TITLE III
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
CHAPTER 21
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
[Prior to 9/7/88, see Public Instruction Department[670] Ch 5]
[Former Ch 21 Rescinded, IAB 9/7/88]
DIVISION I
APPROVAL STANDARDS
281—21.1(260C) Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the indicated terms are defined as follows:
“Applied liberal arts and sciences course” means a course that is classified as arts and sciences in Iowa’s common course numbering system and that primarily consists of hands-on or occupational skill development, including but not limited to accounting, ceramics, criminal investigation, dance, drama, music, photography, and physical education.
“Department” means the Iowa department of education.
“Director” means the director of the department.
“Field of instruction” means the discipline or occupational area within which an instructor teaches, which aligns with the content of the course being taught as indicated by the course prefix, title, or description.
“Full-time instructor” means an instructor who is considered to be full-time if the community college board of directors designates the instructor as full-time. Determination of full-time status is based on local board-approved contracts.
“Higher Learning Commission” means the regional accrediting authority recognized by the United States Department of Education. Iowa Code sections 260C.47 and 260C.48 require that the state accreditation process be integrated with that of the Higher Learning Commission.
“Joint enrollment” means any community college credit course offered to students enrolled in a secondary school. Courses offered for joint enrollment include courses delivered through contractual agreements between school districts and community colleges, courses delivered through the postsecondary enrollment options program, and college credit courses taken independently by tuition-paying secondary school students.
“Qualifying graduate field or major” means a qualifying graduate field or major that represents an academic discipline in which an instructor must have earned credit in order to teach courses in specified fields of instruction.
“Relevant tested experience” means the breadth, depth, and currency of work experience outside of the classroom in real-world situations relevant to the field of instruction.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.2(260C) Administration.
	21.2(1) Policy manual. A community college board of directors will develop and maintain a policy manual that adequately describes the official policies of the institution.
	21.2(2) Administrative staff. A community college will develop an administrative staff appropriate to the size and the purpose of the institution and one that permits the institution to function effectively and efficiently. This administrative staff will provide effective leadership for the major divisions of the institution including administrative services, adult and continuing education, career and technical education, college parallel education, and student services.
	21.2(3) Chief executive officer. A community college will have a chief executive officer who is also the executive officer of the board of directors. The executive officer is responsible for the operation of the community college with respect to its educational program, its faculty and student services programs, and the use of its facilities. The executive officer may delegate to the staff all necessary administrative and supervisory responsibilities to ensure an efficient operation of the institution.
	21.2(4) Financial records and reports. The community college will maintain accurate financial records and make reports in the form and pursuant to the timeline prescribed by the department and other state agencies.
	21.2(5) Enrollment. A community college will meet minimum enrollment requirements if it offers instruction as authorized in Iowa Code chapter 260C and if, to the satisfaction of the state board of education, it is able to provide classes of reasonable economic size as needed by students, meets the needs of the students, and shows by its past and present enrollment and placement record that it meets individual and employment needs.
	21.2(6) Catalog. The catalog is the official publication of the community college. It will include accurate information on institutional policies, admissions requirements, procedures and fees, refund policies, residency requirements, program enrollment and degree requirements, due process procedures, affirmative action, and other information as recommended by the department. Students’ rights and responsibilities may be included in the catalog or in a separate document.
	21.2(7) Admissions and program/course enrollment requirements. The community college will maintain an open-door admission policy for students of postsecondary age. This admission policy will recognize that students should demonstrate a reasonable prospect for success in the program in which they are admitted. Applicants who cannot demonstrate a reasonable prospect for success in the program for which they apply should be assisted to enroll in courses where deficiencies may be remediated or into programs appropriate to the individual’s preparation and objectives. The community college may set reasonable requirements for student enrollment in specified programs and courses. Admissions and program enrollment requirements established by each community college will be published in the community college catalog.
	21.2(8) Academic year. The academic year of the community college will consist of semester, trimester, or quarter terms, and will be a period of time beginning with the first day of the fall term and continuing through the day preceding the start of the next fall term as indicated in the official college calendar. A community college may offer instruction in units of length (i.e., days and weeks) consistent with the identified scope and depth of the instructional content.
	21.2(9) Award requirements. The director will approve all new credit certificate, diploma, and degree award programs in accordance with Iowa Code section 260C.14. Awards from a community college will be certified by the issuance of appropriate recognition, pursuant to award approval requirement guidelines issued by the department, indicating the type of program the student has completed. The minimum number and maximum number of credit hours required for each award type contained within this subrule may be waived pursuant to paragraph 21.2(13)“i.” Each award will meet the expectations of statewide articulation agreements between Iowa community colleges and public universities.
	a. 	Associate of arts (AA). The degree is awarded upon completion of a college parallel (transfer) course of study that provides a strong general education component to satisfy the lower division general education liberal arts and sciences requirements for a baccalaureate degree. An associate of arts degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 64 semester (96 quarter) credit hours.
	b. 	Associate of science (AS). The degree is awarded upon completion of a course of study that requires a strong background in mathematics or science. The degree is intended to prepare students to transfer and initiate upper division work in baccalaureate programs. An associate of science degree awarded upon completion of an arts and sciences course of study consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 64 semester (96 quarter) credit hours.
	c. 	Associate of general studies (AGS). The degree is awarded upon completion of an individualized course of study that is primarily designed for the acquisition of a broad educational background rather than the pursuit of a specific college major or professional/technical program. The AGS is intended as a flexible course of study and may include specific curriculum in lower division transfer, occupational education, or professional-technical education. It will not include a marketed course of study. An associate of general studies degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 64 semester (96 quarter) credit hours.
	d. 	Associate of applied science (AAS). The degree is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study that is intended to prepare students for entry-level career and technical occupations. An associate of applied science degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 86 semester (129 quarter) credit hours. The general education component of the associate of applied science degree program consists of a minimum of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) credit hours of general education and include at least one course from each of the following areas: communications, social science or humanities, and mathematics or science. A maximum of 3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of the required 15 general education credits may be documented through an integrated, embedded, and interdisciplinary model adopted by the chief academic officers of the 15 community colleges in consultation with the department. The technical core of the associate of applied science degree will constitute a minimum of 50 percent of the course credits.
	e. 	Associate of applied arts (AAA). The degree is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study that is primarily intended for career training in providing students with professional skills for employment in a specific field of work, such as arts, humanities, or graphic design. An associate of applied arts degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 86 semester (129 quarter) credit hours. The general education component of the associate of applied arts degree program will consist of a minimum of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) credit hours of general education and include at least one course from each of the following: communications, social science or humanities, and mathematics or science. A maximum of 3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of the required 15 general education credits may be documented through an integrated, embedded, and interdisciplinary model adopted by the chief academic officers of the 15 community colleges in consultation with the department. The technical core of the associate of applied arts degree will constitute a minimum of 50 percent of the course credits.
	f. 	Associate of professional studies (APS). The degree is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study that is intended to prepare students for transfer and upper division coursework in aligned baccalaureate programs or immediate entry into the workforce.
	(1)	To be eligible to offer this award type, a college shall demonstrate that other award types cannot meet needs and the associate of professional studies award is appropriate.
	(2)	An associate of professional studies degree will consist of a minimum of 62 semester (93 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 68 semester (102 quarter) credit hours. The general education component of the associate of professional studies degree will consist of a minimum of 30 semester (45 quarter) credit hours of general education including 3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of each of the following: speech, mathematics, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, science; 6 semester (9 quarter) credit hours of writing; and 9 semester (13.5 quarter) credit hours distributed among mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and science. The technical core of the associate of professional studies degree will consist of a minimum of 16 semester (24 quarter) credit hours of career and technical coursework accepted by a receiving baccalaureate degree-granting institution with an aligned program as applying toward a specific major or program of study. The technical core of the degree will also consist of a minimum of 16 additional semester (24 quarter) credit hours of career and technical coursework accepted by the receiving institution as electives.
