CHAPTER 8
ALL IOWA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
283—8.1(261) Basis of aid. Assistance available under the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program is based on the financial need of Iowa residents enrolled at eligible Iowa colleges and universities.
[ARC 1958C, IAB 4/15/15, effective 5/20/15]
283—8.2(261) Definitions. As used in this chapter:
“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 section 261.9.
“Eligible foster care student” means a person who has a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma under Iowa Code chapter 259A and is described by any of the following:
	1.	Is age 17 and is in a court-ordered placement under Iowa Code chapter 232 under the care and custody of the department of human services or juvenile court services.
	2.	Is age 17 and has been placed in a state juvenile institution pursuant to a court order entered under Iowa Code chapter 232 under the care and custody of the department of human services.
	3.	Is described by any of the following:
	●	On the date the person reached age 18 or during the 30 calendar days preceding or succeeding that date, the person was in a licensed foster care placement pursuant to a court order entered under Iowa Code chapter 232 under the care and custody of the department of human services or juvenile court services.
	●	On the date the person reached age 18 or during the 30 calendar days preceding or succeeding that date, the person was under a court order under Iowa Code chapter 232 to live with a relative or other suitable person.
	●	The person was in a licensed foster care placement pursuant to an order entered under Iowa Code chapter 232 prior to being legally adopted after reaching age 16.
	●	On the date the person reached age 18 or during the 30 calendar days preceding or succeeding that date, the person was placed in a state juvenile institution pursuant to a court order entered under Iowa Code chapter 232 under the care and custody of the department of human services.
“Eligible surviving-child student” means a person who is not a convicted felon as defined in Iowa Code section 910.15 and who meets any of the following criteria:
	1.	Is the child of a peace officer, as defined in Iowa Code section 97A.1, who was killed in the line of duty as determined by the board of trustees of the Iowa department of public safety peace officers’ retirement, accident, and disability system in accordance with Iowa Code section 97A.6(16).
	2.	Is the child of a police officer or fire fighter, as defined in Iowa Code section 411.1, who was killed in the line of duty as determined by the statewide fire and police retirement system in accordance with Iowa Code section 411.6(15).
	3.	Is the child of a sheriff or deputy sheriff, as defined in Iowa Code section 97B.49C, who was killed in the line of duty as determined by the Iowa public employees’ retirement system in accordance with Iowa Code section 97B.52(2).
	4.	Is the child of a fire fighter or police officer included under Iowa Code section 97B.49B, who was killed in the line of duty as determined by the Iowa public employees’ retirement system in accordance with Iowa Code section 97B.52(2).
“Expected family contribution (EFC)” is the means by which the commission ranks the relative need of an applicant for financial assistance. Expected family contribution shall be evaluated annually on the basis of a confidential statement of family finances filed on a form designated by the commission. The commission has adopted the use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a federal form used to calculate a formula developed by the U.S. Department of Education, the results of which are used to determine expected family contribution. Relative need will be ranked based on the applicant’s expected family contribution (EFC) provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The FAFSA must be received by the processing agent by the date specified by the commission.
“Full-time” means enrollment at an eligible college or university in a course of study including at least 12 semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
“Iowa resident” means a person who meets the residency requirements established in 283—Chapter 10.
“Part-time” means enrollment at an eligible college or university in a course of study including at least three semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
[ARC 2205C, IAB 10/28/15, effective 12/2/15; ARC 2206C, IAB 10/28/15, effective 12/2/15; ARC 3381C, IAB 10/11/17, effective 9/20/17; ARC 4183C, IAB 12/19/18, effective 1/23/19; ARC 4716C, IAB 10/23/19, effective 11/27/19]
283—8.3(261) Eligibility requirements.
	8.3(1) Applicants for the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the date specified by the commission and any additional applications or documents required by the commission. In addition to completing the FAFSA, an applicant must be:
	a. 	An Iowa resident who begins the initial period of postsecondary enrollment within two academic years of graduation from high school or within two academic years of completion of a high school equivalency diploma under Iowa Code chapter 259A; and
	b. 	Enrolled for at least three semester hours, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, in a program eligible for federal student aid under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act leading to an undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible college or university.
	8.3(2) To maintain eligibility, recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible college or university.
	8.3(3) Individuals who have military obligations may delay the initial period of enrollment for up to four academic years beyond high school graduation and must begin postsecondary enrollment within two academic years of discharge. Exceptions for health or other personal reasons for delaying the initial period of enrollment will be reviewed by commission staff on a case-by-case basis.
