As used in Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 71-1801 through 71-1810, and amendments thereto:

(a) “Community college” means any community college established in accordance withchapter 71 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.

(b) “Community college operating grant” means the operating grant provided for under subsection (a) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 71-620, and amendments thereto, prior to fiscal year 2012.

(c) (1) “Credit hour” means the basic unit of collegiate level instruction, as determined by the state board, in a subject or course offered by an eligible institution at a postsecondary level not higher than those programs or courses normally offered to freshmen and sophomores in four-year public institutions of postsecondary education, in a program that has been approved by the state board.

(2) The term “credit hour” does not include instruction in a program or course taken by a student enrolled for audit or not for postsecondary credit, or in any program or course not approved by the state board.

(3) The state board shall determine whether the programs and courses offered are at the level of freshmen and sophomore programs and courses offered in the state educational institutions and shall not approve for funding any program or course offered at a higher level.

(d) “Eligible institution” or “institution” means any community college, technical college or the institute of technology.

(e) “Institute of technology,” “institute” or “Washburn institute of technology” means the institute of technology at Washburn university.

(f) “Non-tiered course” means any postsecondary credit-bearing course offered by an eligible institution and identified by the state board as not meeting the definition of a tiered technical course. Non-tiered courses include courses that are generally designed to: (1) Contribute to academic knowledge or skills across multiple disciplines and occupations, such as communication, writing, mathematics, humanities, social or behavioral science and natural or physical science courses, some of which may be considered for transfer as general education credit toward a baccalaureate degree; (2) contribute to general knowledge or skills in areas such as critical thinking and reasoning, problem solving, use of technology and teamwork skills; (3) provide instruction in basic or foundational skills necessary for individuals to effectively participate in technical programs; (4) prepare individuals for certification or licensure exams or re-certifications and skill updates; or (5) allow individuals to explore various career opportunities. Seminars, workshops or other courses that are supplemental to the primary instruction required for the occupationally specific technical program shall be considered non-tiered courses, unless otherwise specified by the state board.

(g) “State board of regents” or “state board” means the state board of regents provided for in the constitution of this state and established by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-3202a, and amendments thereto.

(h) “Technical college” means a technical college designated pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-32,458, 74-32,460, 74-32,461, 74-32,462, 74-32,464 or 74-32,465, and amendments thereto.

(i) “Technical program” means any program of study comprised of a sequence of tiered technical courses and non-tiered courses, which program is identified by the state board as a technical program for funding purposes. Technical programs must: (1) Be designed to prepare individuals for gainful employment in current or emerging technical occupations requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree; (2) lead to technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate or an associate degree; and (3) be delivered by an eligible institution.

(j) “Tiered technical course” means a postsecondary credit-bearing course included in the sequence of courses comprising a technical program, which course is itself designed to provide competency-based applied instruction to prepare individuals with occupationally specific knowledge and skills necessary for employment, and which the state board has identified as a tiered technical course.

(k) “Tiered technical course credit hour” means a credit hour in a tiered technical course.

(l) “Washburn institute of technology operating grant” means any legislative appropriation designated for non-tiered courses delivered by the Washburn institute of technology.