	(3)	An associate of professional studies degree program of study will have a minimum of three program-to-program articulation agreements with baccalaureate degree-granting institutions, at least one of which must be a public institution. A program will have a minimum of one articulation agreement effective prior to program implementation, provided all three agreements are effective within the program’s first year of student enrollment. The agreements will provide for the application of no fewer than 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours toward the graduation requirements of each articulated baccalaureate degree program.
	g. 	Diploma. The diploma is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study that is a coherent sequence of courses consisting of a minimum of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 48 semester (72 quarter) credit hours including at least 3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of general education. The general education component will be from any of the following areas: communications, social science or humanities, and mathematics or science. The technical core of the diploma will constitute a minimum of 70 percent of the course credits. A diploma may be a component of and apply toward subsequent completion of an associate of applied science or associate of applied arts degree.
	h. 	Certificate. The certificate is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study that is designed for entry-level employment and consists of a maximum of 48 semester (72 quarter) credit hours. A certificate may be a component of and apply toward subsequent completion of a diploma or associate of applied science or associate of applied arts degree and may be developed in rapid response to the needs of business and industry. A certificate may consist of only career and technical courses and no general education course requirements.
	21.2(10) Academic records. The community college shall maintain in perpetuity for each student the complete academic record including every course attempted and grade received. An official transcript must be created at the time of course enrollment. The credit hour(s) and grade will be recorded on the student’s official transcripts upon completion of a community college course. These records shall be kept in disaster-resistant storage, unless other equivalent safeguards are used, such as maintaining duplicate files (electronic or otherwise) in separate facilities. The method of storage will be consistent with current technology to ensure the ability to retrieve records. The community college will implement a security plan that ensures the confidentiality of student records.
	21.2(11) Residency status and tuition. A student who has been admitted to an Iowa community college will be classified as a resident or as a nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes. A student classified as a resident will pay resident tuition costs. A student classified as a nonresident will pay nonresident tuition costs. Tuition rates are established by a community college’s board of trustees pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.14(2).
	a. 	Tuition rates. Tuition rates adopted by a community college’s board of trustees will be consistent with the following requirements:
	(1)	Resident tuition.
	1.	Tuition for residents will not exceed the lowest tuition rate per semester, or the equivalent, for a full-time student charged by an institution of higher education under the state board of regents.
	2.	For students of high school age enrolled in a course through a contractual agreement with a school district, the limit on resident tuition does not apply, and the amount of tuition will be determined by the community college’s board of trustees with the consent of the school board.
	3.	Resident tuition rates do not require department approval.
	(2)	Nonresident tuition. Tuition for nonresidents will be not less than the marginal cost of instruction of a student attending the college. The establishment of nonresident tuition rates does not require department approval, with the exception of rates established pursuant to numbered paragraph 21.2(11)“a”(2)“2” and “3” and subparagraph 21.2(11)“a”(3).
	1.	International student tuition rates. A separate nonresident rate for international students is permissible, provided the rate is reasonable and reflects the cost of appropriate services.
	2.	Reciprocal agreements. A lower tuition rate for nonresidents is permitted under a reciprocal tuition agreement between a community college and an educational institution in another state, if the rate established in the agreement is approved by the department.
	3.	Other nonresident rates. Other nonresident tuition rates may be established for specific purposes provided the tuition rate is greater than the resident tuition rate, the tuition rate is not less than the marginal cost of instruction, and the arrangement is approved by the department.
	(3)	Consortia. A separate tuition rate for residents and nonresidents is permitted for courses delivered through a consortia agreement for online, distance education, or other coursework between Iowa community colleges, if the rate established in the agreement is approved by the department. Tuition will not be less than the lowest resident rate or higher than the highest nonresident rate of institutions within the consortium.
	(4)	Noncredit course tuition. Tuition for noncredit continuing education courses will be determined based on course costs and market demand. Tuition rates for courses that are not credit-bearing do not require department approval.
	(5)	Department approval. For tuition rates requiring department approval, the department will approve rates that comply with the requirements set forth in this chapter. Before a rate is adopted by a community college’s board of trustees and charged to students, the community college will request and receive approval for a tuition rate.
	(6)	Reporting. A community college will annually report all tuition rates and mandatory fees in a manner prescribed by the department.
	(7)	Notification. A community college will inform all students about residency status determinations, the appeal process, and tuition policies. Information will be included in appropriate publications, such as the college’s catalog, registration materials, website, and student handbook.
	b. 	Determination of residency status. In determining a community college resident or nonresident classification, the primary determinant is the reason the student is in the state of Iowa. The second determinant is the length of time a student has resided in Iowa. If a student is in the state primarily for educational purposes, that student is considered a nonresident. The burden of establishing the reason a student is in Iowa for other than educational purposes rests with the student.
	(1)	Procedure. The registrar or officially designated community college office will require written documents, affidavits, or other related evidence deemed necessary to determine why a student is in Iowa. A student will be required to file at least two documents from different sources to determine residency status. Examples of acceptable documentation include: written and notarized documentation from an employer that the student is employed in Iowa or a signed and notarized statement from the student describing employment and sources of support; an Iowa state income tax return; an Iowa driver’s license; an Iowa vehicle registration card; an Iowa voter registration card; or proof of Iowa Homestead credit on property taxes. In all events, to be determined a resident of Iowa, the student must document residing in the state of Iowa for at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the term for which the student is enrolling.
	1.	If a student gives misleading or incorrect information for the purpose of evading payment of nonresident tuition, the student must pay the nonresident tuition for each term the student was not officially classified as a nonresident.
	2.	The procedures described in paragraph 21.2(11)“b” will be administered by the registrar or staff designated by the community college.
	(2)	Residency of minor students. The domicile of a minor follows that of the parent with whom the minor resides, except where emancipation of said minor can be proven. The word “parent” includes legal guardian or others in cases where the lawful custody of a minor has been awarded to persons other than the minor’s actual parents. A minor living with a resident of Iowa who is legally responsible for the minor shall be granted resident status if the minor has lived with the Iowa resident for at least 90 days immediately prior to enrollment. The residency status of an emancipated minor is based upon the same qualifications established for a student having attained majority.
	(3)	Residency of students who are not citizens of the United States. The residency status of students who are not citizens of the United States will be determined consistent with the following procedures:
	1.	A student who is a refugee or who is granted asylum by an appropriate agency of the United States must provide proof of certification of refugee or asylum grantee status. A student may be accorded resident status for admission and tuition purposes when the student comes directly, or within a reasonable time, to the state of Iowa from a refugee facility or port of debarkation and has not established domicile in another state.
	2.	A student who has immigrant status, and the student’s spouse or dependents, may establish Iowa residency in the same manner as a United States citizen.
	3.	A student who has nonimmigrant status and who holds a nonstudent visa, and the student’s spouse or dependents, may establish residency in the same manner as a United States citizen. An alien who has nonimmigrant status and whose primary purpose for being in Iowa is educational is classified as nonresident.
	4.	A student who is a resident of an Iowa sister state may be classified as a resident or nonresident, in accordance with rules adopted by the college’s board of directors.
	(4)	Residency of federal personnel and dependents. A student, or the student’s spouse or dependent child, who has moved into the state of Iowa as the result of military or civil orders from the federal government, and the minor children of such student, is immediately an Iowa resident.
	(5)	Residency of veterans and family members and individuals covered under Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. A veteran of a uniformed service, a member of the National Guard, or the veteran’s or member’s spouse or dependent child will be classified as an Iowa resident student and be eligible for resident tuition and fee amounts, if the veteran or national guard member meets the requirements of numbered paragraph 21.2(11)“b”(5)“1,” “2,” or “3.”
	1.	The veteran has separated from a uniformed service with an honorable or general discharge, is eligible for benefits, or has exhausted benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any other federal authorizing veteran educational benefits program.
	2.	The individual is an active duty military person or activated or temporarily mobilized National Guard member.
	3.	The individual is a covered person under Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 or subsequent legislation.
	(6)	Reclassification of residency status. It is the responsibility of a student to request a reclassification of residency status. If a student is reclassified as a resident for tuition purposes, such classification is effective beginning with the next term for which the student enrolls. In no case will reclassification to residency status be made retroactive for tuition and fee purposes, even though the student could have previously qualified for residency status had the student applied.
	(7)	Appeal. The decision on the residency status of a student for admission, tuition, and fee purposes may be appealed to a review committee established by the community college. The findings of the review committee may be appealed to the community college’s board of trustees, whose decision is a final administrative decision.
