CHAPTER 1
ADMISSION RULES COMMON TO THE THREE STATE UNIVERSITIES
[Prior to 4/20/88, Regents, Board of[720]]
Preamble
The state board of regents has adopted the following requirements governing admission of students to the three state universities.
Each university is expected to describe in its catalog the requirements and other information necessary to make the admission process operate within the framework of these requirements.
The regent universities recognize that the traditional measures of academic performance do not adequately describe some students’ potential for success. Therefore, the regent universities strongly encourage all interested students to apply for admission. Applicants who feel their academic record is not an accurate reflection of their potential for success are encouraged to provide supplemental information explaining their circumstances, in addition to the application, academic transcripts, and test scores.
[ARC 2051C, IAB 7/8/15, effective 8/12/15; ARC 6304C, IAB 5/4/22, effective 6/8/22]
681—1.1(262) Admission of undergraduate students directly from high school. Students desiring admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa must meet the requirements in this rule and also any special requirements for the curriculum, school, or college of their choice.
	1.1(1) Application. Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee as approved by the state board of regents pursuant to Iowa Code section 262.9(19) and detailed in rule 681—1.7(262), and have their secondary school provide a transcript of their academic record, including credits and grades, rank in class (when available), and certification of graduation. Applicants may also submit SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores. Applicants whose primary language is not English must also meet the English language proficiency requirement specified by each university. Applicants may be required to submit additional information or data to support their applications.
	1.1(2) Admission criteria.
	a. 	A regent admission index (RAI) will be calculated for freshman applicants who submit all components used in the equation below. For purposes of calculating the RAI, the ACT composite score has a top value of 36 (SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents), high school GPA is expressed on a four-point scale, and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years of study.

RAI	=	(3 × ACT composite score)	+	(30 × high school grade point average)	+	(5 × number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas)	
	b. 	Freshman applicants from Iowa high schools who have an RAI of at least 245 and who meet the minimum requirements of the regent universities will qualify for automatic admission to any of the three regent universities. Freshman applicants who have an RAI below 245 or who do not have all components used in the RAI may also be admitted to a specific regent university; however, each regent university will review these applications on an individual basis, and admission decisions will be specific to each institution.
	1.1(3) Graduates of approved high schools in other states may be held to higher academic standards, but must meet at least the same requirements as graduates of Iowa high schools. The options for conditional admission or summer tryout enrollment may not necessarily be offered to these students.
	1.1(4) Applicants who are graduates of nonapproved high schools will be considered for admission in a manner similar to applicants from approved high schools, but additional emphasis will be given to scores obtained on standardized examinations.
	1.1(5) Applicants who are not high school graduates, but whose classes have graduated, may be considered for admission. These applicants will be required to submit all academic data to the extent that it exists and achieve scores on standardized examinations which will demonstrate that they are adequately prepared for academic study.
	1.1(6) Early admission.
	a. 	Students with superior academic records may be admitted, on an individual basis, for part-time university study while enrolled in high school or during the summers prior to high school graduation.
	b. 	In rare situations, exceptional students may be admitted as full-time students to a regent university before completing high school. Early admission to a regent university is provided to serve persons whose academic achievement and personal and intellectual maturity clearly suggest readiness for collegiate level study. Each university will specify requirements and conditions for early admission.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
[ARC 2051C, IAB 7/8/15, effective 8/12/15; ARC 4079C, IAB 10/10/18, effective 11/14/18; ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21; ARC 6304C, IAB 5/4/22, effective 6/8/22]
681—1.2(262) Admission of undergraduate students by transfer from other colleges. Students desiring admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa must meet the requirements in this rule and also any special requirements for the curriculum, school, or college of their choice.
Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with the appropriate application fee as approved by the state board of regents pursuant to Iowa Code section 262.9(19) and detailed in rule 681—1.7(262), and request that each college they have attended send an official transcript of record to the admissions office. High school academic records and standardized test results may also be required. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of foreign students whose first language is not English.
	1.2(1) Transfer applicants with a minimum of 24 semester hours of graded credit from colleges or universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, who have achieved for all college work previously attempted the grade point required by each university for specific programs, will be admitted. Higher academic standards may be required of students who are not residents of Iowa.
