1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. “Adult learner” means a person who, following receipt of a high school diploma or high
school equivalency diploma and on or after attaining the age of twenty, enrolls on a full-time
or part-time basis in an eligible program at an eligible institution and maintains continuous
enrollment on a full-time or part-time basis in subsequent terms to receive additional awards.
A person’s age for purposes of this paragraph shall be calculated on July 1 prior to the year
of enrollment in an eligible institution.
b. “Approved state-recognized work-based learning program” means a structured
educational and training program that includes authentic worksite training and is approved
by the department according to a process established under rules adopted pursuant to
section 256.7, subsection 34.
c. “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
d. “Credential”meansapostsecondarycertificate, diploma, ordegree, conferringnomore
than an associate degree, awarded by an eligible institution and earned in a program of study
that leads to a high-demand job and is authorized for federal student aid under Tit. IV of the
federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
e. “Eligible institution” means a community college as defined in section 260C.2 or an
accredited private institution as defined in section 256.183, that meets all of the following
criteria:
(1) Applies to and is approved by the commission to participate in the future ready Iowa
skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program.
(2) Requires eligible students to complete and file application forms required by the
commission, apply for all available state and federal financial aid, apply to the eligible
institution to participate in the program, attend orientation in person or virtually, register for
classes with the assistance of an academic advisor, and participate in academic and career
advising sessions offered under the program.
(3) Facilitates, in collaboration with the commission on volunteer service created in
section 15H.2, the assignment of a volunteer mentor to each eligible student, based on
the eligible student’s interest. The volunteer mentor shall have successfully passed a
background investigation and a check of the national sex offender registry as required under
section 15H.10, subsection 2, and both the eligible student and the volunteer mentor shall
have entered into a written agreement as provided in section 15H.10, subsection 3.
(4) Facilitates connections through campus career centers and services to internships and
similar local, state, and federal programs.
(5) Markets the eligible institution’s future ready Iowa program of study and optional
incentives, which may include but not be limited to credit for military experience, on
the eligible institution’s internet site and to other relevant agencies and organizations as
recommended by the college student aid commission, the commission on volunteer service,
or the department of workforce development.
(6) Submits annually information and data regarding the eligible program operated
by the eligible institution, the students and volunteer mentors participating in the eligible
program, scholarship recipient eligible program completion results, and statistics on
employment outcomes for eligible program participants by industry, to the commission in
the manner required by the commission.
f. “Eligible program” means a program of study or an academic major jointly approved
by the commission and the department of workforce development, in consultation with an
eligibleinstitution,thatleadstoacredentialalignedwithahigh-demandjobdesignatedbythe
workforcedevelopmentboardoracommunitycollegepursuanttosection84A.1B,subsection
3. If the board or a community college removes a high-demand job from a list created under
section 84A.1B, subsection 3, an eligible student who received a scholarship for a program
based on that high-demand job shall continue to receive the scholarship until achieving a
postsecondary credential, up to an associate degree, as long as the student continues to meet
all other eligibility requirements.
g. “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Is any of the following:
(a) A graduate of an Iowa high school, or a person who completed private instruction
under chapter 299A, or a person who is a recipient of a high school equivalency diploma, and
who prior to becoming an adult learner enrolls full-time or part-time during the academic
year or summer semester in an eligible program at an eligible institution.
(b) A graduate of an Iowa high school or a person who completed private instruction
under chapter 299A, or a recipient of a high school equivalency diploma, and who prior
to becoming an adult learner, enters into full-time or part-time employment as part of an
approved state-recognized work-based learning program, and enrolls full-time or part-time
in an eligible program in an eligible institution.
(c) Anadultlearnerwhoisatleastagetwentyatthebeginningofthestatefiscalyear, who
has received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma, and who enrolls in
an eligible program in an eligible institution as a full-time or part-time student.
(2) Completes and submits application forms required by the commission, including the
free application for federal student aid; applies for all available state and federal financial
aid; attends orientation in person or virtually; registers for classes with the assistance of an
academic advisor; and participates in academic and career advising sessions required under
the eligible program.
(3) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution.
(4) Remains continuously enrolled unless granted a leave of absence by the eligible
institution based on criteria adopted by rule by the commission.
(5) Has a student aid index of less than or equal to twenty thousand dollars at the
time of initial application, as determined by the application forms submitted pursuant to
subparagraph (2), including the free application for federal student aid.
h. “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
i. “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less than twelve semester hours or the
equivalent.
