1. A vocational-technical tuition grant may be awarded to any resident of Iowa who is admitted and in attendance as a full-time or part-time student in a vocational-technical or career option program at a community college in the state, and who establishes financial need.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 261.17

  • Commission: means the college student aid commission. See Iowa Code 261.87
  • 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 an eligible institution. See Iowa Code 261.87
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Student: means a person who enrolls in or seeks to enroll in a course of instruction offered or conducted by a school. See Iowa Code 261B.2
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. All classes, including liberal arts classes, identified by the community college as required for completion of the student’s vocational-technical or career option program shall be considered a part of the student’s vocational-technical or career option program for the purpose of determining the student’s eligibility for a grant. Notwithstanding subsection 3, if a student is making satisfactory academic progress but the student cannot complete a vocational-technical or career option program in the time frame allowed for a student to receive a vocational-technical tuition grant as provided in subsection 3 because additional classes are required to complete the program, the student may continue to receive a vocational-technical tuition grant for not more than one additional enrollment period.
 3. a. A qualified full-time student may receive vocational-technical tuition grants for not more than four semesters or the trimester or quarter equivalent of two full years of study. A qualified part-time student enrolled in a course of study including at least three semester hours but fewer than twelve semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent may receive vocational-technical tuition grants for not more than eight semesters or the trimester or quarter equivalent of two full years of full-time study.

 b. However, if a student resumes study after at least a two-year absence, the student may again be eligible for the specified amount of time, except that the student shall not receive assistance for courses for which credit was previously received.
 4. a. The amount of a vocational-technical tuition grant to a qualified full-time student shall not exceed the lesser of one thousand two hundred dollars per year or the amount of the student’s established financial need.

 b. The amount of a vocational-technical tuition grant to a qualified part-time student enrolled in a course of study including at least three semester hours but fewer than twelve semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent shall be equal to the amount of a vocational-technical tuition grant that would be paid to a full-time student, except that the commission shall prorate the amount in a manner consistent with the federal Pell grant program proration.
 5. A vocational-technical tuition grant shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by the student for each year. Payments under the grant shall be allocated equally among the semesters or quarters of the year upon certification by the institution that the student is in full-time or part-time attendance in a vocational-technical or career option program, as defined under rules of the department of education. If the student discontinues attendance before the end of any term after receiving payment of the grant, the entire amount of any refund due that student, up to the amount of any payments made under the annual grant, shall be paid by the institution to the state.
 6. If a student receives financial aid under any other program, the full amount of that financial aid shall be considered part of the student’s financial resources available in determining the amount of the student’s financial need for that period.
 7. The commission shall administer this program and shall:

 a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by Iowa high schools and community colleges.
 b. Adopt rules for determining financial need, defining residence for the purposes of this section, processing and approving applications for grants and determining priority for grants.
 c. Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
 d. Make an annual report to the governor and general assembly.
 8. Each applicant, in accordance with the rules established by the commission, shall:

 a. Complete and file an application for a vocational-technical tuition grant.
 b. Be responsible for the submission of the financial information required for evaluation of the applicant’s need for a grant, on forms determined by the commission.
 c. Report promptly to the commission any information requested.
 d. Submit a new application and financial statement for reevaluation of the applicant’s eligibility to receive a second-year renewal of the grant.
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