Section 281.25.21. Applicants for tuition assistance.

         25.21(1) Eligibility criteria. Eligibility for tuition assistance shall be based on financial need. Applicants may be found eligible for partial or total tuition assistance. Tuition assistance shall not be approved when the community college receiving the application determines that funding for an applicant’s participation in an eligible certificate program is available from any other public or private funding source.

            a.               Criteria to determine financial need shall include but not be limited to:

             (1)             The applicant’s family income for the six months prior to the date of application.

             (2)             The applicant’s family size.

             (3)             The applicant’s county of residence.

            b.               An applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter must have a demonstrated capacity to achieve the following outcomes:

             (1)             The ability to complete an eligible certificate program.

             (2)             The ability to enter a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree program for credit.

             (3)             The ability to gain full-time employment.

             (4)             The ability to maintain full-time employment over a period of time.

            c.               The community college receiving the application shall, after considering factors including but not limited to the following, approve an applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter only if the community college determines that applicant is likely to succeed in achieving the outcomes described in 25.16(2):

             (1)             Barriers that may prevent an applicant from completing the certificate program.

             (2)             Barriers that may prevent an applicant from gaining employment in an in-demand occupation.

         25.21(2) Additional provisions.

            a.               An applicant for tuition assistance under Division II of this chapter shall provide to the gap tuition assistance coordinator at the community college receiving the application documentation of all sources of income.

            b.               Only an applicant eligible to work in the United States shall be approved for tuition assistance under Division II of this chapter.

            c.               An application shall be valid for six months from the date of signature on the application.

            d.               An applicant shall not be approved for tuition assistance under Division II of this chapter for more than one eligible certificate program.

            e.               Eligibility for tuition assistance under Division II of this chapter shall not be construed to guarantee enrollment in any community college certificate program.

            f.                Eligibility for tuition assistance under Division II of this chapter shall be limited to persons earning incomes at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level as defined by the most recently revised poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

      g.        Applicants earning incomes between 150 percent and 250 percent, both percentages inclusive, of the federal poverty level as defined by the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the U.S.            Department of Health and Human Services shall be given first priority for tuition assistance under this chapter. Persons earning incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level shall be given secondary priority for tuition assistance under this chapter.

      h.        An applicant who is eligible for financial assistance pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.         L.         No.       105-220, or the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Pub.    L.         No. 113-128, shall be ineligible for tuition assistance under this chapter unless such funds budgeted for training assistance for adult, dislocated worker, or youth programs have been fully expended by a workforce region.

[ARC 1875C, IAB 2/18/15, effective 3/25/15; ARC 2309C, IAB 12/9/15, effective 1/13/16]