USU Alumni Legacy Waiver Passed by Utah Legislature
USU graduate Emily Robb pictured with her grandfather, USU alum Jed Pitcher.
Out-of-state students attending Utah State University this fall can potentially save thousands of dollars in tuition thanks to the recent passing of a bill by the Utah Legislature which altered the Alumni Legacy Waiver. Sponsored by Rep. Val K. Potter, R-North Logan, House Bill 349 was passed March 6, making it easier for nonresident students who are the children or grandchildren of USU graduates to pay a reduced tuition amount.
“With input from President (Noelle) Cockett, I started a bill the first week of the session to allow our Legacy Waiver students to gain in-state residency after one year,” Potter said. “The current state code did not allow out-of-state Legacy students from gaining in-state residency. The bill made it through both houses of the legislature and is now law.”
The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2018, which means that beginning with this fall, new incoming nonresident students attending on the Alumni Legacy Waiver will be able to pay a reduced tuition during their first year at Utah State. That initial year will also count towards the 12-month requirement needed to establish Utah residency, something that was not previously available.
“USU promotes tradition and the continuation of family legacy,” said Matthew White, USU vice president of University Advancement. "We are thrilled for the Legacy Waiver and the newly expanded opportunities for children and grandchildren of our great alums throughout the world. Between the Legacy Waiver and the Resident Alumni Scholarship, we are anxious to help as many students as we can and we invite all prospective legacy students to fully consider USU and to join our Aggie Family.”
The Legacy Waiver was initially created in 2009 by House Bill 364, which allowed students whose parent had graduated from Utah State University to receive a reduction in their nonresident tuition at USU. In 2013, Senate Bill 51 expanded the Legacy Waiver to nonresident students who had parents and/or grandparents who graduated from Utah State.
“USU is committed to our legendary legacy, and to provide the best possible education at a great value,” said Craig Whyte, USU associate director of Enrollment & Recruitment. “The Legacy Waiver has increased in popularity and the demand has exceeded our ability to fully fund the waivers for four years.“his new law greatly helps incoming students, as well as the institution. We are able to increase the awarding of the legacy waiver to allow students to pay resident tuition their first year. But the student will need to establish Utah residency after the first year to then pay resident tuition their remaining time at USU.”
For more information on Utah residency, visit usu.edu/admissions/scholarships/residency.
For more information on Legacy Waivers, visit usu.edu/admissions/scholarships/legacy.
Writer: Jeff Hunter (435) 797-1429, jeff.hunter@usu.edu
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