The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. (1) Awarded--Offered to a student.
2. (2) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
3. (3) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education, the Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
4. (4) Cost of attendance--A Board-approved estimate of the expenses incurred by a typical financial aid student in attending a particular college. It includes direct educational costs (tuition, fees, books, and supplies) as well as indirect costs (room and board, transportation, and personal expenses).
5. (5) Degree or certificate program of four years or less--A baccalaureate degree or certificate program other than in architecture, engineering or any other program determined by the board to require four years or less to complete.
6. (6) Degree or certificate program of more than four years--A baccalaureate degree or certificate program in architecture, engineering or any other program determined by the board to require more than four years to complete.
7. (7) Enrolled on at least a three-quarter basis--Enrolled for the equivalent of nine semester credit hours in a regular semester.
8. (8) Entering undergraduate--A student enrolled in the first 30 semester credit hours or their equivalent, excluding hours taken during dual enrollment in high school and courses for which the student received credit through examination.
9. (9) Expected family contribution--The amount of discretionary income that should be available to a student from his or her resources and that of his or her family, as determined following the federal methodology.
10. (10) Financial need--The cost of attendance at a particular public or private institution of higher education less the expected family contribution. The cost of attendance and family contribution are to be determined in accordance with Board guidelines.
11. (11) Initial year award--The grant award made in the student's first year in the TEXAS Grant program, typically made up of a fall and spring disbursement.
12. (12) Institution of Higher Education or Institution--Any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit or other agency of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003(8).
13. (13) Period of enrollment--The term or terms within the current state fiscal year (September 1 - August 31) for which the student was enrolled in an approved institution and met all the eligibility requirements for an award through this program.
14. (14) Private or Independent Institution of Higher Education--Any college or university defined as a private or independent institution of higher education by Texas Education Code, §61.003(15).
15. (15) Program Officer--The individual named by each participating institution's chief executive officer to serve as agent for the Board. The Program Officer has primary responsibility for all ministerial acts required by the program, including maintenance of all records and preparation and submission of reports reflecting program transactions. Unless otherwise indicated by the administration, the director of student financial aid shall serve as Program Officer.
16. (16) Recommended or advanced high school programs--The curriculum specified in the Texas Education Code, §28.025, and the rules promulgated there under by the State Board of Education.
17. (17) Required fees--A mandatory fee (required by statute) or discretionary fee (authorized by statute, imposed by the governing board of an institution) that an institution charges to a student as a condition of enrollment at the institution or in a specific course.
18. (18) Resident of Texas--A resident of the State of Texas as determined in accordance with Chapter 21, Subchapter B of this title (relating to Determination of Resident Status and Waiver Programs for Certain Nonresident Persons). Nonresident students who are eligible to pay resident tuition rates are not residents of Texas.
19. (19) Tuition--Statutory tuition, designated and/or Board-authorized tuition.

Source Note:The provisions of this §22.226 adopted to be effective August 16, 2004, 29 TexReg 7988; amended to be effective November 28, 2005, 30 TexReg 7869; amended to be effective May 21, 2008, 33 TexReg 3952.