CHAPTER 15
FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
283—15.1(261) Basis for aid. The future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program provides scholarship assistance to Iowa residents enrolled in eligible programs aligned with high-demand jobs.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.2(261) Definitions. As used in this chapter:
“Adult learner” means an eligible student who attains the age of 20 as of July 1 prior to the year of enrollment and who has not received an award under subparagraph 15.3(1)“j”(1) or 15.3(1)“j”(2).
“Approved program” means a career and technical education program that has a classification of instructional program code approved by the Iowa department of education and that meets similar criteria as established for career and technical education programs approved under 281—Chapter 21.
“Approved state-recognized work-based learning program” means a structured educational and training program that includes authentic worksite training and is approved by the Iowa department of education.
“Continuous enrollment” means an eligible student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters, or the equivalent, of a single year. Enrollment in the summer semester is not required.
“Credential” means a Title IV-eligible program of study leading to a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree, conferring no more than an associate degree, which, upon completion, leads directly to employment, and is awarded by an eligible institution and earned in a program of study that leads to a designated high-demand job.
“Eligible program” means an approved program certified through the selection process described in rule 283—15.5(261).
“Full-time” means enrollment in at least 12 hours per semester or the equivalent.
“Part-time” means enrollment in at least 6 but less than 12 hours per semester or the equivalent.
“Semester” means the fall, spring, or summer term of enrollment at an eligible institution, if the eligible institution is on a semester system, or the equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19; ARC 5223C, IAB 10/7/20, effective 11/11/20]
283—15.3(261) Eligible students.
	15.3(1) An applicant of the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must:
	a. 	Be an Iowa resident as defined in 283—Chapter 10.
	b. 	Annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and any other application required by the college student aid commission by the priority application date specified by the college student aid commission.
	c. 	Attend an orientation session, in person or virtually, for the eligible institution.
	d. 	Register for courses with the assistance of an advisor, create a graduation plan as required under the eligible program, and participate in available academic advising sessions.
	e. 	Enroll in an eligible program at an eligible institution.
	f. 	Consider participating in the volunteer mentor program, as defined by the commission on volunteer service.
	g. 	Participate in available career advising sessions as required under the eligible program, including creation of a career plan when possible.
	h. 	Meet satisfactory academic progress standards as defined by the eligible institution in accordance with the provisions of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
	i. 	Receive no more than the equivalent of five full-time awards or eight part-time awards.
	j. 	Meet one of the following three conditions:
	(1)	Prior to becoming an adult learner, enroll on a full-time or part-time basis following graduation from an Iowa high school, completion of private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, or receipt of a high school equivalency diploma under Iowa Code chapter 259A, and maintain continuous enrollment on a full-time or part-time basis in subsequent semesters, with the exception of the summer semester, to receive additional awards. An eligible student must enroll on at least a part-time basis during the summer semester to receive an award. An eligible student may enroll in fewer than 12 semester hours, or the equivalent, in the semester that the credential will be completed if full-time enrollment is not required to complete the program of study.
	(2)	Prior to becoming an adult learner, and following graduation from an Iowa high school, completion of private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, or receipt of a high school equivalency diploma under Iowa Code chapter 259A, enter into full-time or part-time employment in a state-recognized work-based learning program approved by the Iowa department of education and enroll on a full-time or part-time basis and maintain continuous enrollment on a full-time or part-time basis in subsequent terms to receive additional awards. An eligible student may enroll in fewer than six semester hours, or the equivalent, in the semester that the credential will be completed if half-time enrollment is not required to complete the program of study.
	(3)	Following receipt of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, and after becoming an adult learner, enroll on a full-time or part-time basis in an eligible program at an eligible institution, and maintain continuous enrollment on a full-time or part-time basis in subsequent semesters to receive additional awards. An eligible student may enroll in fewer than six semester hours, or the equivalent, in the semester that the credential will be completed if half-time enrollment is not required to complete the program of study.
If the student discontinues enrollment at the eligible institution due to military deployment, a temporary medical incapacity, in relation to the declaration of a national or state emergency, or other exceptional circumstances approved by the commission, the student must apply for a waiver. If the waiver is approved, the student is not required to maintain continuous enrollment during the period covered by the waiver.
	15.3(2) Reserved.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19; ARC 5223C, IAB 10/7/20, effective 11/11/20; ARC 6730C, IAB 12/14/22, effective 1/18/23]
283—15.4(261) Award amounts.
	15.4(1) Awards for eligible students attending Iowa community colleges shall not exceed the remaining tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. However, awards for eligible students enrolled on a full-time basis shall be at least $250 per semester or the equivalent amount if the eligible institution operates on a system other than the semester system. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a part-time basis shall be the same amount prorated based on the number of semester hours, or the equivalent, in which the part-time student enrolls.
	15.4(2) Awards for eligible students attending an accredited private institution or eligible institution, as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9, shall not exceed the average tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees at Iowa community colleges after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. However, awards for eligible students enrolled on a full-time basis shall be at least $250 per semester or the equivalent amount if the eligible institution operates on a system other than the semester system. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a part-time basis shall be the same amount prorated based on the number of semester hours, or the equivalent, in which the part-time student enrolls. The average resident tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees will be determined by the Iowa department of education.
