As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Institution or institutions of higher education" means:

     (a) Any public university, college, community college, or technical college operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof; or

     (b) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level which is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board for the purposes of this section: PROVIDED, That any institution, branch, extension or facility operating within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of any such accrediting association, or a branch of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board for purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, and has an annual enrollment of at least seven hundred full-time equivalent students: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no institution of higher education shall be eligible to participate in a student financial aid program unless it agrees to and complies with program rules and regulations adopted pursuant to RCW 28B.92.150.

     (2) "Financial aid" means loans and/or grants to needy students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at institutions of higher education.

     (3) "Needy student" means a post high school student of an institution of higher education who demonstrates to the board the financial inability, either through the student's parents, family and/or personally, to meet the total cost of board, room, books, and tuition and incidental fees for any semester or quarter.

     (4) "Disadvantaged student" means a post high school student who by reason of adverse cultural, educational, environmental, experiential, familial or other circumstances is unable to qualify for enrollment as a full time student in an institution of higher education, who would otherwise qualify as a needy student, and who is attending an institution of higher education under an established program designed to qualify the student for enrollment as a full time student.

     (5) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

[2004 c 275 § 35; 2002 c 187 § 1; 1989 c 254 § 2; 1985 c 370 § 56; 1979 ex.s. c 235 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 132 § 16; 1969 ex.s. c 222 § 8. Formerly RCW 28B.10.802, 28.76.440.]

NOTES:

     Part headings not law -- 2004 c 275: See note following RCW 28B.76.030.

     Intent -- 1989 c 254: "It is the intent of the legislature that nothing in this act shall prevent or discourage an individual from making an effort to repay any state financial aid awarded during his or her collegiate career." [1989 c 254 § 1.]

     Effective date -- Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 132: See notes following RCW 28B.76.110.

Loan programs for mathematics and science teachers: RCW 28B.15.760 through 28B.15.766.