CHAPTER 16
FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM
283—16.1(261) Basis for aid. The future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program provides grant assistance to Iowa residents enrolled in eligible programs aligned with high-demand jobs.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.2(261) Definitions. As used in this chapter:
“Continuous enrollment” means an eligible student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters of a single year. Enrollment in the summer semester is not required.
“Eligible program” means a curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree that is eligible for Title IV financial aid and is aligned with a high-demand job designated by the state workforce development board pursuant to 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 7, as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, section 12. The eligible program must be certified through the selection process described in rule 283—16.5(261).
“Full-time” means enrollment in at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent.
“Part-time” means enrollment in at least 6 but less than 12 semester hours or the equivalent. An eligible student may enroll in less than six semester hours in the semester in which the eligible program will be completed if less than six semester hours are required to complete the eligible program.
“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 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.3(261) Eligible students. An applicant of the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant must:
	1.	Be an Iowa resident as defined in 283—Chapter 10.
	2.	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.
	3.	Attend an orientation session, in person or virtually, for the eligible institution.
	4.	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.
	5.	Enroll in an eligible program at an eligible institution.
	6.	Consider participating in the volunteer mentor program, as defined by the commission on volunteer service.
	7.	Have earned at least half of the credits necessary to complete an eligible program. Preference will be given to applicants returning to complete their first baccalaureate degree.
	8.	Not have been enrolled in postsecondary education for two academic years prior to the academic year in which the grant is first received.
	9.	Upon receipt of the grant, maintain continuous full-time or part-time enrollment at an eligible institution.
	If the student is granted a leave of absence by the eligible institution in accordance with provisions of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the student is not required to maintain continuous enrollment during the period covered by the approved leave of absence.
	10.	Participate in available career advising sessions as required under the eligible program, including creation of a career plan when possible.
	11.	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.
	12.	Receive awards for no more than the equivalent of four full-time semesters or eight part-time semesters or until the eligible student completes the eligible program, whichever occurs first.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.4(261) Award amounts. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a full-time basis shall be at least $1,000 annually. Awards for eligible students enrolled on a part-time basis shall be the same amount prorated based on the number of semester hours in which the part-time student enrolls.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.5(261) Selection of eligible programs.
	16.5(1) An eligible program must lead to a credential aligned with a high-demand job pursuant to 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 7, as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, section 12.
	16.5(2) Before a program of study is considered an eligible program, the department of workforce development and the college student aid commission, in consultation with the eligible institution, must jointly certify that the program of study and credential are aligned with a high-demand job.
	16.5(3) A list of required courses and the suggested course sequence for each eligible program must be available in a prominent location on the eligible institution’s website.
	16.5(4) Eligible programs may be reviewed by the commission periodically to ensure compliance with the criteria set forth in this rule.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.6(261) Awarding of funds.
	16.6(1) Selection criteria. Eligible students who enroll in eligible programs at eligible institutions may be considered for awards during a semester.
	16.6(2) Priority for grants. In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all on-time applicants, awards are prioritized in the following order:
	a. 	Eligible students who received the grant in the prior year.
In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all on-time applicants as specified in this paragraph, awards are prioritized to eligible students who received a grant 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.
	b. 	Eligible students with 12 or fewer semester hours remaining to complete an eligible program.
In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all on-time applicants in an eligible program, as specified in this paragraph, awards are prioritized to 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.
	c. 	Eligible students with more than 12 semester hours remaining to complete an eligible program.
In the event that funds available are insufficient to award all on-time applicants in an eligible program, as specified in this paragraph, awards are prioritized to 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.
	16.6(3) Removal of high-demand job from list. If the state workforce development board 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 a grant in a program of study aligned with that high-demand job shall continue to receive the grant as long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility criteria.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.7(261) Institution eligibility requirements.
	16.7(1) Application process. An institution requesting to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant 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 16.7(2). Applicant institutions seeking to participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant 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.
	16.7(2) Eligible institution. An institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents 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, grant 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.
	16.7(3) Compliance reviews. The college student aid commission shall periodically investigate and review compliance of institutions participating in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.8(261) Award notification. A grant 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 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.9(261) Award transfers and adjustments. Recipients are responsible for promptly notifying the appropriate eligible institution of any change in enrollment. The institution will make necessary changes and notify the college student aid commission.
[ARC 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
283—16.10(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 grant 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 4608C, IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]
These rules are intended to implement 2018 Iowa Acts, House File 2458, section 13.
[Filed ARC 4608C (Notice ARC 4473C, IAB 6/5/19), IAB 8/14/19, effective 9/18/19]