	21.2(12) Credit hours. Credit hours will be determined consistent with the following procedures.
	a. 	Specifically stated criteria are minimal requirements only, which institutions may exceed at their discretion.
	b. 	Conventional instruction is subdivided into four instructional methods as herein defined.
	(1)	Classroom work — lecture and formalized classroom instruction under the supervision of an instructor.
	(2)	Laboratory work — experimentation and practice by students under the supervision of an instructor.
	(3)	Clinical practice — applied learning experience in a health agency or office under the supervision of an instructor.
	(4)	Work-based learning — employment-related experience planned and coordinated by an institutional representative and the employer, with control and supervision of the student on the job being the responsibility of the employer. Planned and supervised connections of classroom, laboratory and industry that prepare students for current and future careers.
	c. 	No registration or orientation hours may be included when determining credit hours.
	d. 	Institutions will take into account the soundness of the learning environment being created by the scheduling sequence and length of classroom, laboratory, clinical, and work-based learning sessions. However, the final decision on these matters is left to the institutional administration so long as minimal standards are met.
	e. 	Only minutes for students officially registered for courses or programs, including audit registration, may be included when determining credit hours.
	f. 	Each community college must establish a policy that defines its methods of equating alternative instruction to credit hours and the process for evaluating the effectiveness of the alternative instruction to meet or exceed the expected student outcomes as if the course were taught utilizing conventional methods in paragraph 21.2(12)“b.” Colleges will be held accountable for evaluating and maintaining high-quality programs, and their evaluations may be subject to department review. Students will be expected to meet all approved course requirements and will be expected to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and competencies/outcomes at the same level as those obtained in traditional classroom settings, in the time frames set by the institution. Alternative courses or programs of study must be approved by the college’s review processes including faculty review and input. Courses will be listed in the college catalog. Instructional formats for which alternative methods of determining credit hours are applicable include the following:
	(1)	Accelerated courses (study, programs). Courses or programs of study that allow students to complete courses or programs at a faster pace than if offered by conventional methods. Courses and programs will be tailored to involve more student participation and self-directed study. Instructors may teach in traditional classroom settings or by alternative methods specified in this subrule.
	(2)	Distance education. Courses or programs of study taught over the Internet, Iowa Communications Network (ICN), or other electronic means that allow students to receive instruction in the classroom or other sites, over personal computers, television, or other electronic means. Courses may or may not be interactive with direct communication between the teacher and students. Credit hours will be awarded in accordance with the credit hours that would have been assigned if the course or program were taught by conventional methods.
	1.	Correspondence courses. Courses offered outside the classroom setting in which the instruction is delivered indirectly to the student. Instruction is provided through another medium, such as written material, computer, television, or electronic means. Course materials are sent to a student who follows a detailed syllabus to complete assignments. Students correspond with and transmit assignments to the instructor by telephone, computer, mail, or electronic means. A third party may administer tests.
	2.	Television courses. Courses or programs delivered primarily via broadcast television, such as Iowa Public Television, digital video disc, or other media allowing students to receive instruction in a classroom or equipped remote location.
	3.	Video conference courses. Courses or programs delivered via a closed synchronous audio-video conferencing system, such as the Iowa Communications Network or similar system that allows students to receive instruction in a classroom or any equipped remote location via an audio-video feed to a television, computer, or other electronic device.
	4.	Online courses. Courses or programs delivered via the Internet. Courses may be taken using computers in a classroom setting or using personal computers or other electronic devices from the student’s home or other location using an online learning management system or mixed-media methods. Students may be linked at times directly with the instructor or with other students electronically. Interaction may be direct (synchronous) or indirect (asynchronous) allowing students to participate during their own time frames.
	5.	In-class hybrid courses. Courses or programs that combine traditional classroom and computer-based instruction. In-class sessions are offered with online instructional activities to promote independent learning and reduce seat time.
	(3)	Self-paced instruction. Courses or programs that permit a student to enter at variable times or progress at the student’s own rate of speed. Start and end dates may or may not correspond to the official college calendar. Contact or credit hours for self-paced programs or courses will be computed by assigning to each registration the total number of credit or contact hours the student would have received if the student enrolled in a conventional program or course with stipulated beginning and ending dates.
	(4)	Arranged study. Instruction offered to students at times other than stated or scheduled class times to accommodate specific scheduling or program needs of students. Credit hours will be awarded in accordance with the credit hours that would have been assigned if the course or program were taught by conventional methods.
	(5)	Multiformat nontraditional instruction. Instruction utilizing a variety of nontraditional methods that may incorporate self-paced learning, text, video, computer instructional delivery, accelerated training, independent study, Internet delivery, or other methods that do not follow standard classroom work guidelines. Credit hours will be awarded in accordance with the credit hours that would have been assigned if the course or program were taught by conventional methods.
	(6)	Competency-based instruction. Programs delivered using an outcomes-based approach, where the curriculum is structured around specified competencies and satisfactory academic progress is expressed as the attainment or mastery of the identified competencies.
	g. 	Individualized learning experiences for which an equivalent course is not offered will have the program length computed from records of attendance using such procedures as a time clock or sign-in records. Individualized learning experiences means independent study courses in which an equivalent course is not offered by the college or listed in the college catalog. Independent study permits in-depth or focused learning on special topics of particular interest to the student.
	h. 	Each course must have a minimum length of one credit hour. A fractional unit of credit may be awarded, provided the course exceeds the minimum length of one credit hour.
	i. 	Each credit hour shall consist of a minimum number of contact hours as defined in paragraphs 21.2(12)“h” to “m.” One contact hour equals 50 minutes.
	j. 	Classroom work.
	(1)	The minimum requirement for one semester hour of credit is 800 minutes (16 contact hours) of scheduled instruction.
	(2)	The minimum requirement for one quarter hour of credit is 533 minutes (10.7 contact hours) of scheduled instruction.
	k. 	Laboratory work.
	(1)	The minimum requirement for one semester hour of credit is 1,600 minutes (32 contact hours) of scheduled laboratory work.
	(2)	The minimum requirement for one quarter hour of credit is 1,066 minutes (21.3 contact hours) of scheduled laboratory work.
	l. 	Clinical practice.
	(1)	The minimum requirement for one semester hour of credit is 2,400 minutes (48 contact hours) of scheduled clinical practice.
	(2)	The minimum requirement for one quarter hour of credit is 1,599 minutes (32 contact hours) of scheduled clinical practice.
	m. 	Work-based learning.
	(1)	The minimum requirement for one semester hour of credit is 3,200 minutes (64 contact hours) of scheduled work-based learning.
	(2)	The minimum requirement for one quarter hour of credit is 2,132 minutes (42.6 contact hours) of scheduled work-based learning.
	21.2(13) Career and technical program length.
	a. 	Program length for the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in career and technical education, for the associate of applied arts (AAA) degree, and for the associate of professional studies (APS) degree will consist of an academic program not to exceed two academic years. All required course offerings are to be available within two academic years. All required offerings in AAS and AAA degree programs will not exceed a maximum of 86 semester (129 quarter) credit hours unless the department has granted a waiver pursuant to paragraph 21.2(13)“i.” All required offerings in APS degree programs will not exceed a maximum of 68 credit hours. Programs will not exceed an average of 19 credit hours per regular term.
	b. 	All credit-bearing courses required for program admittance or graduation, or both, will be included in the program length credit hour maximum, with the exception of developmental course credit hours. Prerequisites that provide an option to students for either credit or noncredit shall be counted toward the program parameters. Prerequisite options that are only offered for noncredit will not be counted toward program length parameters. A high school course prerequisite is permissible and will not count toward program length parameters, provided the prerequisite is reasonable. A high school course prerequisite is reasonable if a community college demonstrates that students entering the program predominantly meet the requirement without prior college coursework.
	c. 	Associate of applied science (AAS) and associate of applied arts (AAA) programs that receive accreditation from nationally recognized accrediting bodies may appeal maximum credit hour length requirements to the department for consideration of a waiver. All AAS and AAA degree programs over the 86 semester (129 quarter) credit hour maximum must have approved program-length waivers pursuant to paragraph 21.2(13)“i.”
	d. 	Associate of professional studies programs are not eligible for a program-length waiver pursuant to paragraph 21.2(13)“i.”
	e. 	All credit certificate and diploma programs as defined in subrule 21.2(9) will not exceed 48 semester (72 quarter) credit hours.
	f. 	Each course offered in the area of career and technical education will be taught in the shortest practical period of time at a standard consistent with the quality and quantity of work needed to prepare the student for successful employment in the occupation for which instruction is being offered.
	g. 	A full-time student in career and technical education is defined as a student enrolling in 12 or more semester credit hours or the equivalent in career and technical education.
	h. 	Curricula in full-time career and technical education programs will ordinarily be offered on the basis of student workload of 20 to 30 contact hours per week.
	i. 	Waiver process. A college may petition the department to suspend in whole or in part a program-length requirement contained in paragraphs 21.2(13)“a” to “e” as applied to a specific program on the basis of the particular circumstances of that program.