Applicants who have not maintained the grade point required by each university for specific programs or who are under academic suspension from the last college attended may, after a review of their academic and test records, and at the discretion of the admissions officers:
	a. 	Be admitted unconditionally,
	b. 	Be admitted conditionally,
	c. 	Be required to enroll for a tryout period during a preceding summer session, or
	d. 	Be denied admission.
	1.2(2) Admission of students with fewer than 24 semester hours of college credit will be based on high school academic records in addition to review of the college record.
	1.2(3) Transfer applicants under disciplinary suspension will not be considered for admission until information concerning the reason for the suspension has been received from the college assigning the suspension. Applicants granted admission under these circumstances will be admitted on probation.
	1.2(4) Transfer applicants from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered for admission on an individual basis taking into account all available academic information.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
[ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21; ARC 6304C, IAB 5/4/22, effective 6/8/22]
681—1.3(262) Transfer credit practices. The regent universities endorse the Joint Statement on Transfer and Award of Academic Credit approved in 1978 by the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA). The current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Selected Educational Institutions, published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and publications of the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) are examples of references used by the universities in determining transfer credit. The acceptance and use of transfer credit is subject to limitations in accordance with the educational policies operative at each university.
	1.3(1) Students from colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Credit earned at colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is acceptable for transfer except that credit in courses determined by the receiving university to be of a remedial, vocational, or technical nature, or credit in courses or programs in which the institution granting the credit is not directly involved, may not be accepted, or may be accepted to a limited extent.
Of the coursework earned at a two-year college, students may apply up to one-half but no more than 65 hours of the credits required for a bachelor’s degree toward that degree at a regent university. This policy becomes effective September 29, 1993.
	1.3(2) Students from colleges and universities which have candidate status. Credit earned at colleges and universities which have become candidates for accreditation by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is acceptable for transfer in a manner similar to that from colleges and universities accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education if the credit is applicable to the bachelor’s degree at the receiving university.
Credit earned at the junior and senior classification from an accredited two-year college which has received approval by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for change to a four-year college may be accepted by a regent university.
	1.3(3) Students from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. When students are admitted from colleges and universities not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, they may validate portions or all of their transfer credit by satisfactory academic study in residence, or by examination. Each university will specify the amount of the transfer credit and the terms of the validation process at the time of admission.
In determining the acceptability of transfer credit from colleges in states other than Iowa which are not accredited by an entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, acceptance practices indicated in the current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Selected Educational Institutions will be used as a guide. For institutions not listed in the publication, guidance is requested from the designated reporting institution of the appropriate state.
	1.3(4) Students from foreign colleges and universities. Transfer credit from foreign educational institutions may be granted after a determination of the type of institution involved and after an evaluation of the content, level, and comparability of the study to courses and programs at the receiving university. Credit may be granted in specific courses, but is frequently assigned to general areas of study. Extensive use is made of professional journals and references which describe the education systems and programs of individual countries.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
[ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21]
681—1.4(262) Classification of residents and nonresidents for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.
	1.4(1) General.
	a. 	A person enrolling at one of the three state universities shall be classified as a resident or nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes by the registrar or someone designated by the registrar. The decision shall be based upon information furnished by the student and other relevant information.
	b. 	In determining resident or nonresident classification, the issue is essentially one of why the person is in the state of Iowa. If the person is in the state primarily for educational purposes, that person will be considered a nonresident. For example, it may be possible that an individual could qualify as a resident of Iowa for such purposes as voting, or holding an Iowa driver’s license, and not meet the residency requirements as established by the board of regents for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.
	c. 	The registrar, or designated person, is authorized to require written documents, affidavits, verifications, or other evidence deemed necessary to determine why a student is in Iowa. The burden of establishing that a student is in Iowa for other than educational purposes is upon the student.
