ARC 2112C
COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION[283]
Notice of Intended Action
Twenty-five interested persons, a governmental subdivision, an agency or association of 25 or more persons may demand an oral presentation hereon as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)“b.”
Notice is also given to the public that the Administrative Rules Review Committee may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this proposed action under section 17A.8(6) at a regular or special meeting where the public or interested persons may be heard.
Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 261.62, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission hereby gives Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 8, “All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship Program,” Iowa Administrative Code.
The proposed amendments to Chapter 8 clarify the reporting requirements for eligible colleges and universities, refine the ranking of applicants for receipt of awards under the program, define maximum award eligibility under the program, and provide an option for eligibility for awards over a one- or two-year period. The proposed amendments to Chapter 8 reflect changes to Iowa Code section 261.87 that were enacted in 2015 Iowa Acts, House File 658, section 47.
Interested persons may submit comments orally or in writing by 4:30 p.m. on September 8, 2015, to the Executive Director, Iowa College Student Aid Commission, 430 East Grand Avenue, Third Floor, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1920; fax (515)725-3401.
The Commission does not intend to grant waivers under the provisions of these rules.
After analysis and review of this rule making, the Commission finds that there is no impact on jobs.
These amendments are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 261 as amended by 2015 Iowa Acts, House File 658.
The following amendments are proposed.
	Item 1. Amend rule 283—8.2(261), definition of “Eligible college or university,” as follows:
“Eligible college or university” means an Iowa community college, an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents, or an accredited private institution located in Iowa that meets all eligibility requirements set forth in Iowa Code section 261.9. All eligible colleges and universities must submit annual reports which include student and faculty information, enrollment and employment information, and other information required by the commission as described in Iowa Code sections section 261.9 through 261.16.
	Item 2. Amend subrule 8.4(2) as follows:
	8.4(2) Priority for grants. Only applicants with expected family contributions (EFCs) at or below the average tuition and fees for regent university students for the academic year for which awards are being made will be considered for awards.
	a. 	All eligible renewal applicants will be funded prior to new applicants. Awards to renewal applicants will be made based on EFC levels within the parameters defined by the commission, with students in the lowest EFC levels awarded first and at increasing EFC levels until the maximum EFC level is reached.
	b. 	If funding remains after all eligible renewal students have been awarded, priority will be given to students who participated in federal TRIO programs, participated in federal GEAR UP programs, participated in alternative programs in high school, or graduated from alternative high schools. Awards will be made to students in this category based on EFC levels within the parameters defined by the commission, with students in the lowest EFC levels awarded first and at increasing EFC levels until the maximum EFC level is reached. If all students in a given EFC level cannot be funded, students will be ranked according to the date the state application was filed.
	c. 	If funding remains after all priority applicants have been awarded, funding will be given to students who participated in federal GEAR UP programs. Awards will be made to students in this category based on EFC levels within the parameters defined by the commission, with students in the lowest EFC levels awarded first, followed by awards to students at increasing EFC levels until the maximum EFC level is reached. If all students in a given EFC level cannot be funded, students will be ranked according to the date the state application was filed.
	c.  d.	If funding is available, awards to remaining eligible applicants will be made based on EFC levels within the parameters defined by the commission, with students in the lowest EFC levels awarded first and, followed by awards to students at increasing EFC levels until the maximum EFC level is reached. If all students in a given EFC level cannot be funded, students will be ranked according to the date the state application was filed.
	Item 3. Amend subrule 8.4(3) as follows:
	8.4(3) Maximum award. All Iowa opportunity scholarships are provided during the traditional nine-month academic year, which is generally defined as September through May. Students attending eligible colleges and universities may receive no more than four full-time or eight part-time semesters of all Iowa opportunity scholarships.
	a.	The maximum award for full-time students will be the lesser of:
	(1)	The amount of financial need demonstrated by the student as calculated by the commission,
	(2)	One-half of the average tuition and fees for regent university students for the award year, or the
	(3)	The tuition and fees paid by the student, whichever is less.
	b. 	A student may request that the student’s maximum four semesters of award eligibility be provided during the first two semesters of enrollment. A student making this request will be eligible for only two semesters and will be awarded no more than the lesser of:
	(1)	The amount of financial need demonstrated by the student as calculated by the commission,
	(2)	The annual average tuition and fees at regent universities, or
	(3)	An amount equal to double the tuition and fees paid by the student during the first year of eligibility.
	c.	The maximum award for a full-time recipient student will not be affected by the ranking system used to prioritize grants. A part-time recipient student will receive a prorated award, as defined by the commission, based on the number of hours for which the student is enrolled.
	Item 4. Rescind subrule 8.4(6).
	Item 5. Renumber subrule 8.4(7) as 8.4(6).