261B.2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Commission” means the college student aid commission created pursuant to section 261.1.

2. “Course of instruction” means a postsecondary educational program that a school offers through in-person instruction, distance delivery, correspondence study methods, or any combination thereof.

3. “Degree” means a postsecondary credential conferring on the recipient the title of associate, bachelor, master, or doctor, or an equivalent title, signifying educational attainment based on study which may be supplemented by experience or achievement testing. A postsecondary degree under this chapter shall not include an honorary degree or other unearned degree.

4. “Presence” means a location in Iowa at which a student participates in any structured activity related to a school’s distance education course of instruction, with the exception of proctored examinations. “Presence” also means an address, location, telephone number, or internet protocol address in Iowa from which a school conducts any aspect of its operations. For the purpose of a residential course of instruction offered on a school’s campus that is not located in Iowa, “presence” does not include:

a. Occasional, short-term activities conducted at a location in Iowa for the purpose of recruiting students for the school’s residential course of instruction.

b. A residency, practicum, internship, clinical, or similar experience that the school permits the student to participate in at a location in Iowa, provided that a person who provides instruction or supervision at the Iowa location is not compensated by the school.

5. “School” means an agency of the state or political subdivision of the state, individual, partnership, company, firm, society, trust, association, corporation, or any combination which meets any of the following criteria:

a. Is, owns, or operates a postsecondary educational institution.

b. Provides a postsecondary course of instruction leading to a degree.

c. Uses in its name the term “college”, “academy”, “institute”, or “university” or a similar term to imply that the person is primarily engaged in the education of students at the postsecondary level, and charges for its services.

6. “Student” means a person who enrolls in or seeks to enroll in a course of instruction offered or conducted by a school.

84 Acts, ch 1098, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1158, §5, 6; 2009 Acts, ch 12, §3, 4; 2012 Acts, ch 1077, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §60