ARC 4607C

ARC 4607C

COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION[283]

Adopted and Filed

Rule making related to future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program

The College Student Aid Commission hereby adopts new Chapter 15, "Future Ready Iowa Skilled Workforce Last-Dollar Scholarship Program," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 261.3.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 261; 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458; and 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758.

Purpose and Summary

Chapter 15 implements a new scholarship program enacted in 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 12. House File 2458 was enacted with an effective date of July 1, 2019. House File 2458 makes adoption of administrative rules contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The General Assembly approved an appropriation for the Future Ready Iowa Skilled Workforce Last-Dollar Scholarship Program in 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, on April 24, 2019.

Public Comment and Changes to Rule Making

Notice of Intended Action for this rule making was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on June 5, 2019, as ARC 4474C. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rule Making

This rule making was adopted by the Commission on July 19, 2019.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Commission for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 283—Chapter 7.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rule making will become effective on September 18, 2019.

The following rule-making action is adopted:

Adopt the following new 283—Chapter 15:

CHAPTER 15

FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

283—15.1(261) Basis for aid. The future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program provides scholarship assistance to Iowa residents enrolled in eligible programs aligned with high-demand jobs.

283—15.2(261) Definitions. As used in this chapter:

"Approved program" means a career and technical education program that has a classification of instructional program code approved by the Iowa department of education and that meets similar criteria as established for career and technical education programs approved under 281—Chapter 21.

"Continuous enrollment" means an eligible student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters, or the equivalent, of a single year. Enrollment in the summer semester is not required.

"Credential" means a Title IV-eligible program of study leading to a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree, conferring no more than an associate degree, which, upon completion, leads directly to employment, and is awarded by an eligible institution and earned in a program of study that leads to a designated high-demand job.

"Eligible program" means an approved program certified through the selection process described in rule 283—15.5(261).

"Full-time" means enrollment in at least 12 hours per semester or the equivalent.

"Part-time" means enrollment in at least 6 but less than 12 hours per semester or the equivalent.

"Semester" means the fall, spring, or summer term of enrollment at an eligible institution, if the eligible institution is on a semester system, or the equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system.

283—15.3(261) Eligible students.

15.3(1) An applicant of the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must:

a. Be an Iowa resident as defined in 283—Chapter 10.

b. Annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and any other application required by the college student aid commission by the priority application date specified by the college student aid commission.

c. Attend an orientation session, in person or virtually, for the eligible institution.

d. Register for courses with the assistance of an advisor, create a graduation plan as required under the eligible program, and participate in available academic advising sessions.

e. Enroll in an eligible program at an eligible institution.

f. Consider participating in the volunteer mentor program, as defined by the commission on volunteer service.

g. Participate in available career advising sessions as required under the eligible program, including creation of a career plan when possible.

h. Meet satisfactory academic progress standards as defined by the eligible institution in accordance with the provisions of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

i. Receive no more than the equivalent of five full-time awards or eight part-time awards.

j. Meet one of the following two conditions:

(1)Enroll on a full-time basis during the fall semester immediately following graduation from an Iowa high school or completion of private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, and maintain continuous enrollment on a full-time basis in subsequent terms to receive additional awards. An eligible student may enroll in fewer than 12 semester hours, or the equivalent, in the semester that the credential will be completed if full-time enrollment is not required to complete the program of study.

(2)Following receipt of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, and on or after attaining the age of 20, enroll on a full-time or part-time basis in an eligible program at an eligible institution, and maintain continuous enrollment on a full-time or part-time basis in subsequent terms to receive additional awards. Ages are calculated on July 1 prior to the year of enrollment.

If the student is granted a leave of absence by the eligible institution in accordance with provisions of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the student is not required to maintain continuous enrollment during the period covered by the approved leave of absence.

15.3(2) Reserved.

283—15.4(261) Award amounts.

15.4(1) Awards for eligible students attending Iowa community colleges shall not exceed the remaining tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. However, awards for eligible students enrolled on a full-time basis shall be at least $250 per semester or the equivalent amount if the eligible institution operates on a system other than the semester system. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a part-time basis shall be the same amount prorated based on the number of semester hours, or the equivalent, in which the part-time student enrolls.

15.4(2) Awards for eligible students attending an accredited private institution or eligible institution, as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9, shall not exceed the average tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees at Iowa community colleges after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. However, awards for eligible students enrolled on a full-time basis shall be at least $250 per semester or the equivalent amount if the eligible institution operates on a system other than the semester system. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a part-time basis shall be the same amount prorated based on the number of semester hours, or the equivalent, in which the part-time student enrolls. The average resident tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees will be determined by the Iowa department of education.

15.4(3) A student must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program that qualifies for Title IV funds. Tuition and institutionwide mandatory fees associated only with coursework required for the student's Title IV-eligible program of study can be used to determine the award amount.