A student may be required to file any or all of the following:
	(1)	A statement from the student describing employment and expected sources of support;
	(2)	A statement from the student’s employer;
	(3)	A statement from the student’s parents verifying nonsupport and the fact that the student was not listed as a dependent on tax returns for the past year and will not be so listed in future years;
	(4)	A statement from the student’s spouse related to sources of family support, length of residence in Iowa, and reasons for being in the state of Iowa;
	(5)	Supporting statements from persons who might be familiar with the family situation;
	(6)	Iowa state income tax return.
	d. 	Applications for resident classification for a given semester or session are due no later than the fifteenth class day of that semester or session. Applications received after the fifteenth class day of that semester or session will be considered for the next semester or session. Appeals of any nonresident classification decision resulting from applications for resident classifications are due no later than midterm of that semester or session. Change of classification from nonresident to resident will not be made retroactive beyond the term in which application for resident classification is made.
	e. 	A student who gives incorrect or misleading information to evade payment of nonresident fees shall be subject to serious disciplinary action and must also pay the nonresident fees for each term previously attended.
	f. 	Review committee. These regulations shall be administered by the registrar or someone designated by the registrar. The decision of the registrar or designated person may be appealed to a university review committee. The decision of the review committee may be appealed to the state board of regents.
	1.4(2) Guidelines.
	a. 	The following general guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a student for admission, tuition, and fee purposes:
	(1)	A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa after the student is enrolled remains a resident provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa during the senior year of high school will be considered a resident provided the student has not established domicile in another state.
	(2)	In deciding why a person is in the state of Iowa, the person’s domicile will be considered. A person’s domicile is presumed to be that of the parent(s) or legal guardian unless the person is independent and establishes a separate domicile. A person who comes to Iowa from another state and enrolls in any institution of postsecondary education for a full program or substantially a full program shall be presumed to have come to Iowa primarily for educational reasons rather than to establish a domicile in Iowa.
	(3)	A student who was a former resident of Iowa may continue to be considered a resident provided absence from the state was for a period of less than 12 months and provided domicile is reestablished. If the absence from the state is for a period exceeding 12 months, a former resident may be considered a resident if evidence can be presented showing that the student has long-term ties to Iowa and reestablishes an Iowa domicile.
A person or the dependent of a person whose domicile is permanently established in Iowa, who has been classified as a resident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes, may continue to be classified as a resident so long as domicile is maintained, even though circumstances may require extended absence of the person from the state. It is required that a person who claims Iowa domicile while living in another state or country will provide proof of the continual Iowa domicile.
	(4)	A student who moves to Iowa may be eligible for resident classification at the next registration following 12 consecutive months in the state provided the student is not enrolled as more than a half-time student (6 credits for an undergraduate or professional student, 5 credits for a graduate student) in any academic year term at any postsecondary institution, is not enrolled for more than 4 credits in a summer or winter term at any postsecondary institution for any classification, and provides sufficient evidence of the establishment of an Iowa domicile.
	(5)	A student who has been a continuous student and whose parents move to Iowa may become a resident at the beginning of the next term provided the student is dependent upon the parents for a majority of financial assistance.
	(6)	A person who has been certified as a refugee or granted asylum by the appropriate agency of the United States who enrolls as a student at a university governed by the Iowa state board of regents may be accorded immediate resident status for admission, tuition, and fee purposes when the person:
	1.	Comes directly to the state of Iowa from a refugee facility or port of debarkation, or
	2.	Comes to the state of Iowa within a reasonable time and has not established domicile in another state.
Any refugee or individual granted asylum not meeting these standards will be presumed to be a nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes and thus subject to the usual method of proof of establishment of Iowa residency.
	(7)	An alien who has immigrant status establishes Iowa residency in the same manner as a United States citizen.
	(8)	At the regent institutions, American Indians who have origins in any of the original people of North America and who maintain a cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition with one or more of the tribes or nations connected historically with the present state of Iowa, including the Iowa, Kickapoo, Menominee, Miami, Missouri, Ojibwa (Chippewa), Omaha, Oneida (Narragansett), Otoe (Otto), Ottawa (Odawa), Potawatomi, Sac and Fox (Sauk, Meskwaki), Sioux, and Winnebago (HoCak, Ho Chunk), will be assessed Iowa resident tuition and fees.