	(1)	Waivers are issued at the director’s sole discretion. Waivers will be narrowly tailored and granted for a period no longer than two academic years, after which reapplication is necessary. A waiver may be granted on a long-term basis, not to exceed ten years, if issuing the waiver for a shorter period is not practical.
	(2)	All petitions for waiver must be submitted in writing to the department and include the following information: specific waiver request including scope and duration, the relevant facts that the petitioner believes would justify a waiver, a detailed statement of the impact on student achievement, any information known regarding the department’s treatment of similar cases, and any additional information deemed relevant by the petitioner. The department will acknowledge a petition upon receipt.
	(3)	The department will ensure that, within 30 calendar days, notice of pendency of the petition and a concise summary of its contents have been provided to a committee consisting of the chief academic officers of each community college. In addition, the department may give notice to other persons.
	(4)	A committee consisting of the chief academic officers of a majority of community colleges will review the waiver request and provide a recommendation to the department regarding whether approval should be granted. Within 90 calendar days of receiving the recommendation, the department will review the petition and issue a ruling. Failure of the department to grant or deny a petition within the required time period is deemed a denial of that petition. If a waiver is issued, the department will provide a description of the precise scope and operative period to all interested parties.
	21.2(14) Faculty organization. The faculty shall be organized in such a way as to promote communication among administration, faculty and students and to encourage faculty participation in the development of the curriculum, instructional procedures, general policies, and such other matters as are appropriate.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.3(260C) Associate of arts and associate of science transfer major programs.
	21.3(1) General program. Each community college shall offer a general college parallel program of study leading to an associate of arts award or an associate of science award, pursuant to subrules 21.2(9) and 21.4(2). These programs shall offer courses equivalent to the first two years of a baccalaureate program and will not be discipline-specific.
	21.3(2) Transfer majors. A community college may establish discipline-specific transfer major programs to improve student recruitment, advising, and success and enhance transferability of associate-level courses into aligned baccalaureate degree programs. The transfer major program will consist of discipline-relevant credits from an approved discipline framework that satisfies the requirements of paragraph 21.3(2)“b.” A community college will ensure all students are appropriately advised regarding the availability, structure, purpose, and other pertinent information related to the transfer major program.
	a. 	Degree option. A transfer major will be embedded within an associate of arts or associate of science degree that meets the requirements of this chapter and any applicable statewide transfer agreement between the Iowa community colleges and public universities. Credits within the transfer major may be utilized to fulfill the general education requirements of an associate of arts or associate of science degree, as appropriate.
	b. 	Discipline framework. Each approved transfer major program will adhere to the appropriate adopted discipline framework to ensure transferability with the aligned baccalaureate program of study at one or more public universities in Iowa.
	(1)	A discipline framework consists of a minimum of 18 discipline-relevant semester credits (27 quarter credits) that align with a framework of elements based on accepted practices of an aligned baccalaureate degree program of study at a public university in Iowa.
	(2)	The courses within the discipline framework will articulate with a regionally accredited public university in Iowa so that the course credits are recognized by the university as fulfilling equivalent course requirements in at least one aligned baccalaureate degree program of study.
	(3)	If the provisions of subparagraph 21.3(2)“b”(2) cannot be achieved with at least one regionally accredited public university in Iowa, a request may be submitted to the department for articulation with a regionally accredited public institution in a contiguous state or a group of no less than three regionally accredited private postsecondary institutions that confer baccalaureate degrees, are based in Iowa, and are approved under Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 4, to operate in the state of Iowa.
	(4)	The discipline framework will be developed and adopted by a statewide committee convened by the department.
	c. 	Use of term. Consistent with department guidance, each community college will exclusively use the term “transfer major” to record the completion of an approved transfer major program on the student’s official transcript and other academic records, publish in the college catalog, and market the transfer major program to current and potential students and the general public. A community college shall not transcript, catalog, or market an associate of arts or associate of science program using other terms that contain or are synonymous with the term “major” or “transfer” or that imply a specialization within a subject area.
	21.3(3) Approval. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.14, each transfer major program will be submitted to the department for approval utilizing the state system for program management. Approval will be obtained prior to the enrollment of students in the transfer major program. The approval process does not include components specific to career and technical education program approval, including advisory committees and labor market analysis.
	21.3(4) Reporting. Each community college will comply with data reporting requirements established by the department. The department shall produce and make available a report detailing enrollment and outcomes of participants in transfer major programs.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.4(260C) Curriculum and evaluation.
	21.4(1) General education. General education is intended to provide breadth of learning to the community college experience. General education imparts common knowledge, promotes intellectual inquiry, and stimulates the examination of different perspectives, thus enabling people to function effectively in a complex and changing world. General education tends to emphasize oral and written communication, critical analysis of information, knowledge and appreciation of diverse cultures, ways of knowing and human expression, knowledge of mathematical processes and natural sciences investigations, and ethics. General education courses are not intended to be developmental in nature. Each community college is responsible for clarifying, articulating, publicizing, and assessing its general education program.
	21.4(2) College parallel or transfer.
	a. 	This program shall offer courses that are the equivalent of the first two years of a baccalaureate program and may also include such courses as may be necessary to develop skills that are prerequisite to other courses and objectives, specialized courses required to provide career options within the college parallel or transfer program, and approved transfer major programs meeting the requirements of rule 281—21.3(260C). College parallel or transfer programs are associate of arts and associate of science degree programs. General education courses in college parallel or transfer programs are required to be college transfer courses. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine how well students have succeeded and which adjustments in the curriculum, if any, need to be made.
	b. 	Courses of a developmental or remedial nature or prefreshman level will not bear college transfer credit and will be clearly identified in the college catalog. Developmental courses on the transcript will be identifiable through the adoption of the community college common course numbering system.
	21.4(3) Career and technical education. Instruction will be offered in career and technical education programs in no fewer than five different occupational fields as defined by the department. College parallel or transfer courses may be offered as needed in career and technical education programs. Career and technical education programs must meet program approval requirements set by the state board of education. The director’s approval of new career and technical education programs is necessary. Instruction will be offered in career and technical education programs, ensuring that they are competency-based, contain all minimum competencies required by the department, articulate with local school districts’ career and technical education programs, and comply with any applicable requirements in Iowa Code chapter 258. The occupational fields in which instruction is offered will be determined by merged area and geographical area needs as identified by surveys in these areas. Occupational advisory committees may be used to assist in developing and maintaining instructional content, including leadership development.
	21.4(4) Developmental education. Students who enter community colleges underprepared for postsecondary coursework are provided opportunities to improve their cognitive and noncognitive skills via developmental education academic and student support services. In an effort to enhance these opportunities, while respecting the local authority of Iowa’s community colleges, each college will adopt proven developmental education strategies to identify and address the needs of students, shorten the time to completion, prepare students for academic success, and reduce the financial burden for students underprepared for postsecondary coursework. Such proven strategies include multiple measures of placement; accelerated and integrated strategies, such as co-requisite models; and support services that address students’ cognitive and noncognitive needs. These reform efforts require collaboration among community colleges, school corporations, and education stakeholders to systemically expand proven strategies to prepare students for postsecondary success.
	21.4(5) Adult and continuing education. Adult education shall be offered and may include adult basic education, adult continuing and general education, college parallel or transfer, high school completion, supplementary and preparatory career education programs, and other programs and experiences as may be required to meet the needs of people in the merged area.
