R622-1. Purpose: To provide procedures for administration of the Technical Education Scholarship Program, which will provide financial assistance to students pursuing technical education in high demand industries.

R622-2. References

2.1. Utah Code § 53B-1-101.5, Definitions

2.2 Utah Code § 53B-8-115, Technical Education Scholarships

2.3. Utah Code § 53B-16-101, Establishment of Institutional Roles and General Courses of Study

2.4. Board Policy R623, Free Application for Federal Student Aid

R622-3. Definitions.

3.1. “Eligible Institution” means a higher education institution with a technical education role as specified in Utah Code subsection 53B-16-101(1)(b)(iv).

3.2. “High Demand Program” means a technical education program that is offered by an eligible institution, leads to a certificate, and is designated by the board as such in accordance with subsection 9.

3.3. “Technical Education” is defined by Utah Code subsection 53B-1-101.5(8).

R622-4. General Scholarship Administration

4.1. Scholarship Award: an eligible institution may award a scholarship to an individual who: (a) is enrolled in, or intends to enroll in, a high demand program; and (b) completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid as required by Board Policy R623.

4.1.1. An eligible institution may award a scholarship for an amount of money up to the total cost of tuition, fees, and required textbooks for the high demand program in which the scholarship recipient is enrolled or intends to enroll.

4.1.2. An eligible institution may award a scholarship to a scholarship recipient for up to three academic years.

4.2. Application Procedures. An eligible institution shall develop a simple, accessible application process, and will set application deadlines that accommodate both full-time and half-time students.

4.3. Prioritization for Underserved Populations. An eligible institution shall establish criteria to identify underserved populations and to assess if an applicant is a member of an underserved population. In accordance with federal and state law, institutions shall prioritize scholarship awards for applicants who are members of an underserved population.

R622-5. Continuing Eligibility. After providing a recipient notice and an opportunity to respond, an institution may rescind a recipient’s scholarship if it determines the recipient has not met the following requirements:

5.1. Maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of the recipient’s high demand program in accordance with the institution’s policies; and

5.2. Being enrolled at least half-time as determined by the institution.

5.3. Deferment. A recipient may seek deferment of an award in accordance with applicable deferral policies at the eligible institution.

R622-6 Transfers. If a recipient who has maintained the continuing eligibility specified in section R622-5 transfers to the same high-demand program at another eligible institution, upon request of the recipient, the institution to which the recipient is transferring shall facilitate an award for the balance of the program.

R622-7 Award Funds.

7.1 Distribution of Award Funds to Institutions. The Board will establish an ongoing funding amount for each eligible institution, which shall be distributed prior to each fiscal year, and which may be adjusted based on information and data provided to the Board, subject to legislative appropriation.

7.2 Fund Restrictions: Technical education scholarship funds are restricted to expenditure for technical education scholarships and may not be moved or spent on any other program.

7.3 Unused/Carryover Funds: Each eligible institution is encouraged to annually utilize all technical education scholarship funds for qualified students. Surplus funds (e.g., fund balance or net assets) shall be retained in the scholarship fund and carried over from one fiscal year to the next.

R622-8 Reporting.

8.1. As specified by the Office of the Commissioner, each institution shall provide, as part of an annual institutional financial aid file submission by February 28 of each year, data pertaining to applications, awards, program enrollments, utilization, funding, and/or other technical education scholarship information for the most recently-completed fiscal year.

8.2. The Office of the Commissioner may, at any time, request additional documentation or data related to the Technical Education Scholarship Program and may review or formally audit an institution’s documentation and compliance with this policy.

R622-9 Designation of High Demand Programs: Every other year, after consulting with the Department of Workforce Services, the Board shall designate, as high demand programs, technical education programs at each eligible institution that prepare individuals to work in jobs in Utah that have: (a) high employer demand and high median hourly wages based on labor market data; or (b) significant industry importance.

Adopted May 17, 2019; amended March 25, 2022