283—15.5(261) Selection of eligible programs.

15.5(1) An eligible program must lead to a credential aligned with a high-demand job pursuant to 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 7, as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, section 12.

15.5(2) Before an approved program is considered an eligible program, the department of workforce development and the college student aid commission, in consultation with the Iowa department of education, must jointly certify that the program of study and credential are aligned with a high-demand job.

283—15.6(261) Criteria for maintaining eligible program status. The following criteria shall be used in the certification process.

15.6(1) By providing student data in a form and manner prescribed by the college student aid commission, the eligible institution shall demonstrate the eligible program, upon completion, leads to employment and not primarily to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs. The college student aid commission, the department of workforce development, and the Iowa department of education shall jointly determine employment outcomes, including wage thresholds.

If an eligible institution fails to demonstrate that an eligible program meets the certified outcomes for three successive years, new eligible students entering the eligible program are prohibited from receiving awards under this rule until such time that the college student aid commission determines that certified outcomes are being met.

15.6(2) A list of all programs eligible for the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, as well as the required courses and the suggested course sequence, must be available in one prominent location on the eligible institution's website.

283—15.7(261) Awarding of funds.

15.7(1) Eligible students who enroll in eligible programs at eligible institutions may receive awards during a semester.

15.7(2) In the first year that funding is appropriated, and in the event that funds available are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are first prioritized to eligible students who were not enrolled during the previous academic year. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.

15.7(3) In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are first prioritized to eligible students who received an award during the prior year, according to the date the student completes the application. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.

15.7(4) In the event that funds available are sufficient to award all eligible students meeting the conditions specified in subrule 15.7(2) or 15.7(3) but are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are provided to additional eligible students according to the date the student completes the application. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.

15.7(5) If the state workforce development board or a community college district removes a high-demand job from a list created under 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 7, as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, section 12, an eligible student who received an award in a program of study aligned with that high-demand job shall continue to receive the award as long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility criteria.

283—15.8(261) Institution eligibility requirements.

15.8(1) Application process. An institution requesting to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must apply to the college student aid commission using the college student aid commission's designated application. An applicant institution must provide the college student aid commission with documentation establishing eligibility as described in subrule 15.8(2). Applicant institutions seeking to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must submit applications by October 1 of the year prior to the beginning of the academic year for which they are applying for participation, with the exception of the first state fiscal year in which appropriations are authorized for expenditure.

15.8(2) Eligible institution. An Iowa community college as defined in Iowa Code section 260C.2 or an accredited private institution or eligible institution as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9 must:

a. Require eligible students to:

(1)Attend an orientation session, in person or virtually, for the eligible institution.

(2)Register for courses with the assistance of an advisor, create a graduation plan as required under the eligible program, and participate in available academic advising sessions.

(3)Participate in available career advising sessions as required under the eligible program, including creation of a career plan when possible.

b. Notify eligible students of the volunteer mentor program, encourage them to participate, and facilitate, in collaboration with the commission on volunteer service, the assignment of a volunteer mentor to each eligible student, based on the student's interests.

c. Facilitate connections through campus career centers and services to internships and similar local, state, and federal programs.

d. Market the eligible institution's eligible programs and optional incentives on the eligible institution's website and to other relevant agencies and organizations as recommended by the college student aid commission, commission on volunteer service, or department of workforce development.

e. Submit information annually to the college student aid commission including, but not limited to, information regarding recipients, scholarship disbursements, recipients' eligible programs, recipient completion rates by eligible program, and recipient employment outcomes. Information shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the college student aid commission. The college student aid commission may collaborate with other state agencies to obtain data from existing sources to reduce eligible institution reporting requirements.

15.8(3) Compliance reviews. The college student aid commission shall periodically investigate and review compliance of institutions participating in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program.

283—15.9(261) Award notification. A scholarship recipient will be notified of the award by the institution to which application is made. The institution is responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. The eligible institution shall report changes in student eligibility to the college student aid commission.

283—15.10(261) Award transfers and adjustments. Recipients are responsible for promptly notifying the appropriate eligible institution of any change in enrollment. The eligible institution will make necessary changes and notify the college student aid commission.

283—15.11(261) Restrictions. A student who is in default on a Stafford Loan, an SLS Loan, or a Perkins/National Direct/National Defense Student Loan or who owes a repayment on any Title IV grant assistance or state award shall be ineligible for assistance under the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program. Eligibility for state aid may be reinstated upon payment in full of the delinquent obligation or by the college student aid commission's ruling on the basis of adequate extenuating evidence presented in an appeal under the procedures set forth in 283—Chapters 4 and 5.

These rules are intended to implement 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 12.

[Filed 7/25/19, effective 9/18/19]

[Published 8/14/19]

Editor's Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 8/14/19.