	21.4(6) Continuing education. The community colleges shall provide a program of community services designed to meet the needs of persons residing in the merged area. The purpose of the continuing education program is to foster agricultural, business, cultural, industrial, recreational and social development in the area.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.5(260C) Nonreimbursable facilities. No facility intended primarily for events for which admission may be charged nor any facility specially designed for athletic or recreational activities, other than physical education, may be constructed with state-appropriated funds.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.6 to 21.19   Reserved.
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 260C and 2007 Iowa Acts, Senate File 601.
DIVISION II
INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE FOR DRINKING DRIVERS
281—21.20(321J) Course.
	21.20(1) A course provided in accordance with Division II of this chapter will be offered on a regular basis at each community college or by a substance abuse treatment program licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125. However, a community college is not required to offer the course if a substance abuse treatment program licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125 offers the course within the merged area served by the community college. A course provided in accordance with Division II of this chapter may be offered at a state correctional facility listed in Iowa Code section 904.102.
	21.20(2) The department will maintain a listing of all providers of approved courses in the state and publish this listing on the department’s website.
	21.20(3) Individuals who reside outside the state of Iowa and who are required by the state of Iowa to take a course for drinking drivers will have the opportunity to take the course in another state, provided the out-of-state course is comparable to those courses approved to be offered in the state of Iowa.
	21.20(4) Enrollment in the course is not limited to persons ordered to enroll, attend, and successfully complete the course required under Iowa Code sections 321J.1 and 321J.17(2). Any person under the age of 18 who is required to attend the courses for violation of Iowa Code section 321J.2 or 321J.17 must attend a course offered by a substance abuse treatment program licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125.
	21.20(5) An instructional course, including allowable delivery formats, will be approved by the department in consultation with the community colleges, substance abuse treatment programs licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125, the Iowa department of health and human services, and the Iowa department of corrections. The course will consist of at least 12 hours of instructional time. In-person instruction will be delivered over a minimum of a two-day period in blocks not to exceed four hours with a minimum of a 30-minute break between blocks. Each student attending a course will be provided with the appropriate course materials necessary to complete the course, which will not be reused. The course will be taught by an instructor certified by the curriculum provider to teach the course. Each course of instruction will establish the following:
	a. 	An understanding that alcohol-related problems could happen to anyone and that a person’s drinking choices matter. The course illustrates common views of society that prevent people from taking drinking choices seriously. Research is presented to challenge common views with an understanding that alcohol problems are related to lifestyle choices.
	b. 	An understanding that specific low-risk choices will help reduce the risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems at any point in life. The course presents research-based, low-risk guidelines.
	c. 	Methods of providing support for making low-risk choices.
	d. 	An accurate description of the progression of drinking to the development of alcoholism to help people weigh the risk involved with high-risk drinking and to see how high-risk choices may jeopardize their lives and the lives of others.
	e. 	Opportunities to develop a specific plan of action to follow through with low-risk choices. A list of community resources is provided for ongoing support and treatment as needed.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.21(321J) Tuition fee established.
	21.21(1) Each person enrolled in an instructional course for drinking drivers will pay to the community college or a substance abuse treatment program licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125 a tuition fee of $140 for the approved 12-hour course, plus a reasonable course materials fee. The court may allow an offender to combine the required course with a program that incorporates jail time. Reasonable fees may be assessed for costs associated with lodging, meals, and security.
	21.21(2) A person will not be denied enrollment in a course by reason of a person’s indigency. For court-ordered placement, the court will determine a person’s indigency. In all other instances, the community college, substance abuse treatment program licensed under Iowa Code chapter 125, or state correctional facility will determine indigence upon application.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.22(321J) Administrative fee established.
	21.22(1) Students enrolled in Iowa. Each person enrolled in Iowa in an instructional course for drinking drivers under this chapter will be charged an administrative fee of $15. This fee is in addition to tuition and will be collected by the provider of the instructional course in conjunction with the tuition fee established under rule 281—21.32(321J). The administrative fee will be forwarded to the department on a quarterly basis as prescribed by the department. If a student has been declared by the court as indigent, no administrative fee will be charged to that student.
	21.22(2) Students enrolled in another state. Each person enrolled outside the state of Iowa in an instructional course for drinking drivers under this chapter will be charged an administrative fee of $37.50. This fee is in addition to tuition and will be paid directly to the department of education by the student. Upon payment of the fee, the department shall review the educational component of the course taken by the student and shall inform the department of transportation whether the educational component is approved by the department.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.23(321J) Advisory committee. A drinking driver education advisory committee is established by the department to serve in an advisory capacity to the department in matters relevant to the instructional course for drinking drivers. Membership on this committee will include representatives from agencies currently offering the instructional course for drinking drivers and may include other stakeholders.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.24 to 21.30   Reserved.
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code section 321J.22.
DIVISION III
STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING PLAN
281—21.31(260C) General. Funds appropriated by the general assembly to the department for general financial aid to community colleges shall be allocated to each community college in the manner defined in this chapter.
	21.31(1) Distribution formula. Moneys appropriated by the general assembly from the general fund to the department for community college purposes for general state financial aid for a budget year shall be allocated to each community college by the department according to the provisions of Iowa Code section 260C.18C.
	21.31(2) Each community college will provide student and financial information in the manner and form as determined by the department and before the deadline announced by the department. If the community college fails to provide the student or financial information as required, the department will estimate the full-time equivalent enrollment (FTEE) of that college that will be used in the state general aid distribution formula.
	21.31(3) Each community college is required to hire an auditing firm to complete and submit the schedule of credit-hour and contact-hour enrollment and a letter certifying that specified department of education procedures were followed. These schedules will be used in calculating the college’s FTEE utilized in the community college state general aid distribution formula.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.32 to 21.40   Reserved.
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code section 260C.18C.
DIVISION IV
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
281—21.41(260C) Definitions. For the purpose of Division IV, the following definitions apply:
“Apprentice” means a worker at least 16 years of age, except where a higher minimum age standard is otherwise fixed by law, who is employed to learn a skilled trade or occupation under the standards of apprenticeship.
“Apprenticeable occupation” means a skilled trade that possesses all of the following characteristics:
	1.	It is customarily learned in a practical way through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job, supervised training.
	2.	It is clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout an industry.
	3.	It involves manual, mechanical or technical skills and knowledge that require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job work experience.
	4.	It requires related instruction to supplement on-the-job training.
“Apprenticeship agreement” means a written agreement between an apprentice and the apprentice’s employer, or an apprenticeship committee acting as the agent for the employer(s). The agreement contains the terms and conditions of the employment and training of the apprentice.
“Apprenticeship committee” means those persons designated by the sponsor to act for it in the administration of the program. A committee may be “joint,” i.e., composed of an equal number of representatives of the employer(s) and of the employees represented by a bona fide collective bargaining agent(s), and is established to conduct, operate, or administer an apprenticeship program and enter into apprenticeship agreements with apprentices. A committee may be “unilateral” or “nonjoint” and shall mean a program sponsor in which a bona fide collective bargaining agent is not a participant.
“Apprenticeship program” means a plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification, recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices, including such matters as required under 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30, including the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.
“Cancellation” means the termination of the registration or approval status of a program at the request of the sponsor or termination of an apprenticeship agreement at the request of the apprentice.
“Certification” or “certificate” means documentary evidence that at least one of the following has been met:
	1.	The Office of Apprenticeship has approved a set of National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards developed by a national committee or organization, joint or unilateral, or policy or guideline used by local affiliates, as conforming to the standards of apprenticeship set forth in 29 CFR Section 29.5;
	2.	A registration agency has established that an individual is eligible for probationary employment as an apprentice under a registered apprenticeship program;
	3.	A registration agency has registered an apprenticeship program as evidenced by a certificate of registration or other written indicia;
	4.	A registration agency has determined that an apprenticeship has successfully met the requirements to receive an interim credential; or
	5.	A registration agency has determined that an individual has successfully completed an apprenticeship.
“Competency” means the attainment of manual or technical skill and knowledge as specified by an occupational standard.
“Employer” means any person or organization employing an apprentice whether or not such person or organization is a party to an apprenticeship agreement with the apprentice.
“Office of Apprenticeship” mean the office designated by the Employment and Training Administration to administer the National Apprenticeship System or its successor organization.
