260I.3  Applicants for tuition assistance — eligibility criteria.
  1.  The department of education, in consultation with the economic development authority, shall adopt rules pursuant to this chapter defining eligibility criteria for persons applying to receive tuition assistance under this chapter.
  2.  Eligibility for tuition assistance under this chapter shall be based on financial need. Criteria to be assessed in determining financial need shall include but is not limited to:
  a.  The applicant’s family income for the six months prior to the date of application.
  b.  The applicant’s family size.
  c.  The applicant’s county of residence.
  3.  a.  An applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter must have a demonstrated capacity to achieve the following outcomes:
  (1)  The ability to complete an eligible certificate program.
  (2)  The ability to enter a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree program for credit.
  (3)  The ability to gain full-time employment.
  (4)  The ability to maintain full-time employment over time.
  b.  The community college receiving the application shall only approve an applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter if the community college determines the applicant has a strong likelihood of achieving the outcomes described in paragraph “a” after considering factors including but not limited to:
  (1)  Barriers that may prevent an applicant from completing the certificate program.
  (2)  Barriers that may prevent an applicant from gaining employment in an in-demand occupation.
  4.  Applicants may be found eligible for partial or total tuition assistance.
  5.  Tuition assistance shall not be approved when the community college receiving the application determines that funding for an applicant’s participation in an eligible certificate program is available from any other public or private funding source. 
2011 Acts, ch 118, §87, 89
; 2011 Acts, ch 132, §81, 106
; 2015 Acts, ch 140, §44, 58, 59
2015 amendment to subsection 2, paragraph a takes effect July 2, 2015, and applies retroactively to July 1, 2015; 2015 Acts, ch 140, §58, 59
Subsection 2, paragraph a amended