefinitely or of returning there permanently when temporarily absent.

REMOVAL OF PARENTS FROM MISSISSIPPI — If the parents of a minor who is enrolled as a student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center move their legal residence from Mississippi, the minor shall be immediately classified as a nonresident student; such a change in classification shall not affect the tuition to be charged upon completion of the semester in which the move takes place.

RESIDENCE REQUIRED — No student may be admitted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a resident of Mississippi unless his/her residence has been in Mississippi preceding his/her admission.

RESIDENCY PETITIONS — Nonresidents may petition the University of Mississippi Medical Center for a change of residency classification. A person who enters Mississippi from another state and enters a system institution is considered a nonresident, unless the person meets the residency requirements as a minor or adult as set out above. Provided, however, that any person who has attained 21 years of age and has thereafter actually established residency as an adult and resided within Mississippi for 12 consecutive months after attaining 21 years of age upon sworn affidavit and other representation, may petition the University of Mississippi Medical Center for a change in residency classification for the purposes of fees and tuition assessment. UMMC may make reasonable inquiry into the validity of the petitioner's claim. Such petition for change of residency must be made on or before the last day a student may register at the Medical Center without penalty.

LEGAL RESIDENCE OF A MARRIED PERSON — A married person may claim the residence status of his/her spouse, or he/she may claim independent residence status under the same regulations set out above as any other adult.

CHILDREN OF FACULTY OR STAFF — Children of parents who are members of the faculty or staff of the University of Mississippi Medical Center may be classified as residents for the purpose of attendance at the Medical Center.

MILITARY PERSONNEL ON ACTIVE DUTY STATION IN MISSISSIPPI — Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on extended active duty and stationed within Mississippi and members of the Mississippi National Guard may be classified as residents for the purpose of attendance at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Resident status of such military personnel, who are not legal residents of Mississippi, shall terminate upon their reassignment for duty in the continental United States outside of Mississippi.

SPOUSE OR CHILD OF MILITARY PERSONNEL — Resident status of a spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on extended active duty shall be that of the military spouse or parent for the purpose of attending the University of Mississippi Medical Center during the time that their military spouse or parent is stationed within Mississippi and shall be continued through the time that the military spouse or parent is stationed in an overseas area with last duty assignment within Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments en route from Mississippi.

Resident status of a minor child terminates upon reassignment under Permanent Change of Station Orders of the military parent for duty in the continental United States outside Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments in route from Mississippi. The spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who dies or is killed is entitled to pay the resident tuition fee if the spouse or child becomes a resident of Mississippi. If a member of the U.S. Armed Forces is stationed outside Mississippi and the member's spouse or child establishes residence in Mississippi and registers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, UMMC shall permit the spouse or child to pay the tuition, fees and other charges provided for Mississippi residents without regard to length of time that the spouse or child has resided in Mississippi. A member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the child or spouse of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Mississippi residents under another provision of this section while enrolled in a degree or certificate program is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Mississippi residents in any subsequent term or semester while the person is continuously enrolled in the same degree or certificate program. A student may withdraw or may choose not to re-enroll for no more than one (1) semester or term while pursuing a degree or certificate without losing resident status only if that student provides sufficient documentation by a physician that the student has a medical condition that requires withdrawal or non-enrollment. For purposes of this section, a person is not required to enroll in a summer term to remain continuously enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The person's eligibility to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Mississippi residents under this section does not terminate because the person is no longer a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

CERTIFICATION OF RESIDENCE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL — A military person on active duty stationed in Mississippi who wishes to avail himself/herself or his/her dependents to be classified as residents for the purpose of attendance at the University of Mississippi Medical Center must submit a certificate from his/her military organization showing the name of the military member; the name of the dependent, if for a dependent; the name of the organization of assignment and its address (may be in the letterhead); that the military member will be on active duty stationed in Mississippi on the date of registration at the Medical Center; that the military member is not on transfer orders; and the signature of the commanding officer, the adjutant or the personnel officer of the unit of assignment with signer's rank and title. A military certificate must be presented to the Office of Enrollment Management each semester or tri-semester at (or within 10 days prior to) registration each semester for the provisions of said section to be effective.

The Medical Center complies with section 702 of the Choice Act in determination of tuition for selected veterans and their dependents.

STUDENTS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM VETERAN AFFAIRS - The Mississippi State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Mississippi. Their office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the SAA office via email at saa@msva.ms.gov.

Admission

Admission to the University of Mississippi Medical Center is administered under policies established by state law, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and UMMC's faculty. For program-specific admission requirements, please see the respective schools' sections of this Bulletin. Admission requirements are subject to change without notice at the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Student Enrollment Status

Certification of full-, half- or less than half-time enrollment status for loan deferment, medical insurance, etc. is based on hours of enrollment in a term (fall, spring, summer). Listed below are the requirements that determine student status for official enrollment certification purposes by the Office of Enrollment Management and for financial assistance. Students are required to be enrolled in at least half-time status to receive federal student loans, be covered for health/medical insurance or to defer repayment of student loans.

Graduate students enrolled in traditional research-based graduate degree programs (those requiring a thesis or dissertation) are considered full-time students if they are enrolled in 9 credit hours in a semester, except for the summer term when 1 credit hour is sufficient. Additionally, graduate students who are admitted to candidacy and are working on their thesis/dissertation may be classified as full-time while registering for 1 credit hour in any semester. Students and advisors must complete the required Approval to Register form online.