2. Allowable activities. An eligible student may work with an assigned volunteer mentor
to help the student meet the requirements of this section or the requirements of an eligible
program, identify and participate in work-based learning opportunities with the approval of
the eligible institution, and make other career-related connections.
3. Scholarship limitations — requirements.
a. For an eligible student who is attending an eligible institution that is a community
college during the fall, spring, or summer term of enrollment, and is pursuing a
postsecondary credential up to an associate degree, the annual amount of a future ready
Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship, when combined with other state and federal
nonrepayable student aid, shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the tuition and any
mandatory institution-wide fees charged by the community college for the eligible program.
For an eligible student pursuing a postsecondary credential up to an associate degree at an
eligible institution that is an accredited private institution during the fall, spring, or summer
term of enrollment, the annual amount of a future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
scholarship, when combined with other state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall not
exceed an amount equivalent to the average tuition rate plus the average institution-wide
mandatory fees charged during the same term of enrollment by the eligible institutions that
are community colleges.
b. If an eligible student receives nonrepayable financial aid under any other state or
federal program, the full amount of that aid shall be considered part of the student’s available
financial resources before determining the amount of the student’s future ready Iowa skilled
workforcelast-dollarscholarshipforthesameperiodduringwhichthestudentreceivesother
state or federal financial aid. However, each eligible student enrolled full-time in an eligible
program shall receive at least five hundred dollars annually, and the amount received by each
eligible part-time student shall be the same amount prorated by the commission based on
the number of semester hours, or the equivalent, for which the part-time student is enrolled.
c. A full-time eligible student may receive a future ready Iowa skilled workforce
last-dollar scholarship for not more than five semesters, or the equivalent, or until the
eligible student earns the credential sought, up to an associate degree, under the program,
whichever occurs first. A part-time eligible student may receive the scholarship for not more
than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated basis, or until the eligible student
earns the credential sought, up to an associate degree, under the eligible program, whichever
occurs first. All classes identified by an eligible institution as required for completion of
the eligible program by the eligible student shall be considered required under the eligible
program for purposes of this section.
d. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship shall be awarded for
a two-year period, or prior to the expiration of a two-year period if the student earns the
credential or associate degree sought within such period. Scholarship payments shall be
allocated equally among the semesters, or the equivalent, and paid upon certification by the
eligible institution that the student meets the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “g”.
e. Ifascholarshiprecipientdiscontinuesattendancebeforetheendofanysemester, orthe
equivalent, after receiving scholarship payments, the entire amount of any refund due that
recipient, up to the full amount of all of the annual scholarship payments made, shall be paid
by the eligible institution to the commission. A scholarship recipient, who is not approved for
a leave of absence by the eligible institution, who discontinues attendance before the end of
a semester, or the equivalent, is ineligible to receive future scholarships under this section.
4. Commission’s duties and responsibilities. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the
general assembly for purposes of this section, the commission shall administer the future
readyIowaskilledworkforcelast-dollarscholarshipprogramandshalldoallofthefollowing:
a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by high schools and eligible
institutions.
b. Adopt rules under chapter 17A, in collaboration with the department of workforce
development, for administration of this section, including but not limited to establishing the
duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the program; defining residence and
satisfactory academic progress for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures for
scholarship application, processing, and approval. The rules shall provide for determining
the priority awarding of scholarships if funds available for purposes of this section are
insufficient to pay all eligible students. Priority shall be given to fully awarding each eligible
student approved for a scholarship rather than to prorating scholarship awards among all
eligible students.
c. Approve and award future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarships on an
annual basis.
d. In collaboration with the department of workforce development and the department
of education, compile an annual report, in an aggregate form to protect the confidentiality
of each eligible program’s participants, that includes the number of students receiving
scholarships under this section, the number of students receiving grants under section
256.229, the number of scholarship and grant recipients completing a program of study
or major annually and in the prescribed time frame under this section or section 256.229,
the number of eligible institutions participating in the scholarship and grant programs
established under this section or section 256.229, the number of written agreements entered
into by the volunteer mentor program under section 15H.10, statistics on employment
outcomes for future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship and future ready
Iowa skilled workforce grant program participants by industry, and other data as may be
deemed pertinent by the commission, the department of workforce development, or the
department of education. The commission shall submit the report to the governor and the
general assembly annually by January 15.
5. Fund created. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship fund
is created in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the commission.
All moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and made available to
the commission to be used for scholarships awarded as provided under this section.
Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not
revert to the general fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this section in
subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on
moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund and are appropriated to the college student
aid commission for purposes of administering any program described in this subchapter
VII, part 4.