ARC 6181C

ARC 6181C

REGENTS BOARD[681]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to standardized tests and regent admission index (RAI) and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Board of Regents hereby proposes to amend Chapter 1, "Admission Rules Common to the Three State Universities," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

Purpose and Summary

The proposed amendments to Chapter 1 remove the standardized test as a requirement for university admission of first-time undergraduate students but retain it as a component for automatic admission with the RAI. These amendments clarify that a first-time undergraduate student who does not report one or more of the three RAI factors will have the student's application reviewed on an individual basis.

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 Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to rule 681—19.18(17A).

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m.on March 1, 2022. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.

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).

The following rule-making actions are proposed:

Item 1. Amend 681—Chapter 1, preamble, as follows:

Preamble

The state board of regents has adopted the following requirements governing admission of students to the three state universities.

Each university is expected to describe in its catalog the requirements and other information necessary to make the admission process operate within the framework of these requirements.

Amendments and changes in these requirements normally are proposed by the universities to the regent committee on educational relations, which examines the proposals and makes specific recommendations through the council of provosts to the state board of regents, which is empowered by law to establish the admission requirements.

The regent universities recognize that the traditional measures of academic performance do not adequately describe some students' potential for success. Therefore, the regent universities strongly encourage all interested students to apply for admission. Applicants who feel their academic record is not an accurate reflection of their potential for success are encouraged to provide supplemental information explaining their circumstances, in addition to the application, academic transcripts, and test scores.

Item 2. Amend subrule 1.1(1) as follows:

1.1(1) Application. Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee as approved by the state board of regents pursuant to Iowa Code subsection 262.9(3) section 262.9(19) and detailed in rule 681—1.7(262), and have their secondary school provide a transcript of their academic record, including credits and grades, rank in class (when available), and certification of graduation. Applicants must may also submit SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores. Applicants whose primary language is not English must also meet the English language proficiency requirement specified by each university. Applicants may be required to submit additional information or data to support their applications.

Item 3. Amend subrule 1.1(2) as follows:

1.1(2) Admission criteria.

a. A regent admission index (RAI) will be calculated for each freshman applicant using applicants who submit all components used in the equation below. For purposes of calculating the RAI, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents), high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale, and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.

b. Freshman applicants from Iowa high schools who have an RAI of at least 245 and who meet the minimum requirements of the regent universities will qualify for automatic admission to any of the three regent universities. Freshman applicants who have an RAI below 245 or who do not have all components used in the RAI may also be admitted to a specific regent university; however, each regent university will review these applications on an individual basis, and admission decisions will be specific to each institution.

Item 4. Amend rule 681—1.2(262) as follows:

681—1.2(262) Admission of undergraduate students by transfer from other colleges. Students desiring admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa must meet the requirements in this rule and also any special requirements for the curriculum, school, or college of their choice.

Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee as approved by the state board of regents pursuant to Iowa Code subsection 262.9(18) section 262.9(19) and detailed in rule 681—1.7(262), and request that each college they have attended send an official transcript of record to the admissions office. High school academic records and standardized test results may also be required. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of foreign students whose first language is not English.

1.2(1) No change.

1.2(2) Admission of students with fewer than 24 semester hours of college credit will be based on high school academic and standardized test records in addition to review of the college record.

1.2(3) and 1.2(4) No change.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).

Item 5. Amend subrule 1.6(1), definition of "Accredited private institution," as follows:

"Accredited private institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9, subsection 5 261.9(1).