[ARC 8333B, IAB 12/2/09, effective 1/6/10; ARC 3381C, IAB 10/11/17, effective 9/20/17]
283—8.4(261) Awarding of funds.
	8.4(1) Selection criteria. All applicants who submit applications that are received on or before the published deadline will be considered for funding.
	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 new and renewal foster care students will receive first priority for funding. Awards to eligible foster care students 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. If all students in a given EFC level cannot be funded, students will be ranked according to the date the state application was filed.
	b. 	All new and renewal eligible surviving-child students will receive second priority for funding. Awards to eligible surviving-child students 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. 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. 	All eligible renewal applicants will receive third priority for funding. 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. If all students in a given EFC level cannot be funded, students will be ranked according to the date the state application was filed.
	d. 	If funding remains after all eligible foster care students, eligible surviving-child students, and renewal students have been awarded, fourth priority will be given to students who participated in federal TRIO 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.
	e. 	If funding remains after all priority applicants have been awarded, fifth priority 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.
	f. 	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, 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.
	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. Effective in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, new recipients attending eligible colleges and universities may receive no more than 8 full-time or 16 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, or
	(2)	One-half of the average tuition and fees for regent university students for the award year.
	b. 	The maximum award for a full-time student will not be affected by the ranking system used to prioritize grants. A part-time student will receive a prorated award, as defined by the commission, based on the number of hours for which the student is enrolled.
	8.4(4) Awarding process.
	a. 	College and university officials will provide information about eligible students to the commission in a format specified by the commission.
	b. 	The commission will designate recipients until all funding has been expended.
	c. 	The commission will notify recipients and college and university officials of the awards, clearly indicating the award amount and the state program from which funding is being provided and stating that funding is contingent on the availability of state funds.
	d. 	The college or university will apply awards directly to student accounts to cover tuition and fees, room and board, and other bona fide education expenses, such as books, equipment, and transportation.
	e. 	The college or university is responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. The college or university will report changes in student eligibility to the commission.
	8.4(5) Award transfers and adjustments. Recipients are responsible for promptly notifying the appropriate college or university of any change in enrollment or financial situation. The college or university will make necessary changes and notify the commission.
	8.4(6) Renewal. Applicants must complete and file annual applications (FAFSAs) for the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program by the deadline established by the commission. If funds remain available after the application deadline, the commission will continue to accept applications. To be eligible for renewal, a recipient must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible college or university and must not have exceeded the funding limit as described in 8.4(3).
[ARC 1958C, IAB 4/15/15, effective 5/20/15; ARC 2206C, IAB 10/28/15, effective 12/2/15; ARC 2943C, IAB 2/15/17, effective 3/22/17; ARC 3381C, IAB 10/11/17, effective 9/20/17; ARC 4183C, IAB 12/19/18, effective 1/23/19]
283—8.5(261) Restrictions. A student who is in default on a Stafford Loan, 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 all Iowa opportunity scholarship program. Eligibility for state aid may be reinstated upon payment in full of the delinquent obligation or by commission ruling on the basis of adequate extenuating evidence presented in an appeal under the procedures set forth in 283—Chapters 4 and 5. Credits that a student receives through “life experience credit” and “credit by examination” are not eligible for funding.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 261.
[Filed emergency 6/14/07—published 7/4/07, effective 6/14/07]
[Filed emergency 7/19/07—published 8/15/07, effective 7/19/07]
[Filed 1/18/08, Notice 10/10/07—published 2/13/08, effective 3/19/08]
[Filed ARC 8333B (Notice ARC 8036B, IAB 8/12/09), IAB 12/2/09, effective 1/6/10]
[Filed ARC 1958C (Notice ARC 1799C, IAB 12/24/14), IAB 4/15/15, effective 5/20/15]
[Filed ARC 2205C (Notice ARC 2037C, IAB 6/24/15), IAB 10/28/15, effective 12/2/15]
[Filed ARC 2206C (Notice ARC 2112C, IAB 8/19/15), IAB 10/28/15, effective 12/2/15]
[Filed ARC 2943C (Notice ARC 2677C, IAB 8/17/16), IAB 2/15/17, effective 3/22/17]
[Filed Emergency After Notice ARC 3381C (Notice ARC 3125C, IAB 6/21/17), IAB 10/11/17, effective 9/20/17]
[Filed ARC 4183C (Notice ARC 3938C, IAB 8/15/18), IAB 12/19/18, effective 1/23/19]
[Filed ARC 4716C (Notice ARC 4588C, IAB 8/14/19), IAB 10/23/19, effective 11/27/19]