CHAPTER 11
STATE OF IOWA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
[Prior to 8/10/88, see College Aid Commission, 245—Ch 2]
283—11.1(261) A state-supported and administered scholarship program.
	11.1(1) Application requirements. An Iowa high school graduate who ranks in the upper 15 percent of the graduate’s graduating class at the end of the graduate’s junior year and who takes a national test, as designated by the commission, during the period specified by the commission, is eligible to apply for recognition as a state of Iowa scholar.
	11.1(2) Eligibility for scholarship. An applicant for a state of Iowa scholarship must meet the following initial requirements:
	a. 	Be a resident of Iowa according to rule 681—1.4(262), as established by the board of regents and adopted by the commission.
	b. 	Release test scores, rank in class, and curriculum information to the commission on a form specified by the commission, with date of receipt on or before the deadline established by the commission as stated in the application instructions. In the case of an applicant who has earned a general equivalency diploma, class rank will be waived and academic potential will be judged on the basis of test scores alone.
	11.1(3) Eligibility for monetary scholarship. After a scholar qualifies academically and is designated as a state of Iowa scholar, a scholar must meet the following requirements to receive a monetary award:
	a. 	Complete requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent by the end of the summer preceding entrance into college.
	b. 	Enroll as a full-time freshman student at an approved college, university, or other postsecondary institution located in Iowa in the academic year following receipt of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants who have fulfilled requirements for the freshman year of college, either by advanced placement examination or by entry into college prior to receipt of a high school diploma and students who plan alternative education programs (e.g., study abroad, exchange program, internship program) which may delay the regular academic period, will be considered for awards on an individual basis.
“Located in Iowa” means a college or university that has made a substantial investment in a permanent Iowa campus and staff, and that offers a full range of courses leading to the degrees offered by the institution as well as a full range of student services.
	c. 	A recipient may request a leave of absence for a maximum of one calendar year if illness, financial circumstances, or other reasons beyond the recipient’s control prevent enrollment or force withdrawal from college.
	11.1(4) Criteria for awards. Academic rank of an applicant is determined by two factors: percentile rank in high school class and scores on the designated standard national test. These factors are weighed equally to produce an academic index score. The commission determines the minimum academic index score, based on a descending ranking of the applicants.
	11.1(5) Monetary awards.
	a. 	Awards are prorated on a quarterly or semester basis and are paid directly to the college or university on the scholar’s behalf after attendance has been certified.
	b. 	The award will be applied to the scholar’s college expenses, which include tuition and mandatory fees, room and board, and a uniform allowance established by the commission for other college-related costs.
	c. 	If a scholar is dismissed or withdraws from college before completion of the term, the award, or portion thereof, shall be refunded to the state of Iowa in conformity with the college’s or university’s published policy of refunds.
	d. 	A scholarship may be transferred from one participating institution to another. The institution to which the scholar transfers shall notify the commission of the change.
	11.1(6) Eligible institutions. The following categories of Iowa postsecondary institutions are eligible to participate in the state of Iowa scholarship program.
	a. 	Colleges and universities accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
	b. 	State-supported area community colleges.
	c. 	Accredited schools of professional nursing.
	d. 	Institutions which, in the absence of one of the above accreditations, are registered as nonprofit educational institutions with the corporations division of the secretary of state and are eligible for participation in the federal Pell Grant Program.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 261.3 and 261.15.
[Filed 1/20/66; amended 1/28/71, 6/29/72, 10/15/73]
[Filed 1/7/77, Notice 10/20/76—published 1/26/77, effective 3/2/77]
[Filed 2/16/79, Notice 11/1/78—published 3/7/79, effective 4/11/79]
[Filed 3/9/82, Notice 1/6/82—published 3/31/82, effective 5/5/82]
[Filed 7/15/83, Notice 4/27/83—published 8/3/83, effective 9/7/83]
[Filed emergency 8/26/83—published 9/14/83, effective 8/26/83]
[Filed 12/16/83, Notice 9/14/83—published 1/4/84, effective 2/8/84]
[Filed emergency 8/16/85—published 9/11/85, effective 8/23/85]
[Filed 7/22/88, Notice 3/9/88—published 8/10/88, effective 9/14/88]
[Filed 1/13/89, Notice 11/2/88—published 2/8/89, effective 3/15/89]
[Filed 6/19/89, Notice 5/3/89—published 7/12/89, effective 8/16/89]
[Filed 9/13/91, Notice 7/24/91—published 10/2/91, effective 11/6/91]
[Filed 1/20/95, Notice 10/12/94—published 2/15/95, effective 3/22/95]
[Filed 1/20/95, Notice 12/7/94—published 2/15/95, effective 3/22/95]
[Filed 4/11/03, Notice 2/19/03—published 4/30/03, effective 6/4/03]