	15.4(3) A student must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program that qualifies for Title IV funds. Tuition and institutionwide mandatory fees associated only with coursework required for the student’s Title IV-eligible program of study can be used to determine the award amount.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.5(261) Selection of eligible programs.
	15.5(1) An eligible program must lead to a credential aligned with a high-demand job pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.1B(14).
	15.5(2) Before an approved program is considered an eligible program, the department of workforce development and the college student aid commission, in consultation with the Iowa department of education, must jointly certify that the program of study and credential are aligned with a high-demand job.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19; ARC 5223C, IAB 10/7/20, effective 11/11/20]
283—15.6(261) Criteria for maintaining eligible program status. The following criteria shall be used in the certification process.
	15.6(1) By providing student data in a form and manner prescribed by the college student aid commission, the eligible institution shall demonstrate the eligible program, upon completion, leads to employment and not primarily to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs. The college student aid commission, the department of workforce development, and the Iowa department of education shall jointly determine employment outcomes, including wage thresholds.
If an eligible institution fails to demonstrate that an eligible program meets the certified outcomes for three successive years, new eligible students entering the eligible program are prohibited from receiving awards under this rule until such time that the college student aid commission determines that certified outcomes are being met.
	15.6(2) A list of all programs eligible for the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, as well as the required courses and the suggested course sequence, must be available in one prominent location on the eligible institution’s website.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.7(261) Awarding of funds.
	15.7(1) Eligible students who enroll in eligible programs at eligible institutions may receive awards during a semester.
	15.7(2) In the first year that funding is appropriated, and in the event that funds available are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are first prioritized to eligible students who were not enrolled during the previous academic year. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.
	15.7(3) In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are first prioritized to eligible students who received an award during the prior year, according to the date the student completes the application. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.
	15.7(4) In the event that funds available are sufficient to award all eligible students meeting the conditions specified in subrule 15.7(2) or 15.7(3) but are insufficient to award all eligible students, awards are provided to additional eligible students according to the date the student completes the application. Applications will be ranked in date-received order, and students who complete the application by the earliest date will receive awards insofar as funds permit.
	15.7(5) If the state workforce development board or a community college district removes a high-demand job from a list created under 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 7, as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, section 12, an eligible student who received an award in a program of study aligned with that high-demand job shall continue to receive the award as long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility criteria.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.8(261) Institution eligibility requirements.
	15.8(1) Application process. An institution requesting to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must apply to the college student aid commission using the college student aid commission’s designated application. An applicant institution must provide the college student aid commission with documentation establishing eligibility as described in subrule 15.8(2). Applicant institutions seeking to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program must submit applications by October 1 of the year prior to the beginning of the academic year for which they are applying for participation, with the exception of the first state fiscal year in which appropriations are authorized for expenditure.
	15.8(2) Eligible institution. An Iowa community college as defined in Iowa Code section 260C.2 or an accredited private institution or eligible institution as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9 must:
	a. 	Require eligible students to:
	(1)	Attend an orientation session, in person or virtually, for the eligible institution.
	(2)	Register for courses with the assistance of an advisor, create a graduation plan as required under the eligible program, and participate in available academic advising sessions.
	(3)	Participate in available career advising sessions as required under the eligible program, including creation of a career plan when possible.
	b. 	Notify eligible students of the volunteer mentor program, encourage them to participate, and facilitate, in collaboration with the commission on volunteer service, the assignment of a volunteer mentor to each eligible student, based on the student’s interests.
	c. 	Facilitate connections through campus career centers and services to internships and similar local, state, and federal programs.
	d. 	Market the eligible institution’s eligible programs and optional incentives on the eligible institution’s website and to other relevant agencies and organizations as recommended by the college student aid commission, commission on volunteer service, or department of workforce development.
	e. 	Submit information annually to the college student aid commission including, but not limited to, information regarding recipients, scholarship disbursements, recipients’ eligible programs, recipient completion rates by eligible program, and recipient employment outcomes. Information shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the college student aid commission. The college student aid commission may collaborate with other state agencies to obtain data from existing sources to reduce eligible institution reporting requirements.
	15.8(3) Compliance reviews. The college student aid commission shall periodically investigate and review compliance of institutions participating in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.9(261) Award notification. A scholarship recipient will be notified of the award by the institution to which application is made. The institution is responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. The eligible institution shall report changes in student eligibility to the college student aid commission.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.10(261) Award transfers and adjustments. Recipients are responsible for promptly notifying the appropriate eligible institution of any change in enrollment. The eligible institution will make necessary changes and notify the college student aid commission.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—15.11(261) Restrictions. A student who is in default on a Stafford Loan, an SLS Loan, or a Perkins/National Direct/National Defense Student Loan or who owes a repayment on any Title IV grant assistance or state award shall be ineligible for assistance under the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program. Eligibility for state aid may be reinstated upon payment in full of the delinquent obligation or by the college student aid commission’s ruling on the basis of adequate extenuating evidence presented in an appeal under the procedures set forth in 283—Chapters 4 and 5.
[ARC 4607C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
These rules are intended to implement 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 12.
[Filed ARC 4607C (Notice ARC 4474C, IAB 6/5/19), IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
[Filed ARC 5223C (Notice ARC 5125C, IAB 8/12/20), IAB 10/7/20, effective 11/11/20]
[Filed ARC 6730C (Notice ARC 6479C, IAB 8/24/22), IAB 12/14/22, effective 1/18/23]