“Registration agency” shall mean the Office of Apprenticeship.
“Registration of an apprenticeship agreement” means the acceptance and recording of an apprenticeship agreement by the Office of Apprenticeship as evidence of the apprentice’s participation in a particular registered apprenticeship program.
“Related instruction” or “related technical instruction” means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed to provide the apprentice with the core knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to the apprentice’s occupation. Such instruction may be given in a classroom through occupational or industrial courses, by correspondence courses of equivalent value, by electronic media, or by other forms of self-study approved by the registration agency.
“Sponsor” means any person, association, committee or organization operating an apprenticeship program and in whose name the program is (or is to be) registered or approved.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.42(260C) Apprenticeship programs. For an apprenticeship program to be offered by a community college or a local educational agency, the program must be approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, and meet all requirements outlined in the National Apprenticeship Act, 29 U.S.C. §50, 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30 or as specified in Iowa Code chapter 84D.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.43 to 21.49   Reserved.
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code section 260C.44 and the National Apprenticeship Act, 29 U.S.C. §50, and 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30.
DIVISION V
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
281—21.50(260C,322) Used motor vehicle dealer education program. An applicant for a license from the department of transportation as a used motor vehicle dealer will complete a minimum of eight hours of prelicensing education program courses pursuant to Iowa Code section 322.7A prior to submitting the application. The education program courses are provided by community colleges or by the Iowa Independent Automobile Dealers Association in conjunction with a community college. The reasonable fee for both the prelicensing education program courses and continuing education courses will not exceed $55 per contact hour of instruction, which includes course materials and administrative costs.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.51 to 21.59   Reserved.
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 260C and section 322.7A.
DIVISION VI
COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACCREDITATION
281—21.60(260C) Scope. Each community college is subject to accreditation by the state board of education, as provided in Iowa Code section 260C.47. The state board of education will grant accreditation if a community college meets the standards established in this chapter.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.61(260C) Accreditation components and criteria—Higher Learning Commission. To be accredited by the state board of education and maintain accreditation status, a community college must meet the accreditation criteria of the Higher Learning Commission and additional state standards. Documents and materials provided in accordance with the accreditation requirements of the Higher Learning Commission will also be provided to the department for the state accreditation process.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.62(260C) Accreditation components and criteria—additional state standards. To be granted accreditation by the state board of education, an Iowa community college will also meet additional standards pertaining to minimum or quality assurance standards for faculty (Iowa Code section 260C.48(1)); faculty load (Iowa Code section 260C.48(2)); special needs and protected classes (Iowa Code section 260C.48(3)); career and technical education program evaluation (Iowa Code section 256.130(7)); facilities, parking lots and roads; strategic planning; quality faculty plan (Iowa Code section 260C.36); senior year plus programs (Iowa Code chapter 261E); as well as any other items referenced in this chapter.
	21.62(1) Faculty.
	a. 	Community college-employed instructors who teach college credit courses shall meet minimum standards and institutional quality faculty plan requirements. Standards will at a minimum require that all community college instructors meet the following requirements:
	(1)	Instructors teaching courses in the area of career and technical education will be registered, certified, or licensed in the occupational area in which the state requires registration, certification, or licensure and shall meet at least one of the following qualifications:
	1.	Possess a baccalaureate degree or higher in the field of instruction in which the instructor teaches classes, or possess a baccalaureate degree in any area of study if at least 18 of the credit hours completed were in the career and technical field of instruction in which the instructor teaches classes.
	2.	Possess an associate degree in the career and technical education field of instruction in which the instructor is teaching, if such degree is considered terminal for that field of instruction, and have at least 3,000 hours of recent and relevant work experience in the occupational area or related occupational area in which the instructor teaches classes.
	3.	Have special training and at least 6,000 hours of relevant tested experience in the occupational area or related occupational area in which the instructor teaches classes if the instructor possesses less than a baccalaureate degree in the area or related area of study or occupational area in which the instructor is teaching classes and the instructor does not meet the requirements of subparagraph 21.62(1)“a”(2).
	(2)	For purposes of numbered paragraphs 21.62(1)“a”(1)“2” and “3,” if the instructor is a licensed practitioner who holds a career and technical endorsement under Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, relevant work experience in the occupational area includes, but is not limited to, classroom instruction in a career and technical education subject area offered by a school district or accredited nonpublic school.
	(3)	Instructors in the area of arts and sciences shall meet the following qualifications set forth in Iowa Code section 260C.48.
	b. 	For courses identified as applied liberal arts and sciences, possess at least a bachelor’s degree and a combination of formal training and professional tested experience equivalent to 6,000 hours. The instructor shall hold the appropriate registration, certification, or licensure in occupational areas in which such credential is necessary for practice.
	c. 	Developmental education and noncredit instructors are not subject to standards under this subrule.
	d. 	Adult education instructors will meet the minimum standards set forth in 877—Chapter 32. Instructional staff providing instruction in an adult education and literacy program to students must possess at minimum a bachelor’s degree.
	e. 	A faculty standards council will be convened by the department to review procedures for establishing and reviewing minimum instructor qualifications and definitions for “field of instruction,” “applied liberal arts and sciences courses,” “qualifying graduate field or major,” and “relevant tested experience.” Definitions will be based on accepted practices of regionally accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education.
	(1)	The council will include faculty and academic administrators and meet at least annually. The council will make recommendations to a committee consisting of the chief academic officers of Iowa’s 15 community colleges. The committee will adopt definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards to be utilized for the state accreditation process. Each community college will adhere to the adopted definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards.
	(2)	When utilizing relevant tested experience to qualify an instructor to teach classes within a specific field of instruction, each community college will maintain well-defined policies, procedures, and documentation in alignment with the adopted definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards. This documentation will demonstrate that the instructor possesses the experience and expertise necessary to teach in the specified field of instruction and is current in the instructor’s discipline. When tested experience is assessed, an hour of relevant work is equal to 60 minutes and one full-time year of relevant work is equal to 2,000 hours.
	f. 	Volunteer staff will possess at minimum a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma.
	21.62(2) Faculty load.
	a. 	Arts and sciences. The full-time teaching load of an instructor in arts and sciences courses will be 15 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent and will not exceed a maximum of 16 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent. An instructor may also have an additional teaching assignment beyond the maximum academic workload, provided the instructor and the community college administration mutually consent to this additional assignment and the total workload does not exceed the equivalent of 22 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent.
	b. 	Career and technical education. The full-time teaching load of an instructor in career and technical education programs will not exceed an aggregate of 30 hours per week or the equivalent. An instructor may also teach the equivalent of an additional three credit hours, provided the instructor consents to this additional assignment. When the teaching assignment includes classroom subjects (nonlaboratory), consideration will be given to establishing the teaching load more in conformity with that of paragraph 21.62(2)“a.”
	21.62(3) Special needs and protected classes. Community colleges shall provide equal access to the full range of program offerings and services including recruitment, enrollment, and placement activities for students with special education needs or protected by state or federal civil rights regulations. Students with disabilities shall be given access to the full range of program offerings at a college through reasonable accommodations.
	21.62(4) Career and technical education evaluation. The director of the department shall ensure that Iowa’s community colleges annually review at least 20 percent of approved career and technical education programs. The community college career and technical program review and evaluation system must ensure that the programs meet requirements as specified in 281—Chapter 46.
	21.62(5) Facilities, parking lots and roads.
	a. 	Facilities master planning. Each community college shall present evidence of adequate planning, including a board-approved facilities plan. Planning includes tentative program approval, a master campus plan, written educational specifications, site plot showing location of proposed and existing facilities, elevations and floor plans.
	b. 	Accessibility and safety. All new or remodeled facilities (buildings and programs offered in such facilities) and services in such facilities shall be made functional and usable for persons with special needs, comply with Iowa Code chapter 104A and the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101, and address issues of campus safety and security as required by Iowa Code chapter 260C and by the federal Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. §1092(f). All parking areas and roads will comply with all state and federal rules and regulations dealing with roads, parking ramps, and accessibility requirements.
	c. 	Adequate facilities. All administrative facilities, classrooms, laboratories, and related facilities will be educationally adequate for the purpose for which they are designed.
	d. 	Library or learning resource center. A library or learning resource center will be planned as part of the master campus plan and space made for library or learning resource center services within the initial construction.
