Iowa Admin. Code r. 283-29.1

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 283-29.1 - Scholarships to Iowa national guard members for master's degree studies at eligible Iowa institutions

In the event that the adjutant general authorizes the expenditure of unencumbered or unobligated funds from Iowa Code section 261.86(6) for the recruitment or retention of individuals by providing a scholarship award to an eligible member of the Iowa national guard, this chapter shall be used to administer authorized scholarships. The adjutant general shall select program recipients and authorize scholarship awards under this chapter. The decision of the adjutant general is final.

(1)Definitions. As used in this chapter:

"Eligible program of study" means a master's degree program in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related military occupational specialties or air force specialty codes that is in compliance with the federal Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program established under 38 United States Code § 3320.

"Federal active duty" means military duty performed pursuant to orders issued under Title 10, United States Code, other than for training.

"State-defined payment period" means one of six payment terms and corresponding deadlines as defined by the college student aid commission.

(2)Eligible guard member. A recipient must:

a. Be a resident of Iowa, as defined by the adjutant general of Iowa, and a member of an Iowa army or air national guard unit throughout each term for which the member receives benefits.

b. Have satisfactorily completed required guard training.

c. Have maintained satisfactory performance of guard duty.

d. Have applied to the adjutant general of Iowa for program eligibility by the established application deadline date(s) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any other application form required. The adjutant general shall accept an application from an eligible member of the Iowa national guard who was on federal active duty at the time of an application deadline if the application is received within 30 days after the eligible member returns to Iowa from federal active duty. The applicant will be considered for funding for the state-defined payment period in which the application was received and any future state-defined payment periods in that academic year.

e. Be pursuing an eligible program of study at an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents or an accredited private institution or eligible institution located in Iowa that meets all eligibility requirements set forth in Iowa Code section 261.9.

f. Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

g. Have been offered the scholarship incentive either:

(1) In the military entrance process, or

(2) Within the final year of the service member's initial contract obligation, if the individual signs a six-year extension.

(3)Selection criteria. The adjutant general will select eligible guard members to receive the scholarship benefit. Neither eligibility nor scholarship award determinations shall be based upon an eligible guard member's unit, the location at which drills are attended, or whether the eligible guard member is a member of the Iowa army or air national guard.

(4)Award limitations. Awards may be used for tuition and fees; room and board; books, supplies, transportation and personal expenses; dependent care; and disability-related expenses. Individual award amounts shall be determined by the adjutant general and shall neither be less than an amount equal to 50 percent of the resident tuition rate established for students attending the eligible program of study at regent institutions nor exceed the amount of the resident tuition rate established for students attending the eligible program of study at regent institutions.

(5)Restrictions. An eligible guard member may receive the scholarship award for no more than 36 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, of graduate degree study. All credit hours applicable to the eligible program of study in a term of enrollment in which a scholarship was received must be reported to the commission within the state-defined payment period.

(6)Verification and compliance.

a. The adjutant general will notify the commission of all eligible guard members. Changes in member eligibility will be sent to the commission within 30 days of the change.

b. The commission will notify eligible Iowa colleges and universities of guard member eligibility.

c. The commission will coordinate the collection and dissemination of eligibility and enrollment information received from the adjutant general and colleges and universities.

d. The institution's financial aid administrator will be responsible for completing academic progress enrollment verifications and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. Colleges and universities will report changes in student enrollment to the commission within 30 days after the last day of the enrollment period.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 283-29.1

Adopted by IAB October 6, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 7, effective 11/10/2021