261.9 - DEFINITIONS. - Iowa Statutes

261.9 DEFINITIONS. When used in this division, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Accredited private institution" means an institution of higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately and not controlled or administered by any state agency or any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in paragraphs "a" and "b" and all of the criteria in paragraphs "d" through "g", except that institutions defined in paragraph "c" of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of paragraphs "a" and "b": a. Is accredited by the north central association of colleges and secondary schools accrediting agency based on their requirements. b. Is accredited by the north central association of colleges and secondary schools accrediting agency based on their requirements, is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and annually provides a matching aggregate amount of institutional financial aid equal to at least seventy-five percent of the amount received in a fiscal year by the institution's students for Iowa tuition grant assistance under this chapter. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, the matching aggregate amount of institutional financial aid shall increase by the percentage of increase each fiscal year of funds appropriated for Iowa tuition grants under section 261.25, subsection 1, to a maximum match of one hundred percent. The institution shall file annual reports with the commission prior to receipt of tuition grant moneys under this chapter. An institution whose income is not exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose students were eligible to receive Iowa tuition grant money in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, shall meet the match requirements of this paragraph no later than June 30, 2005. c. Is a specialized college that is accredited by the north central association of colleges and secondary schools accrediting agency, and which offers health professional programs that are affiliated with health care systems located in Iowa. d. Promotes equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts in the recruitment, appointment, assignment, and advancement of personnel at the institution. In carrying out this responsibility the institution shall do all of the following: (1) Designate a position as the affirmative action coordinator. (2) Adopt affirmative action standards. (3) Gather data necessary to maintain an ongoing assessment of affirmative action efforts. (4) Monitor accomplishments with respect to affirmative action remedies identified in affirmative action plans. (5) Conduct studies of preemployment and postemployment processes in order to evaluate employment practices and develop improved methods of dealing with all employment issues related to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. (6) Establish an equal employment committee to assist in addressing affirmative action needs, including recruitment. (7) Address equal opportunity and affirmative action training needs by: (a) Providing appropriate training for managers and supervisors. (b) Insuring that training is available for all staff members whose duties relate to personnel administration. (c) Investigating means for training in the area of career development. (8) Require development of equal employment opportunity reports, including the initiation of the processes necessary for the completion of reports required by the federal equal employment opportunity commission. (9) Address equal opportunity and affirmative action policies with respect to employee benefits and leaves of absence. (10) File annual reports with the college aid commission of activities under this paragraph. e. Adopts a policy that prohibits unlawful possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances by students and employees on property owned or leased by the institution or in conjunction with activities sponsored by the institution. Each institution shall provide information about the policy to all students and employees. The policy shall include a clear statement of sanctions for violation of the policy and information about available drug or alcohol counseling and rehabilitation programs. In carrying out this policy, an institution shall provide substance abuse prevention programs for students and employees. f. Develops and implements a written policy, which is disseminated during student registration or orientation, addressing the following four areas relating to sexual abuse: (1) Counseling. (2) Campus security. (3) Education, including prevention, protection, and the rights and duties of students and employees of the institution. (4) Facilitating the accurate and prompt reporting of sexual abuse to the duly constituted law enforcement authorities. g. Adopts a policy to offer not less than the following options to a student who is a member of the Iowa national guard or reserve forces of the United States and who is ordered to state military service or federal service or duty: (1) Withdraw from the student's entire registration and receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees. (2) Make arrangements with the student's instructors for course grades, or for incompletes that shall be completed by the student at a later date. If such arrangements are made, the student's registration shall remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees shall be assessed for the courses in full. (3) Make arrangements with only some of the student's instructors for grades, or for incompletes that shall be completed by the student at a later date. If such arrangements are made, the registration for those courses shall remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees shall be assessed for those courses. Any course for which arrangements cannot be made for grades or incompletes shall be considered dropped and the tuition and mandatory fees for the course refunded. 2. "Commission" means the college student aid commission. 3. "Financial need" means the difference between the student's financial resources available, including those available from the student's parents as determined by a completed parents' confidential statement, and the student's anticipated expenses while attending the accredited private institution. Financial need shall be redetermined at least annually. 4. "Full-time resident student" means an individual resident of Iowa who is enrolled at an accredited private institution in a course of study including at least twelve semester hours or the trimester equivalent of twelve semester hours. "Course of study" does not include correspondence courses. 5. "Part-time resident student" means an individual resident of Iowa who is enrolled at an accredited private institution in a course of study including at least three semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent of three semester hours. "Course of study" does not include correspondence courses. 6. "Qualified student" means a resident student who has established financial need and who is making satisfactory progress toward graduation. 7. "Tuition grant" means an award by the state of Iowa to a qualified student under this division.          Section History: Early Form [C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 261.9]          Section History: Recent Form 87 Acts, ch 233, § 455; 88 Acts, ch 1284, § 22--24; 89 Acts, ch 319, § 42; 90 Acts, ch 1253, § 122; 90 Acts, ch 1272, § 48; 91 Acts, ch 180, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1106, § 1, 4; 2000 Acts, ch 1095, §4--11; 2001 Acts, ch 24, §42; 2001 Acts, ch 39, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 179, §113, 114; 2004 Acts, ch 1086, §56; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §237, 238; 2005 Acts, ch 169, §25 Referred to in § 256.7, 261.5, 261.7, 261.18, 261.25, 261.71, 261.83, 261.86, 261.102, 261.111, 261B.10, 261E.2, 303.17