	(1)	Facilities. Community college libraries or learning resource centers shall provide the facilities and resources needed to support the total educational program of the institution and shall show evidence that the facilities and the resources are being used effectively and efficiently. Adequate consideration shall be given to the seating, comfort, setting, and technology of the facility used to house the collection and learning resources.
	(2)	Staffing. The library or learning resource center will be adequately staffed with qualified professionals and skilled nonprofessional personnel.
	(3)	Collection. The library and learning resource center materials collection of a community college shall be accessible and adequate in size and scope to serve effectively the number and variety of programs offered and the number of students enrolled, including distance and satellite sites. The library and learning resource center materials collection will show evidence of having been selected by faculty as well as professional library or learning resource staff and shall be kept up to date through a planned program of acquisition and deletion. The library and learning resource center materials collection will contain a range and number of print and nonprint materials and appropriate electronic information resources.
	(4)	Expenditures. The budget of the library or learning resource center will be appropriate for the programs and services offered by the institution. New programs and new curricula will be reflected in library or learning resource center expenditures.
	e. 	Student center. An area of the college will be provided where students may gather informally and where food is available.
	f. 	Laboratories, equipment and supplies. Laboratories, equipment and supplies will be comparable with those used in the occupations for which instruction is offered. Similarly, college parallel or transfer courses will be supported in a manner comparable to those conditions that prevail in standard, regionally accredited colleges and universities to which students may wish to transfer college credits.
	g. 	Physical plant. The site, buildings and equipment of the community college will be well maintained and in good condition. At a minimum, a five-year ongoing, systematic maintenance and facilities plan approved by the local community college board will be in evidence. The physical plant will be adequate in size and properly equipped for the program offered. All remodeling of existing facilities will comply with Iowa Code chapter 104A and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
	21.62(6) Strategic planning. At a minimum, the community college will prepare a high-quality, board-approved strategic plan at least once every five years, and that plan will be effectively implemented to guide the college and its decision-making.
	21.62(7) Quality faculty plan. The community college will establish a quality faculty committee consisting of instructors and administrators to develop and maintain a plan for hiring and developing quality faculty. The committee will have equal representatives of arts and sciences and career and technical faculty with no more than a simple majority of members of the same gender. Faculty will be appointed by the certified employee organization representing faculty, if any, and administrators will be appointed by the college’s administration. If no faculty-certified employee organization representing faculty exists, the faculty will be appointed by administration pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.48(4). The committee will submit the plan to the board of directors for consideration, approval and submittal to the department. Standards relating to quality assurance of faculty and ongoing quality professional development will be the accreditation standards of similar accredited institutions of higher education that are consistent with the standards established pursuant to this rule and the faculty standards required under specific programs offered by the community college that are accredited by other accrediting agencies. For purposes of this subrule, “accredited” means that an institution of higher education meets the standards established by an accrediting agency recognized under 34 CFR Part 602 and by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, Pub.	L.	No.	110-315.
	a. 	For purposes of this subrule, the following definitions apply:
“Counselor” means those who are classified as counselors as defined in the college’s collective bargaining agreement or written policy.
“Media specialist” means those who are classified as media specialists as defined in the college’s collective bargaining agreement or written policy.
	b. 	The institutional quality faculty plan is applicable to all community college-employed faculty teaching college credit courses, counselors, and media specialists. The plan requirements may be differentiated for each type of employee. The plan will include, at a minimum, each of the following components:
	(1)	Plan maintenance. The quality faculty committee will submit proposed plan modifications to the board of directors for consideration and approval. It is recommended that the plan be updated at least annually.
	(2)	A determination of the faculty and staff to be included in the plan, including all instructors teaching college credit courses, counselors, and media specialists.
	(3)	Orientation for new faculty. It is recommended that new faculty orientation be initiated within six months from the hiring date. It is recommended that the orientation of new faculty be flexible to meet current and future needs and provide options other than structured college courses for faculty to improve teaching strategies, curriculum development and evaluation strategies. It is recommended that the college consider developing a faculty mentoring program.
	(4)	Continuing professional development for faculty. It is recommended that the plan clearly specify required components including time frame for continuing professional development for faculty. It is recommended that the plan include the number of hours, courses, workshops, professional and academic conferences or other experiences, such as industry internships, cooperatives and exchange programs that faculty may use for continuing professional development. It is recommended that the plan include prescribed and elective topics, such as discipline-specific content and educational trends and research. Examples of topics that may be considered include dealing with the complexities of learners, skills in teaching adults, curriculum development, assessment, evaluation, enhancing students’ retention and success, reaching nontraditional and minority students, improving skills in implementing technology and applied learning, leadership development, and issues unique to a particular college. The institutional quality faculty plan will include continuing professional development components for all instructional staff, counselors, and media specialists, and may include reciprocity features that facilitate movement from one college to another.
	(5)	Procedures for accurate record keeping and documentation for plan monitoring. It is recommended that the plan identify the college officials or administrators responsible for the administration, record keeping and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the plan. It is recommended the plan monitoring, evidence collected, and records maintained showing implementation of the plan be comprehensive in scope. It is recommended that the plan provide for the documentation that each faculty member appropriately possesses, attains or progresses toward attaining minimum competencies.
	(6)	Consortium arrangements where appropriate, cost-effective and mutually beneficial. It is recommended that the plan provide an outline of existing and potential consortium arrangements including a description of the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and method of evaluating consortium services.
	(7)	Specific activities that ensure that faculty attain and demonstrate instructional competencies and knowledge in their subject or technical areas. It is recommended that the plan identify faculty minimum competencies and explain the method or methods of determining and assessing competencies. It is recommended that the plan contain procedures for reporting faculty progress. It is recommended that faculty be notified at least once a year of their progress in attaining competencies.
	(8)	Procedures for collection and maintenance of records demonstrating that each faculty member has attained or documented progress toward attaining minimum competencies. It is recommended that the plan specify data collection procedures that demonstrate how each faculty member has attained or has documented progress toward attaining minimum competencies.
	c. 	Compliance with the faculty accreditation standards of similar accredited institutions of higher education that are consistent with the standards established pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.48 and with faculty standards required under specific programs offered by the community college that are accredited by other accrediting agencies. For purposes of this paragraph, “accredited” means that an institution of higher education meets the standards established by an accrediting agency recognized under 34 CFR Part 602 and by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, Pub.	L.	No.	110-315.
	d. 	The department will review the plan during the state accreditation evaluations to ensure each community college’s compliance and progress in implementing a quality faculty plan as approved by the local board of directors. The department shall review the following:
	(1)	Documents submitted by the college that demonstrate that the plan includes each component required by paragraph 21.62(7)“b.”
	(2)	Documentation submitted by the college that the board of directors approved the plan.
	(3)	Documentation submitted by the college that the college is implementing the approved plan, including evidence of plan monitoring, evaluation and updating; evidence that the faculty has met minimum requirements of the quality faculty plan contained in Iowa Code section 260C.48; and evidence that faculty members have been notified of their progress toward attaining minimum requirements.
	(4)	Documentation that the college administration encourages the continued development of faculty potential as defined in Iowa Code section 260C.36.
	(5)	Documentation of the human resources report submitted by the college through the department’s community college management information system.
	21.62(8) Senior year plus. The community college shall provide access to joint enrollment opportunities for high school age students. Each college will comply with the appropriate standards defined in Iowa Code chapter 261E.
	21.62(9) Student services. A program of student services will be provided to meet the needs of students in the community college. The program of student services, at a minimum, will include the following functional areas:
	a. 	Orientation to college and career opportunities and requirements.
	b. 	Appraisal of individual potential.
	c. 	Consultation with students about their plans, progress and problems.
	d. 	Participation of students in activities that supplement classroom experiences.
	e. 	Regulation to provide an optimal climate for social and academic development.
	f. 	Services that facilitate community college attendance through a program of financial assistance, and facilitate transition to further education or employment.
	g. 	Organization that provides for continuing articulation, evaluation and improvement of the student services program.
	h. 	Campus safety and security as required by Iowa Code chapter 260C and the federal Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. §1092(f), 34 CFR Section 668.46.
