IOWA
Department of Education
Ryan M. Wise, Director Kim Reynolds, Governor
Adam Gregg, Lt. Governor
Creating excellence in education through leadership and service
Grimes State Office Building | 400 E. 14th St. | Des Moines, IA 50319-0146December 26, 2019 Effective date: August 26, 2019
TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL zennerl64@uiu.edu
Ms. Lindsay Zenner, Veterans Benefits Specialist Upper Iowa University
605 Washington Street P.O. Box 1857 Fayette, IA 52142
Subject: Approval letter, facility code 31810715 (Upper Iowa University-Cedar Rapids, 700 Bell Drive SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404)
Dear Ms. Zenner:
In accordance with 38 CFR 21.4258, this notice advises you that we have transmitted the following actions(s) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We have forwarded copies of this letter and supporting documents to the VA for appropriate action.
On December 20, 2019, the Iowa State Approving Agency received all documentation necessary to complete this action. Someone from our office will notify you if additional information is required.
This letter supersedes our approval dated May 29, 2009, and is based on the following documents that were submitted to our office:
• Upper Iowa University Academic Catalog, 2019-2020 (revised 12/06/2019). • Upper Iowa University Student Handbook, 2019-20.
• Catalog approval worksheet.
• VA Form 20-8206, “Statement of Assurance of Compliance with Equal Opportunity Laws”. • VA Form 22-1919, “Conflicting Interests Certification for Proprietary Schools”.
• Evidence of accreditation.
This approval is granted for the enrollment of veterans, military, and other eligible persons under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 30 (2006), 38 U.S.C. § 32 (2006), 38 U.S.C. § 33 (2006), 38 U.S.C. § 35 (2006), 38 U.S.C. § 36 (2006), 10 U.S.C. § 1606 (2006), and 10 U.S.C. § 1607 (2006).
This approval is effective on the date shown above. Any program not listed in this notice is not approved under Titles 10 and 38, United States Code.
Accreditation; License
All of Upper Iowa University’s campuses in Iowa are accredited by the following agencies: • Higher Learning Commission.
• Iowa Department of Education. • Iowa Board of Nursing.
Extensions
Upper Iowa University does not have any extension campuses as defined by c8 CFR 21.4266. Approvals
Purpose of Programs
The Cedar Rapids campus of Upper Iowa University offers the following educational awards: • Associate of Arts.
• Baccalaureate. • Master’s degrees. Criteria
A review of the 2019-2020 academic catalog and student handbook found information about the following policies: • Attendance standards, academic catalog, pp. 28, 40-41, 42, 45-46, 147-148.
• Institutional refund policies, academic catalog, pp. 18, 26, 40, 42, 149-150. • Standards of progress, academic catalog, pp. 11-13.
• Established standards of conduct, student handbook, pp. 20-74. • Prior credit, academic catalog, pp. 22-24, 33-35, 146-147.
Although documents submitted to our office on or about June 19, 2019, affirm compliance with Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (“Section 103”), a corresponding policy is not published in either the catalog or student handbook.
The catalog and supporting documents meet approval criteria. Academic Calendar
The academic calendar on pages 4 and 5 of the academic catalog is approved as published. Policies
Academic and administrative policies, including program-specific policies, are approved as published in the academic catalog and student handbook.
Programs
• Exhibit A lists modifications that have occurred since the previous approval.
• Exhibit B lists accredited undergraduate programs that are approved under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 3672, 38 U.S.C. § 3675, and 38 CFR 21.2453.
o Approval is not required for minors, concentrations, and other subordinate academic disciplines; therefore, they are omitted.
o Teaching endorsements or certificates when taken as part of a degree program are approved. • Exhibit C lists accredited graduate programs that are approved under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 3672, 38
U.S.C. § 3675, and 38 CFR 21.2453. Approval is not required for subordinate academic disciplines; therefore, they are omitted.
Conditions for Approval
Neither the academic catalog nor student handbook describes a policy pertaining to Section 103. As a condition for future approvals, a policy that addresses Section 103 must be published in the next academic catalog or student handbook or other related document. Please notify our office if a policy is adopted before the next catalog is published so we can amend this approval. Enclosed is sample policy that school officials may reference while they create and adopt a policy.
Additional Provision: Independent study requirements.
Courses may be certified for independent study if your school is accredited and conforms to the criteria outlined in 38 CFR 21.4267(b). These courses must be listed in your college catalog, are an integral part of the student's program and credit earned apply to the students degree objective. Credit hours must be properly identified on the student's Enrollment Certification VA Form 22-1999. Your school must be able to document that these courses meet the requirements of the law.
Next Review for Approval
Upper Iowa University’s next application for approval will be due February 8, 2021. Please contact our office if you have any questions or if you wish to have us amend this approval.
We appreciate your continuing commitment to provide educational programs for veterans and other eligible students under the GI Bill.
Sincerely,
Monte Burroughs, Consultant Veterans and Military Education 515-725-2865
vetsed@iowa.gov Encl.
Exhibit A: Changes since the previous approval. • New programs. o AA - Criminal Justice. o AA - General Business. o AA - Liberal Arts. o BS - Communication Studies. o BS - Financial Management. o BA - Graphic Design. o BS - Information Systems. o BS - Information Technology. o BA - Liberal Arts. o BA - Sociology. o BS - Software Engineering.
o MBA - Master of Business Administration. • Name changes.
o Old: Finance.
o New: Financial Management.
• Discontinued program: Interdisciplinary Studies. # # #
Exhibit B: Approved accredited undergraduate programs.
Award – Program Page
AA - Criminal Justice 49 AA - General Business 49 AA - Liberal Arts 49 AA - Psychology 49 BA - Graphic Design 73 BA - Liberal Arts 63 BA - Sociology 69 BS - Accounting 70 BS - Business Administration 71 BS - Communication Studies 58 BS - Criminal Justice 56
BS - Emergency & Disaster Management 65
BS - Financial Management 71
BS - Health Services Administration 74
BS - Human Resource Management 72
BS - Human Services 63 BS - Information Systems 74 BS - Information Technology 75 BS - Management 72 BS - Marketing 72 BS - Psychology 64 BS - Public Administration 66 BS - Social Science 67 BS - Software Engineering 75
Note: Associate of Arts degrees require 60 credits. Baccalaureate degrees require 120 credits.
Exhibit C: Approved accredited graduate programs.
MBA - Master of Business Administration, catalog page 152. # # #
Sample Policy
Section 103B of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (PL 115-407)
******************** Sample policy starts here ********************
Section 103B of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (PL 115-407)
For purposes of this policy, a covered individual is any individual who is entitled to VA educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.
Name of educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual's inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under Chapter 31 or 33.
Name of educational institution may require a covered individual to take the following additional actions: • Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance not later than the first day of a
course of education for which the individual has indicated the individual wishes to use the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance.
• Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
• Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.
******************** Sample policy ends here ********************
