283—15.4(256) Awarding of funds.

1. 15.4(1)  Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award.

2. 15.4(2)  Extent of award and maximum award. Eligible applicants may receive no more than the equivalent of eight part-time awards. The maximum award will be calculated as follows:

   1. a. 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.
   2. b. Awards for eligible students attending an accredited private institution as defined in Iowa Code section 256.183 shall not exceed the average tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees at Iowa community colleges after applying federal and state nonrepayable aid. The average resident tuition and mandatory institutionwide fees will be used under this provision.
   3. c. 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 will be prorated by dividing the number of hours for which the student is enrolled by the required number of hours for full-time enrollment and multiplying the quotient by the maximum award.
   4. d. 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.

3. 15.4(3)  Priority for awards.

   1. a. In the event that the funds available are insufficient to provide maximum awards to all eligible applicants through the entire state fiscal year, awards will first be authorized to eligible applicants enrolled in the fall and spring semester or the equivalent and then to eligible applicants enrolled in the summer semester or the equivalent.
   2. b. In the event that funds available are insufficient to provide the maximum award to all eligible applicants in a semester, the commission may prorate awards to students in that semester.

4. 15.4(4)  Awarding process.

   1. a. The commission will provide notice of the eligibility criteria and maximum award to participating eligible institutions annually to authorize awarding.
   2. b. The commission will designate eligible applicants for awards and provide eligible institutions with rosters of designated eligible applicants.
   3. c. Eligible institutions will notify recipients of the awards, clearly indicating the award amount and the state program from which funding is being provided and stating that the award is contingent on the availability of state funds.
   4. d. Eligible institutions will apply awards directly to student accounts.
   5. e. Eligible institutions will provide information about eligible applicants to the commission in a format specified by the commission. Eligible institutions will make necessary changes to awards due to a change in enrollment, program of study, and financial situation and promptly report those changes to the commission.
   6. f. Eligible institutions are responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. Eligible institutions will report changes in student eligibility to the commission.
   7. g. The commission will periodically investigate and review compliance of eligible institutions participating in this program with the criteria established in Iowa Code section 256.228 and this rule.

[ARC 9583C, IAB 10/1/25, effective 11/5/25]