As used in this chapter:

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

     (2) "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.

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

     (4) "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.

     (5) "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. "Needy student" also means an opportunity internship graduate as defined by RCW 28C.18.162 who enrolls in a postsecondary program of study as defined in RCW 28C.18.162 within one year of high school graduation.

     (6) "Placebound student" means a student who (a) is unable to complete a college program because of family or employment commitments, health concerns, monetary inability, or other similar factors; and (b) may be influenced by the receipt of an enhanced student financial aid award to complete a baccalaureate degree at an eligible institution.

[2009 c 238 § 7; 2009 c 215 § 5; 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:

     Reviser's note: (1) The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k).

     (2) This section was amended by 2009 c 215 § 5 and by 2009 c 238 § 7, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

     Findings -- Intent -- 2009 c 238: See note following RCW 28C.18.160.

     Findings -- Intent -- 2009 c 215: "The legislature finds that a myriad of financial aid programs exist for students at the federal, state, local, community, and institutional levels. These programs enable thousands of students across Washington to access all sectors of higher education, from apprenticeship programs to public and private four and two-year institutions of higher education. The legislature further finds that Washington state is a national leader in the distribution of financial aid to increase college access and affordability, ranking fourth in the nation in 2007 in terms of state student grant aid funding per capita.

     It is the intent of the legislature to promote and expand access to state financial aid programs by determining which programs provide the greatest value to the largest number of students, and by fully supporting those programs. Furthermore, it is the intent of the legislature to designate all existing financial aid an opportunity pathway, with the effect of providing students with a clear understanding of available resources to pay for postsecondary education, thereby increasing access to postsecondary education and meeting the needs of local business and industry.

     It is the intent of the legislature that the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the workforce training and education coordinating board, and institutions of higher education coordinate the development of outreach tools, such as a web-based portal for information on all opportunity pathway aid programs. The information should be communicated in a format and manner that provides an ease of understanding for students and their families and include other pertinent information on institutions of higher education, costs, and academic programs. It is also the intent of the legislature for institutions of higher education to incorporate this information in promotional materials to prospective and current students and their families." [2009 c 215 § 1.]

     Effective date -- 2009 c 215: "This act takes effect August 1, 2009." [2009 c 215 § 17.]

     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.