I'd love to play the military child card, but I can't. I'd love to say my husband's service to his country in the form of numerous deployments to over 25 countries including Croatia, Liberia, and Iraq, means nothing to the state of Kansas. But the truth is, if a military service member, without any ties whatsoever to the state of Kansas, is stationed in the state of Kansas, his/her children could attend school at the in-state rate — and take their education elsewhere with Kansas' blessing. That doesn't apply to the children of military retirees nor does that apply to children who are seeking to attend college before their parent retires or transfers to Kansas from another location. I'll give Kansas a break — it's not the military child they don't want. It's the child who was born in Kansas, has family in Kansas, wishes to attend a school in Kansas, and who intends to use their education in the state of Kansas — this is the child they don't want, at least not on the cheap. I get it. Support the troops, but not too much. I almost feel like my children are some sort of academic radioactive waste – no one wants them in their backyard.
Yes, I've contacted my representatives. Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt's office says it's not a federal issue and therefore not Tiahrt's jurisdiction. I wasn't trying to make it a federal issue but thanks for your time. I guess he's not in Kansas anymore. Jeremy Wisdom, of Tiahrt's office, did follow up with me and make what I thought was an attempt to help resolve the issue. I thought this until he sent me the Kansas State Regulations regarding in-state tuition — a document I'd told him I already had and had read. Mr Wisdom was also kind enough to at least direct me to the Kansas Board of Regents, something Eric Sexton of Wichita State University and his personnel neglected to do in the course of several calls to his office and two emails from Mr Sexton himself. Mr Sexton did, however, email to say he appreciated my patience and would get back to me when he had more information. That was October 27th, 2005. I’ve not heard from him since. Everyone else has similarly referred me away from their having to admit they just don’t know how to help or flat out won’t try. Dissimilarly, there was that minor issue with Senator Sam Brownback's office. The person who had been briefed of my situation before taking my call had an observation to make once she took the call and then hung up without answering the question, “What is your name?” She said something we military spouses everywhere loathe to hear. It has been bad enough to hear it from civilians over the years, most especially from distant and insensitive boofs from my own family, but to have heard it from my Senator's office was a bit too much.
Article comments
1 - Deborah
I'm wondering about the same issues, although we aren't military--we just move a lot. Wonder about this--any forms that can basically "emancipate" him from "parents household" and "establish his own household"? I married young, and as soon as I had my own household with my husband, I received a lot more financial aid than when I was single and it was based on my parents household. This was in Texas--guess they have different rules about it. This really isn't right--on the one hand, we are no longer legally responsible for them once they reach 18, on the other hand they look to us, their parents, when deciding residency on the same 18 year old that we are supposedly no longer legally responsible for--WHAT??!!
2 - Duncan
It is a difficult situation. Years ago I worked in the admissions office at KSU and the rules were the same then - one year residency reguardless. Good luck in CA. We now live in NJ and it took two years of residency in CA to get the instate rate for our daughter.
3 - Bliffle
Perhaps you could contact the people of some foreign country, say Dubai, who regularly find loopholes thru which they establish their own children as residents of a target state, like California, through researching and lawyering the laws. Perhaps they have a website with the procedure all spelled out.
4 - Phillip Winn
#3 -- Bliffle, I doubt it. I suspect they just pay the "out-of-state" rate for tuition.
WSU isn't saying Diana's kids can't go to WSU, they just have to pay four years of tuition for one year of school. As a Navy brat myself, I know that there are many things that suck about this life (and, um, I didn't choose it any more than Diana's kids did), but this one is really, really annoying.
5 - Bliffle
Well-prepared foreigners regularly evade the residency requirements for CA Universities and colleges to get reduced tuition. It's been reported in investigative newspapers, and I have personal knowledge. I suspect it's the same in most states. It's a predatory practice, of course, and one resents seeing ones tax dollars, which are high in CA, used to improve the life careers of outsiders who are often condescending toward their benefactors.
6 - Sister Ray
I would think other families where your husband is stationed would have the same situation. What do they do about college?
7 - Ralph Campbell
I have another approach that worked for my Daughter and I.
She went to A Community College for a year and took her basic classes and then she was able to get resident status and Community College was only $ 52.00 a credit hour.
8 - diana hartman
thank you everyone, for your comments...
sister ray, others like us send their kids to more accomodating states (requiring 90 days in the area; or states with timely waivers)...seeking others like myself was my first course but this is a small base...we're the only family here, that i know of, from ks and with college-aged kids...if we were stationed in iwakuni or okinawa, that might well be different...for the most part, though, i've found people sending their kids to more accomodating states instead of the one they're from (if the one they're from wasn't accomodating)...to be honest, i'm too stubborn to give up with the first "we can't help you" and i'm always spurred on when someone says "that can't be done"...wrong...it can always be done, somehow, some way...always...in my four decades of life, i've found this to always be true...
thank you also, ralph...my kids had/have been attending umuc europe for two years...i'm all about the community college option to start...the kids were high school seniors when we moved here and so started college here...had we stayed in the states, they'd have been going to cc all this time...
umuc europe is catered more to the military servicemember's need (subjects and classtimes) so the kids don't have all their basics but they have most of them...no better place for my kids to be learning that all-important second language -- a college in germany...the tuition isn't half bad but still quite a bit more than a community college, to be sure...
it's worth noting that within hours of this article getting published, i received an email from one of the persons cited in the article as having not been helpful...that person is now offering to help...i'll keep you posted...
good to know BC is so widely read...
9 - Joanie
I think it's awesome that you're now getting help, Diana. And I think it's downright ridiculous that you ever had to go through any of this.
I would love to see special dispensation for military families at EVERY school. There is absolutely no reason this can't be done. Well, except for the loss of money that could be made through all that gouging.
I think you have the makings of a damn fine expose on WSU's policies.
10 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Didn't catch this until nwo Diana. Interesting that the United States once fought as civil war over issues such as sovereignty and citizenship, and the prelude to the big bloody one in 1861 was known as "Bloody Kansas." In your parting shots to your soon to be ex-congressmen and members of the Kansas Board of Regents, you might want to point that fact out - a nasty needle on top of the middle finger, so to speak.
I know that sounds nasty, Diana. Sorry. Even though I lived in Minnesota for two decades, I just never learned the art of Minnesota nice - I'm just a kid from Brooklyn's mean streets.
I wish you, your husband and your family the best of luck on your return to the States; may G-d prosper your hands wherever you land and may G-d watch over him and preserve him hale and whole on his final duty postings.
11 - Joey
I'm from Liberal Kansas, and I'm going back.
I just love the Cimmeron!
12 - Robin
Hang in there. And remember, when the going gets tough, the tough come to Toronto! Great schools, great cultural environment, good friend *grin*
Downside: Toronto hates Americans, by and large, and milk is almost $5 a gallon--so is gas.
Living abroad as a non-military person is no walk in the park, so if you choose Europe, your spine will get a workout. Americans are very small minorities abroad.
My advice? Go for Maryland if that's an option.