ARC 9387C

ARC 9387C

Proposing rulemaking related to future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Administrative Rules Coordinator provided preclearance for the publication of this Notice of Intended Action on April 11, 2025.

A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on March 19, 2025. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●April 8, 2025

No public comments on the Regulatory Analysis were received at the public hearing or in writing.

Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Commission and advise of specific needs.

ITEM 1.Rescind 283—Chapter 15 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 15

FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE
LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

283—15.1(256) Basis for aid. Assistance under the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program is available for Iowa residents enrolled in approved programs aligned with high-demand jobs.

283—15.2(256) Definitions. As used in this chapter:

“Approved program” means an eligible program of study approved through the process described in rule 283—15.6(256).

“Continuous enrollment” means that an eligible student is enrolled at least part-time in successive fall and spring semesters, or the equivalent, after receiving the award. Enrollment in the summer semester is not required to meet this condition.

“Credential” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 256.228(1)“d.”

“Eligible institution” means an institution that meets the criteria in Iowa Code section 256.228(1)“e” and the provisions of rule 283—15.7(256).

“Financial metric” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(261).

“Full-time” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(261).

“Iowa resident” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(261).

“Part-time” means enrollment in at least 6 but fewer than 12 hours per semester or the equivalent. An eligible student may enroll in fewer than six semester hours, or the equivalent, in the semester that the credential will be completed if part-time enrollment is not necessary to complete the program of study.

“Satisfactory academic progress” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(261).

“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(256) Eligible applicant. An eligible applicant is an Iowa resident who is enrolled at least part-time in an approved program at an eligible institution and who meets the program eligibility criteria and the following provisions:

15.3(1) Annually completes the applications that the commission deems necessary on or before the date established by the commission, attends orientation, registers for classes with an academic advisor, and participates in career advising sessions.

15.3(2) Has an eligible financial metric in the first year the scholarship is received, meets satisfactory academic progress standards, and does not meet a condition in 283—subrule 10.3(1).

15.3(3) Maintains continuous enrollment.

15.3(4) Meets one of the following two conditions:

a.Is under age 20 as of July 1 prior to the year of enrollment and enrolls at least part-time following graduation from an Iowa high school, completion of private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, or receipt of a high school equivalency diploma under Iowa Code chapter 259A.

b.Following receipt of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, enrolls at least part-time in an approved program at an eligible institution after attaining the age of 20 as of July 1 prior to the year of enrollment. To receive an award under this condition, the eligible applicant cannot have received an award under paragraph 15.3(4)“a.”

283—15.4(256) Awarding of funds.

15.4(1) Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award.

15.4(2) Extent of award and maximum award. Eligible applicants may receive no more than the equivalent of eight part-time awards. The maximum award will be calculated as follows:

a.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.

b.Awards for eligible students attending an accredited private institution as defined in Iowa Code section 256.183 shall not exceed the average tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees at Iowa community colleges after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. The average resident tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees will be used under this provision.

c.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 will be prorated by dividing the number of hours for which the student is enrolled by the required number of hours for full-time enrollment and multiplying the quotient by the maximum award.

d.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.

15.4(3) Priority for awards.

a.In the event that the funds available are insufficient to provide maximum awards to all eligible applicants through the entire state fiscal year, awards will first be authorized to eligible applicants enrolled in the fall and spring semester or the equivalent and then to eligible applicants enrolled in the summer semester or the equivalent.

b.In the event that funds available are insufficient to provide the maximum award to all eligible applicants in a semester, the commission may prorate awards to students in that semester.

15.4(4) Awarding process.

a.The commission will provide notice of the eligibility criteria and maximum award to participating eligible institutions annually to authorize awarding.

b.The commission will designate eligible applicants for awards and provide eligible institutions with rosters of designated eligible applicants.

c.Eligible institutions will notify recipients of the awards, clearly indicating the award amount and the state program from which funding is being provided and stating that the award is contingent on the availability of state funds.

d.Eligible institutions will apply awards directly to student accounts.

e.Eligible institutions will provide information about eligible applicants to the commission in a format specified by the commission. Eligible institutions will make necessary changes to awards due to a change in enrollment, program of study, and financial situation and promptly report those changes to the commission.

f.Eligible institutions are responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. Eligible institutions will report changes in student eligibility to the commission.

g.The commission will periodically investigate and review compliance of eligible institutions participating in this program with the criteria established in Iowa Code section 256.228 and this rule.

283—15.5(256) Exceptions. If an eligible applicant discontinues enrollment at the eligible institution due to military deployment, due to a temporary medical incapacity, in relation to a declaration of a national or state emergency, or due to other exceptional circumstances approved by the commission, the eligible applicant may apply for a waiver. If the waiver is approved, the eligible applicant is not required to maintain continuous enrollment during the period covered by the waiver.

283—15.6(256) Determination of programs of study aligned with high-demand jobs.

15.6(1) Statewide high-demand jobs. The commission will utilize the department of workforce development’s most recent list of statewide high-demand jobs pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.1B(14) and align those jobs to eligible programs of study.

15.6(2) Regional high-demand jobs. The commission will request submissions of regional high-demand jobs that align with eligible programs of study from each Iowa community college. Each Iowa community college may request up to five regional high-demand jobs to be considered for approval for students at that Iowa community college.

15.6(3) Eligible programs of study. The eligible institution will offer a career and technical education program of study that results in a credential that is aligned with employment in a high-demand job. The eligible program of study will meet similar criteria established for career and technical education programs approved under 281—Chapter 21. The classification of the instructional program code and the standard occupation code will be used to align eligible programs of study to high-demand jobs.

15.6(4) Approved program. Before an eligible program of study is considered an approved program of study, the department of workforce development and the commission, in consultation with the department of education, will jointly certify that the program of study and credential are aligned with a high-demand job pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.1B(14).

15.6(5) Grandfather clause. If the state workforce development board or a community college district removes a high-demand job from the approved list, an eligible applicant who received an award in a program of study aligned with that high-demand job will continue to receive the award as long as the eligible applicant continues to meet all other eligibility criteria.

283—15.7(256) Institution eligibility requirements.

15.7(1) Application process. An institution requesting to participate in the program may apply to the commission using the commission’s designated application. An applicant institution will provide the commission with documentation establishing its eligibility as an eligible institution that offers eligible programs of study. Applicant institutions will submit the application and documentation establishing their eligibility on or before October 1 of the year prior to the beginning of the academic year for which they are applying for participation.

15.7(2) Public information. A list of all eligible programs of study, as well as the necessary courses and the suggested course sequence, will be available in a prominent location on the eligible institution’s website.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 256.228.