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—21.63(260C) Accreditation process.
	21.63(1) Components. The community college accreditation process includes the following components:
	a. 	Each community college will submit information on an annual basis to the department of education to comply with program evaluation requirements adopted by the state board of education.
	b. 	The department will conduct a comprehensive on-site accreditation evaluation of each community college on a ten-year interval. An interim evaluation midway between comprehensive evaluations will also be conducted. The department will prepare a staggered evaluation schedule that sets no more than three comprehensive or interim evaluations in any one year. No comprehensive or interim evaluation will be required for continued accreditation prior to a community college’s first evaluation under the schedule. The department has the authority to conduct focused evaluation visits as needed.
	21.63(2) Accreditation team. The size and composition of the accreditation team is determined by the director of the department, but the team will include members of the department staff and staff members from community colleges other than the community college being evaluated for accreditation, and any other technical experts as needed.
	21.63(3) Accreditation team action. After a visit to a community college, the accreditation team shall evaluate whether the accreditation standards have been met and shall make a report to the director of the department and the state board of education, together with a recommendation as to whether the community college shall remain accredited. The accreditation team will report strengths and opportunities for improvement, if any, for each standard and criterion and will advise the community college of available resources and technical assistance to further enhance strengths and address areas for improvement. A community college may respond to the accreditation team’s report.
	21.63(4) State board of education consideration of accreditation. The state board of education will determine whether a community college remains accredited. Approval of accreditation for a community college by the state board of education will be based upon the recommendation of the director of the department after study of the factual and evaluative evidence on record pursuant to the standards and criteria described in this chapter, and based upon the timely submission of information required by the department in a format provided by the department. With the approval of the director of the department, a focused visit may be conducted if the situation at a particular college warrants such a visit.
	a. 	Accreditation granted. Continuation of accreditation, if granted, will be for a ten-year term with a comprehensive evaluation occurring once every ten years and an interim evaluation midway between comprehensive evaluations; however, approval for a lesser term may be granted by the state board of education if the board determines that conditions so warrant.
	b. 	Accreditation denied or conditional accreditation. If the state board of education denies accreditation or grants conditional accreditation, the director of the department, in cooperation with the board of directors of the community college, will establish a plan prescribing the procedures that must be taken to correct deficiencies in meeting the standards and criteria and will establish a deadline for correction of the deficiencies. The plan will be submitted to the director within 45 days following the notice of accreditation denial or conditional accreditation. The plan will include components that address correcting deficiencies, sharing or merger options, discontinuance of specific programs or courses of study, and any other options proposed by the state board of education or the accreditation team to allow the college to meet the accreditation standards and criteria.
	c. 	Implementation of plan. During the time specified in the plan for its implementation, the community college remains accredited. The accreditation team will revisit the community college to evaluate whether the deficiencies in the standards or criteria have been corrected and will make a report and recommendation to the director and the state board of education. The state board of education will review the report and recommendation, may request additional information and determine whether the deficiencies have been corrected.
	d. 	Removal of accreditation. The director will give a community college that fails to meet accreditation standards, as determined by the state board of education, at least one year’s notice prior to removal of accreditation. The notice will be sent by certified mail or restricted certified mail addressed to the chief executive officer of the community college and will specify the reasons for removal of accreditation. The notice will also be sent to each member of the board of directors of the community college. If, during the year, the community college remedies the reasons for removal of accreditation and satisfies the director that the community college will comply with the accreditation standards and criteria in the future, the director will continue the accreditation and will transmit notice of the action to the community college by certified mail or restricted certified mail.
	e. 	Failure to correct deficiencies. If the deficiencies have not been corrected in a program of a community college, the community college board of directors will take one of the following actions within 60 days from removal of accreditation:
	(1)	Merge the deficient program or programs with a program or programs from another accredited community college.
	(2)	Contract with another accredited postsecondary educational institution for purposes of program delivery at the community college.
	(3)	Discontinue the program or programs that have been identified as deficient.
	f. 	Appeal process provided. The action of the director to remove the state accreditation of a community college program may be appealed to the state board of education as provided in Iowa Code section 260C.47(7).
[ARC 7790C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
The rules in this division are intended to implement Iowa Code section 256.130(7) and chapters 260C and 261E.
[Filed 1/11/66, amended 10/5/66, 10/10/66, 4/17/67, 3/11/74]
[Filed 11/20/81, Notice 9/30/81—published 12/9/81, effective 1/13/82]
[Filed 7/16/82, Notice 5/12/82—published 8/4/82, effective 9/8/82]
[Filed 9/15/83, Notice 7/20/83—published 10/12/83, effective 11/16/83]
[Filed 8/27/85, Notice 7/3/85—published 9/25/85, effective 10/30/85]
[Filed 12/13/85, Notice 11/6/85—published 1/1/86, effective 2/6/86]
[Filed 1/9/87, Notice 12/3/86—published 1/28/87, effective 10/1/87]
[Filed 6/12/87, Notice 5/6/87—published 7/1/87, effective 8/5/87]
[Filed 3/17/88, Notice 2/10/88—published 4/6/88, effective 7/1/88]
[Filed 8/19/88, Notice 6/29/88—published 9/7/88, effective 10/12/88]
[Filed 3/15/89, Notice 2/8/89—published 4/5/89, effective 7/1/89]
[Filed 3/13/90, Notice 2/7/90—published 4/4/90, effective 7/1/90]
[Filed emergency 3/14/91—published 4/3/91, effective 3/14/91]
[Filed 3/15/91, Notice 2/6/91—published 4/3/91, effective 5/8/91]
[Filed 8/16/91, Notice 5/29/91—published 9/4/91, effective 10/9/91]
[Filed 9/13/91, Notice 2/6/91—published 10/2/91, effective 11/6/91]
[Filed emergency 12/20/91—published 1/8/92, effective 12/20/91]
[Filed emergency 1/7/92—published 2/5/92, effective 1/7/92]
[Filed 3/13/92, Notice 1/8/92—published 4/1/92, effective 5/6/92]
[Filed 4/15/94, Notice 1/19/94—published 5/11/94, effective 6/15/94]
[Filed 7/12/95, Notice 3/1/95—published 8/2/95, effective 9/9/95]
[Filed 8/8/97, Notice 6/4/97—published 8/27/97, effective 10/1/97]
[Filed 9/16/98, Notice 7/15/98—published 10/7/98, effective 11/11/98]◊
[Filed emergency 8/4/00—published 8/23/00, effective 8/7/00]
[Filed 8/2/02, Notice 6/26/02—published 8/21/02, effective 9/25/02]
[Filed 11/21/02, Notice 10/2/02—published 12/11/02, effective 1/15/03]
[Filed 5/9/03, Notice 4/2/03—published 5/28/03, effective 7/2/03]
[Filed 11/19/03, Notice 9/17/03—published 12/10/03, effective 1/14/04]
[Filed 11/14/07, Notice 8/15/07—published 12/5/07, effective 1/9/08]◊
[Filed 11/20/08, Notice 8/27/08—published 12/17/08, effective 1/21/09]
[Filed ARC 8646B (Notice ARC 8390B, IAB 12/16/09), IAB 4/7/10, effective 5/12/10]
[Filed ARC 9901B (Notice ARC 9686B, IAB 8/24/11), IAB 12/14/11, effective 1/18/12]
[Filed ARC 0687C (Notice ARC 0531C, IAB 12/12/12), IAB 4/17/13, effective 5/22/13]
[Filed ARC 1433C (Notice ARC 1340C, IAB 2/19/14), IAB 4/30/14, effective 6/4/14]
[Filed ARC 2021C (Notice ARC 1879C, IAB 2/18/15), IAB 6/10/15, effective 7/15/15]
[Filed ARC 3288C (Notice ARC 3087C, IAB 6/7/17), IAB 8/30/17, effective 10/4/17]
[Filed ARC 3982C (Notice ARC 3824C, IAB 6/6/18), IAB 8/29/18, effective 10/3/18]
[Filed ARC 5741C (Notice ARC 5583C, IAB 4/21/21), IAB 6/30/21, effective 8/4/21]
[Filed ARC 7790C (Notice ARC 7603C, IAB 2/7/24), IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
◊	Two or more ARCs