Students are considered residents of the district if their legal residence is within the boundaries of District #523 for at least 30 days immediately prior to the start of the term for which they wish to register. However, students who have moved from an out- of-district or out-of-state residence to an in-district residence for reasons other than attending Kishwaukee College are exempt from the 30-day requirement. District #523 boundaries include the high school districts of DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Hiawatha at Kirkland, Indian Creek (formerly Shabbona and Waterman), Rochelle, and Sycamore. Also included are individuals residing in the eastern half of the Oregon Community School District #220, and the residents of that portion of Lee Center Community District #271, lying east of the West Brooklyn spur (Paw Paw High School attendance center).
The Student Services Office will make the final determination of residency status. Supporting documents for any changes to residency must be received by the mid-term of the semester to which the change is applicable.

Employment in the District

Students who are not residents of Kishwaukee College District 523 but who are employed full-time (35 hours per week) in the district are eligible for in-district tuition and fees. To qualify, a letter must be on file in the Student Services Office each semester prior to the student’s registration.The letter must be written on company stationery and must be signed by either the supervisor or the director of human resources.

Legal Guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Students who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or have been recently emancipated from the Department and had a placement change into a new community college district shall be exempt from the 30-day requirement if they demonstrate proof of current in-district residency. Documentation of current residency may be submitted to the district from the student, a caseworker or other personnel of the Department, or the student’s attorney or guardian ad litem.

Special State Provisions

Students shall be classified as in-district residents of the State without meeting the general 30-day residency provision if they are:

1. Federal job corps workers stationed in Illinois;
2. Members of the armed services stationed in Illinois;
3. Inmates of State correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in Illinois;
4. Employed full-time in Illinois

Students whose legal residence is outside District #523, but in-state, will be classified as out-of-district residents. Out-of-district residents are considered for admission on the same basis as in-district residents, except for admission to the health science programs, for which preference is given to students who are legal residents of District #523. Out-of-district residents whose course or program enrollments do not qualify under CAREER Agreement, variable tuition eligibility, in-district employment waiver, or other waivers will be charged the out-of-district tuition rate.

Individuals who reside in the Oregon Community School District #220 will be charged in-district tuition for enrollment in courses or programs under an agreement with Highland, Rock Valley, and Sauk Valley Community Colleges; and the authorization form is not necessary.

District Provisions

Students shall not be classified as residents of the district where attending even though they may have met the general 30-day residency provision if they are:

1. Federal job corps workers stationed in the district;
2. Inmates of State or federal correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in the district;
3. Full-time students attending a postsecondary educational institution in the district who have not demonstrated through documentation a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency; or
4. Students attending under a CAREER Agreement with another community college.

Kishwaukee College has CAREER Agreements (Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the Expansion of Educational Resources) with all community colleges in Illinois. These agreements allow Kishwaukee College district residents to attend other colleges for all programs not offered by Kishwaukee College. This agreement allows students to pay the attending college’s in-district tuition rate. Residents of other districts may enroll in all programs at Kishwaukee College that are not offered by their home district. Any program within the Illinois community colleges that is not offered at Kishwaukee College is eligible for CAREER agreement.

According to the law, students may attend any recognized public community college in any other district for in-district tuition. In addition, a student may choose to complete any required general education coursework and may take approved courses at the sending college or at the receiving college.

Kishwaukee College in-district tuition is charged and an authorization from their home college must be signed by an authorized official from that college listing the program being approved to be taken at Kishwaukee College.

The authorization should be presented to the Kishwaukee College Student Services Office at the time of registration. Students should check with their home districts to determine if a program offered at Kishwaukee College is part of a CAREER Agreement.

CAREER Agreement Application

Individuals who reside in the Oregon Community School District #220 will be charged in-district tuition for enrollment in courses or programs under a CAREER agreement with Highland, Rock Valley, and Sauk Valley Community Colleges.college.

Students who are legal residents of another state will be classified as out-of-state residents and charged the out-of-state tuition rate unless they qualify for a tuition waiver. Students who are permanent residents of another country and apply for admission to Kishwaukee College as international students are classified as foreign students and charged the foreign student tuition rate.