Ind. Code ch. 21-18-6

Ind. Code ch. 21-18-6
in effect

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-1 Purpose

Note: This version of section effective until 7-1-2027. See also following version of this section, effective 7-1-2027. Sec. 1. The general purposes of the commission are the following: (1) Plan for and coordinate Indiana's state supported system of postsecondary education. (2) Review appropriation requests of state educational institutions. (3) Make recommendations to the governor, budget agency, or the general assembly concerning postsecondary education. (4) Perform other functions assigned by the governor or the general assembly. (5) Administer state financial aid programs under IC 21-18.5-4. (6) Provide staff and office space for the board for proprietary education established by IC 21-18.5-5-1. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-3.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259. Amended by P.L.234-2007, SEC.75; P.L.7-2011, SEC.15; P.L.107-2012, SEC.57; P.L.152-2018, SEC.14; P.L.213-2025, SEC.245.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-1 Purpose

Note: This version of section effective 7-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 7-1-2027. Sec. 1. The general purposes of the commission are the following: (1) Plan for and coordinate Indiana's state supported system of postsecondary education. (2) Review appropriation requests of state educational institutions. (3) Make recommendations to the governor, budget agency, or the general assembly concerning postsecondary education. (4) Perform other functions assigned by the governor or the general assembly. (5) Administer state financial aid programs under IC 21-18.5-4. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-3.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259. Amended by P.L.234-2007, SEC.75; P.L.7-2011, SEC.15; P.L.107-2012, SEC.57; P.L.152-2018, SEC.14; P.L.213-2025, SEC.245; P.L.152-2026, SEC.257.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-2 Designation as the agency to administer funds available for postsecondary education

Sec. 2. (a) If designated by the governor or the general assembly, the commission may serve as the agency to receive or administer funds available for postsecondary education: (1) programs; (2) projects; and (3) facilities; for any of the acts of the United States Congress if the acts of Congress require the state to designate an agency or commission. (b) This section does not provide for the designation of the commission by the governor as the recipient of funds provided by acts of the United States Congress if the general assembly designates another agency, board, or commission to receive the funds. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(8) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-2.5 Creation of form

Sec. 2.5. The commission shall create a form for use by a state educational institution to submit the information required by IC 21-39-8-13(a). As added by P.L.145-2022, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-3 Additional powers of the commission

Sec. 3. The commission may employ all powers properly incident to or connected with any of the purposes, powers, or duties under this article, including the power to adopt rules. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(11).] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-4 Management of state educational institutions

Sec. 4. The commission has no powers or authority relating to the management, operation, or financing of a state educational institution except as expressly set forth by law. All management, operations, and financing of state educational institutions remain exclusively vested in the board of trustees or other governing boards or bodies of the state educational institutions. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-11.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-5 Restrictions

Sec. 5. The commission does not have the authority to obligate any tax funds or other funds of the state except for appropriations made to the commission by the general assembly. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-10.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-6 FAFSA model notice; posting

Sec. 6. (a) As used in this section, "FAFSA" refers to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (b) The commission shall prepare a model notice for schools that includes the following information for parents and students: (1) A statement regarding the: (A) existence of; (B) availability of; and (C) state deadline to complete; the FAFSA. (2) A description that provides parents and students with an understanding of the process for and benefits of completing a FAFSA. (3) A statement regarding the most recent labor market trends, including the number and percentage of state minimum wage jobs that: (A) do not require education beyond high school; and (B) require additional education or training after obtaining a high school diploma. (4) A statement that Indiana offers guaranteed financial aid options for all high school graduates, regardless of family income, including information on Indiana's high value workforce ready credit-bearing grants described under IC 21-12-8. (5) A statement that eligibility for many merit based and need based scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities require the FAFSA to be completed by a certain date. (6) A statement that each student is required to complete and submit the FAFSA in the student's senior year in accordance with IC 20-26-5-42.2 unless: (A) a parent or guardian of the student or the student, if the student is an emancipated minor, submits a signed waiver certifying that the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it; or (B) the principal or school counselor of the student's high school waives the requirement due to the principal or school counselor being unable to reach the parents or guardians of the students by April 15 of the school year after at least two (2) reasonable attempts to contact the parents. This subdivision expires June 30, 2033. (7) A website link to the online FAFSA affirmation form described in section 6.5 of this chapter. (c) The commission shall annually update the model notice to amend any of the information in the model notice, as determined necessary by the commission. (d) The commission shall post the model notice prepared under subsection (b) on the commission's website. As added by P.L.287-2019, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.51-2022, SEC.3; P.L.11-2023, SEC.73; P.L.29-2023, SEC.3; P.L.9-2024, SEC.428.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-6.5 FAFSA online form; information

