As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) An “academic year” is July 1 to June 30, inclusive. The start date of a session shall determine the academic year in which it is included.

(b) “Award year” means one academic year, or the equivalent, of attendance at a qualifying institution.

(c) “Commission” means the Student Aid Commission.

(d) “Cost of attendance” means the student’s tuition and fees, books and supplies, living expenses, transportation expenses, and any other student expenses used to calculate a student’s financial need for purposes of federal Title IV student aid programs.

(e) “Enrollment status” means part-time status or full-time status of a student at a qualifying institution.

(f) “Expected family contribution” means a student’s expected family contribution calculated, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 69506, according to the federal methodology (as established by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. § 1070 et seq.)).

(g) “Financial need” means a student’s financial need calculated pursuant to the federal financial need methodology (as established by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. § 1070 et seq.)).

(h) “Graduate program” means a program of study leading to a graduate or professional degree, including, but not limited to, a teaching credential, the prerequisite for which is a baccalaureate degree or undergraduate degree.

(i) “Grant-eligible student” means a student who has applied for financial aid using the application established by the commission pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 69508.5, known as the Dream Act Application and has been previously awarded a Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship, or institutional need-based financial aid.

(j) “Instructional program” means a program of study that results in the award of a baccalaureate degree or undergraduate certificate, or undergraduate coursework in a program of study leading directly to a first professional degree for which no baccalaureate degree or undergraduate degree is awarded.

(k) “Participating institution” means any campus of the California State University or the University of California that elects to participate in the DREAM Program pursuant to the requirements specified for a qualifying institution as set forth in this article.

(l) “Satisfactory academic progress” means those criteria required by applicable federal standards published in Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. A participating institution may adopt regulations defining “satisfactory academic progress” in a manner that duplicates those federal standards, provided that, to the extent consistent with applicable federal standards, the regulations adopted by the participating institution provide that homelessness, as defined as a “homeless individual” within the meaning of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11302(a)), or as defined as a “homeless child or youth,” as defined in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)), is an extenuating circumstance for students who are otherwise unable to meet the requirements deemed to constitute “satisfactory academic progress” at that institution. The institution may consider this extenuating circumstance, in its discretion, to the extent consistent with federal standards, to alter or excuse compliance with those progress requirements.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 622, Sec. 1. (SB 633) Effective January 1, 2024.)