THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
As a Navy family, we looked forward to our recent move to the Norfolk area, in particular to the educational opportunities here for my wife, who is pursuing her bachelor's degree. She is currently enrolled as a full-time student at Old Dominion University.
Naturally, we were shocked to discover we would not be considered residents of Virginia for tuition purposes until after we had ``established residence'' over a one-year period. Rather than postpone her education, we elected to pay the out-of-state tuition, which currently costs more than $1,000 per class; about $10,000 over a one-year period. This expense was neither anticipated nor budgeted but, nevertheless, we accepted the school's policy.
We are concerned for other military families who move here who may not be able to afford such costs. More disturbing, however, was our discovery that dependents of foreign officers stationed here are exempt from such rules and are allowed to pay an ``in-state'' rate.
While the diplomatic benefits of such a policy are acknowledged, we would appreciate an answer to the fairness question; i.e., why U.S. military families who will be residents of Virginia for an extended period are forced to pay these high rates, while foreign dependents enjoy a taxpayer-subsidized break?
STEVEN FRAKE
Chesapeake, Sept. 19, 1996 by CNB