Sec. 6.5. (a) As used in this section, "FAFSA" refers to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (b) The commission shall do the following: (1) Develop an online form for an emancipated student or a parent of an unemancipated student to affirm: (A) that the student or parent received the model FAFSA notice and understands the purpose of, and process for, completing the FAFSA; (B) that the student or parent understands the requirements under IC 20-26-5-42.2; and (C) whether the student or parent would like to receive free assistance to complete the FAFSA. (2) Provide information to each school corporation and charter high school for the school corporation or charter high school to determine which students have completed: (A) the FAFSA; and (B) the FAFSA affirmation form developed by the commission under this section. (3) Upon request from a nonpublic school, provide the information described in subdivision (2). As added by P.L.9-2024, SEC.429.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-7 Data assistance

Sec. 7. The commission shall provide data and assistance to the department of education as necessary for the department of education to collect, maintain, aggregate, and publish the data required under IC 20-19-3-22.3. As added by P.L.202-2023, SEC.77.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-9.5 Annual report on utilization of physical facilities

Sec. 9.5. (a) As used in this section, "physical facilities" refers to space assigned to departments and organizational units of a state educational institution, including space assigned to departments and organizational units that have functions related to instruction, research, public service, academic support, student services, institutional support, operation and maintenance of physical facilities, auxiliary enterprises, independent operations or noninstitutional activities, hospitals, and residential activities. (b) Not later than July 1, 2026, and not later than each July 1 thereafter, the commission shall prepare and submit to the legislative council and to the budget committee a report that examines the utilization of physical facilities primarily used for instruction at each state educational institution. The report must include at least the: (1) number of classroom instructional spaces, instructional laboratory spaces, and combined classroom and instructional laboratory spaces in each physical facility; and (2) utilization of classroom instructional spaces, instructional laboratory spaces, and combined classroom and instructional laboratory spaces in each physical facility; as defined by the commission. (c) In compiling the information for the report required by this section, the commission shall consider: (1) characteristics of the student body of a state educational institution, such as serving part-time students, commuter students, and working adults; (2) the types of programs provided, and associated necessary instructional space, by a state educational institution; and (3) information about physical facilities that is collected by the commission in support of the commission's recommendations concerning capital as described in IC 21-18-9-1. (d) A state educational institution shall provide any information required by the commission that is necessary to complete the report required by this section in the form and manner required by the commission. (e) A report submitted to the legislative council under this section must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. (f) This section expires June 30, 2029. As added by P.L.213-2025, SEC.246. Amended by P.L.150-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 21-18-6-10 Report on accrediting agencies or associations

Sec. 10. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission shall do the following: (1) Evaluate accrediting agencies or associations that currently accredit: (A) state educational institutions; or (B) degree programs offered by state educational institutions. (2) Identify and evaluate innovative accrediting agencies or associations, including those not yet recognized by the United States Department of Education, that do not currently accredit state educational institutions. (3) Identify potential alternative agencies, associations, or methods to accredit degree programs offered by state educational institutions. (4) Provide a report in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 to the general assembly that includes: (A) the commission's findings under subdivisions (1) through (3); and (B) recommendations concerning accrediting agencies or associations identified in subdivisions (2) and (3) that may be best suited to serve as an accreditor for state educational institutions or degree programs. (b) This section expires July 1, 2027. As added by P.L.120-2026, SEC.8.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/21Fetched: 10/17/2026

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