	(9)	Individuals who have received a homeless youth determination may be classified as residents for tuition and fee purposes.
	b. 	Additional guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a veteran, qualified military person, and other qualified individuals for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees:
	(1)	A person who is stationed on active duty at the Rock Island arsenal as a result of military orders, or the child or spouse/domestic partner of such person, is entitled to resident status for purposes of undergraduate, graduate, professional, or certificate tuition and mandatory fees. The child or spouse/domestic partner may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university.
	(2)	The rules for classification of veterans and qualified individuals shall be in full compliance with all federal laws, including Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act). The qualified individual may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university.
	(3)	A person who is moved into the state as the result of military or civil orders from the government for other than educational purposes, or the child or spouse/domestic partner of such a person, is entitled to resident status. The child or spouse/domestic partner may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the university. Legislation, effective July 1, 1977, requires that military personnel who claim residency in Iowa (home of record) will be required to file Iowa resident income tax returns.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.9(3).
[ARC 7911B, IAB 7/1/09, effective 7/1/09; ARC 1991C, IAB 5/13/15, effective 6/17/15; ARC 2332C, IAB 12/23/15, effective 12/23/15; ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21]
681—1.5(262) Registration and transcripts—general. Rescinded ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21.
681—1.6(262) College-bound program.
	1.6(1) Definitions.
“Accredited private institution” means an institution of higher education as defined in Iowa Code section 261.9(1).
“Commission” means the college aid commission.
“Financial need” means the difference between the student’s financial resources, including resources available from the student’s parents and the student, as determined by a completed parents’ financial statement and including any non-campus-administered federal or state grants and scholarships, and the student’s estimated expenses while attending the institution. A student shall accept all available federal and state grants and scholarships before being considered eligible for grants under the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program. Financial need shall be reconsidered on at least an annual basis.
“Full-time student” means an individual who is enrolled at an accredited private institution or board of regents university for at least 12 semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
“Minority person” means an individual who is black, Hispanic, Asian, or a Pacific Islander, American Indian, or an Alaskan Native American.
“Part-time student” means an individual who is enrolled at an accredited private institution or board of regents university in a course of study including at least three semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent of three semester hours.
“Program” means the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program established in this division.
	1.6(2) Policy on college-bound program.
	a. 	The regent institutions will cooperate with other state and local agencies, including the department of education, the college aid commission, and educational institutions in implementing the college-bound program to provide Iowa minority students with information and experiences relating to opportunities offered at the regents’ universities.
	b. 	The universities will develop programs for elementary, middle and secondary school students and their families in the following areas:
	(1)	Encouragement to consider attending a postsecondary institution;
	(2)	Enrichment and academic preparation;
	(3)	Information about how to apply for admission.
	c. 	College-bound program vouchers will be awarded to students on the basis of the participation of the student and the student’s family in the college-bound program. One voucher will be awarded for participation in each college-bound program sponsored by a university.
	(1)	Each university will maintain records concerning those students who participate in the college-bound program, according to its established policies and procedures. The records will include information on those students who have received college-bound program vouchers which are described in Iowa Code section 262.92(2). The University of Iowa will maintain a central record on all students who have received college-bound program vouchers on behalf of all regent institutions and will make appropriate information available to the college aid commission.
	(2)	College-bound program vouchers may be used by students enrolled at a regent institution or at a private college or university in Iowa.
	(3)	A student holding vouchers and enrolling at a regent institution will receive priority in the award of funds under the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success (IMAGES) program. Awards under the IMAGES program are made on the basis of financial need. A student may be eligible for an additional award from the institution in which the student is enrolled.
	(4)	A student holding vouchers and enrolling at a private college or university in Iowa will receive priority in the award of funds under the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program as provided by the rules of the college aid commission.
	(5)	The presidents, or their designees, will administer and coordinate the college-bound program at the universities. As part of the coordination, they will establish liaison with the appropriate state and local agencies, serve as the university contact and promote collaborative efforts among the regent universities and other appropriate agencies and institutions. Annual reports to the board of regents shall be prepared by each regent university. The reports shall contain relevant information as to the accomplishments of the program in the past year and a plan of action with goals and objectives for the forthcoming year. Reports shall be submitted to the board of regents on December 1 of each year.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 262.92.
[ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21; ARC 6304C, IAB 5/4/22, effective 6/8/22]
681—1.7(262) Application fees. Mandatory application fees for admission to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa shall be approved by the board of regents and shall be based on reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by the institution in processing the application, unless otherwise approved by the board of regents.
[ARC 5946C, IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21]
[Filed 12/17/58; amended 1/28/59, 5/26/59, 9/15/59, 10/28/59, 9/30/60, 7/12/67,
6/14/72, 5/16/73, 1/16/75, 6/10/75]
[Filed emergency 3/19/76—published 4/5/76, effective 3/19/76]
[Filed 3/19/76, Notice 2/9/76—published 4/5/76, effective 5/10/76]
[Filed 12/18/80, Notices 10/15/80, 11/12/80—published 1/7/81, effective 2/11/81]
[Filed emergency 2/13/81—published 3/4/81, effective 2/13/81]
[Filed without Notice 8/21/85—published 9/11/85, effective 10/16/85]
[Filed 12/22/86, Notice 11/5/86—published 1/14/87, effective 2/18/87]
[Filed 1/22/88, Notice 11/18/87—published 2/10/88, effective 3/16/88]
[Filed 3/29/88, Notice 2/10/88—published 4/20/88, effective 5/25/88]
[Filed 3/28/90, Notice 11/1/89—published 4/18/90, effective 5/23/90]
[Filed 6/19/91, Notice 5/15/91—published 7/10/91, effective 8/14/91]
[Filed 7/23/93, Notice 6/9/93—published 8/18/93, effective 9/29/93]
[Filed 9/21/95, Notice 8/16/95—published 10/11/95, effective 11/15/95]
[Filed 12/23/97, Notice 11/5/97—published 1/14/98, effective 2/18/98]
[Filed 3/20/98, Notice 2/11/98—published 4/8/98, effective 6/1/98]
[Filed 6/2/04, Notice 3/31/04—published 6/23/04, effective 7/28/04]
[Filed emergency 9/24/04—published 10/13/04, effective 9/24/04]
[Filed 8/11/06, Notice 5/24/06—published 8/30/06, effective 10/4/06]
[Filed 5/3/07, Notice 2/28/07—published 5/23/07, effective 6/27/07]
[Filed 8/8/08, Notice 5/21/08—published 8/27/08, effective 10/1/08]
[Filed Emergency ARC 7911B, IAB 7/1/09, effective 7/1/09]
[Filed ARC 9034B (Notice ARC 8854B, IAB 6/16/10), IAB 8/25/10, effective 9/29/10]
[Filed ARC 9033B (Notice ARC 8807B, IAB 6/2/10), IAB 8/25/10, effective 9/29/10]
[Filed ARC 0037C (Notice ARC 9869B, IAB 11/30/11), IAB 3/7/12, effective 4/11/12]
[Filed ARC 0630C (Notice ARC 0469C, IAB 11/28/12), IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13]
[Filed ARC 1895C (Notice ARC 1743C, IAB 11/26/14), IAB 3/4/15, effective 4/8/15]
[Filed ARC 1991C (Notice ARC 1902C, IAB 3/4/15), IAB 5/13/15, effective 6/17/15]
[Filed ARC 2051C (Notice ARC 1916C, IAB 3/18/15), IAB 7/8/15, effective 8/12/15]
[Filed Emergency After Notice ARC 2332C (Notice ARC 2176C, IAB 9/30/15), IAB 12/23/15, effective 12/23/15]
[Filed ARC 2982C (Notice ARC 2818C, IAB 11/23/16), IAB 3/15/17, effective 4/19/17]
[Filed ARC 3986C (Notice ARC 3780C, IAB 5/9/18), IAB 8/29/18, effective 10/3/18]
[Filed ARC 4079C (Notice ARC 3867C, IAB 7/4/18), IAB 10/10/18, effective 11/14/18]
[Filed ARC 5946C (Notice ARC 5694C, IAB 6/16/21), IAB 10/6/21, effective 11/10/21]
[Filed ARC 6304C (Notice ARC 6181C, IAB 2/9/22), IAB 5/4/22, effective 6/8/22]