Questions and Answers

This document provides questions and answers regarding legislative changes made during the last session of the Tennessee General Assembly.  It is meant to provide guidance for the financial aid community.  Rule changes for the HOPE Lottery Scholarship programs are being promulgated and will be ratified by the TSAC Board on July 23. 

1)  What are the new guidelines regarding retention of the HOPE Lottery Scholarship? Answer

2)  Which previously ineligible students will become eligible for fall 2008? Answer

3)  Will ineligible students who have a qualifying GPA and exceeded a benchmark (e.g. 53 hours with a 2.8 GPA in fall 07) become immediately eligible for fall 2008? Answer

4)  If a student receives the award with a 2.75 GPA at the 48 hour benchmark, is that considered a regain? Answer

5)  Can students regain once through the traditional method and once through the provisional method? Answer

6)  How will students who exceeded the 120 hour limitation be handled? Answer

7)  Will there be a retroactive award for students who lost the award when they exceeded the 120 hour limitation? Answer

8)  What are the new terminating events for a HOPE Lottery Scholarship for traditional students? Answer

9)  If under the new rules, a GAMS (Merit) recipient would not have lost eligibility, does the student maintain eligibility for Merit even if his GPA is in the 2.75-to-2.99 range?  For example: Lost eligibility at 48 hours with a 2.9 GPA.  After 72 hours, has a 2.95 with a 3.1 semester GPA for the most recent semester.  Under the old rules, he lost eligibility and even if he’d regained he wouldn’t get the Merit back.  Technically, though, he wouldn’t really have lost it according to the new rules.  Does he get Merit now, since he shouldn’t really have lost it? Answer

10)  A student lost eligibility previously.  He earned a 2.75 at the 96 benchmark at the end of Fall 2007, but his semester GPA at that point was below the 3.0 semester GPA required.  The next semester (Spring 2008) he had a 3.0+ GPA, but he won’t reach the benchmark until after Fall 2008.  Can he regain between benchmarks, if he had the 2.75 cum GPA but not the semester GPA at the most recent benchmark?  Or will he have to wait until after the 120-hour point to regain? Answer

11)  If a student hits the 72 hour benchmark at the end of a semester with only a part-time load and he has a 2.88 cumulative GPA but a term GPA of 3.0, does that make him eligible for HOPE for the next term? Answer

12)  If a student hits the 72 hour benchmark at the end of the spring term with a 2.88 cumulative GPA but a term GPA of 3.0 then he receives HOPE for the following fall term. Does he have to enroll in 12 hours and make a term GPA of 3.0 for fall term to be eligible for the next spring term? Answer

13)  If a student has a cumulative 2.75 GPA at the end of 72 hours, but a 3.0 term GPA,  does he continue to receive HOPE regardless of whether or not his cumulative GPA reaches 3.0? (If he continues to be full-time and make a 3.0 each term – is he still eligible at 96 hours if his cumulative isn’t 3.0?) Answer

14)  If students achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA at any time, they will be reviewed at the next benchmark.  So, if they end with a 3.0 cumulative between benchmarks and have a couple of semesters before they hit their next benchmark, are we still to monitor for the 2.75 cumulative/3.0 term or just switch back to monitoring at the next benchmark? Answer

15)  If a student covered by the provisional method enrolls below full-time, will this end their eligibility or would he simply not receive funds for that semester of part-time enrollment but remain eligible for the next semester at full-time enrollment with a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 2.99? Would a minimum 3.0 semester GPA be required when registered below full-time? Answer

16)  How will the retroactive part of this be handled?  Will students be eligible for spring 08 HOPE if they lost it at the end of fall 2007 because of number of hours?  Do we have to notify TSAC about who would be eligible? Answer

17)  What are the terminating events for nontraditional students? Answer

18) Can nontraditional students be prior HOPE recipients? Answer

19)  Which nontraditional students are eligible for 2008-09? Answer

20)  If a student originally was a traditional Lottery student and they stopped attending and started back to school at age 25 and qualify for the non-traditional status, when does their 5 year rule start?  Do we have to include the time that they were in school previously? Answer

21) Does the new “not enrolled for at least two (2) years” only apply to students returning to school in fall 2008?  e.g. If a student was enrolled 1998-2000, then came back to school fall 2007 and has met all other requirements, are they eligible? Answer

22)  Can a non-traditional student be awarded the HOPE for the first time at the 72/96/120 hour benchmark based on the semester 3.0 or must the cumulative be a 3.0 GPA? Answer

23)  If they are in the group that takes the two-year hiatus, do any credits hours and GPA from those prior years count or do they start fresh with the 12 attempted hours to get on the scholarship? Answer

24)  Should we re-evaluate any potential non-traditional students that were previously marked as ineligible due to previous attendance? Answer

25)  A student previously receiving the HOPE Lottery Scholarship could receive it as a non-traditional student. Which students can do this? Only those students that lost the award due to non-continuous enrollment? Answer

26)  If a traditional student has a leave of absence, does their five-year rule extend for that period of time? Answer

27)  If a traditional or non-traditional student who is in the military has leave, how does the five-year rule work? Answer

28)  Who is eligible for the Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship? Answer

29)  What is the award amount for the Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship? Answer

30)  What are the changes to the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant? Answer

31)  Who will identify the recipients of the Foster Child Tuition Grant? Answer

32)  Who will monitor applications and awards for the Helping Heroes Grant?  Will the limited number of awards be based upon when the application is received? Answer

33)  Who is eligible for the Helping Heroes Grant? Answer

34)  How will the Helping Heroes program be administered? Answer

35)  How long can a Helping Heroes recipient receive the award? Answer

36)  Will prior-year recipients of the Helping Heroes Grant receive preference when they reapply in subsequent years? Answer

Traditional Students

1)  What are the new guidelines regarding retention of the HOPE Lottery Scholarship?

The new guidelines lower the cumulative GPA requirement at the 48 hour benchmark from 3.0 to 2.75.  Additionally, students at the 72 hour benchmark and beyond will be able to retain the award in one of two ways:

·         Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (traditional method)

·         Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 and achieve a semester GPA of 3.0 or above in the term immediately preceding the semester for which the scholarship is to be awarded (provisional method)

Students who retain on the traditional method will be reviewed at each benchmark.  Students who retain the award through the provisional method will be reviewed on a semester-by-semester basis.  These students must also be enrolled full time each term.  This applies to both traditional and nontraditional students. 

2)  Which previously ineligible students will become eligible for fall 2008?

·         Students who exceeded the 48 hour benchmark in spring 08 with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 – eligible until the next benchmark

·         Students who exceeded the 72 hour benchmark in spring 08 with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a spring 08 semester GPA of 3.0 or above – eligible until the next semester

·         Students who exceeded the 96 hour benchmark in spring 08 with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a spring 08 semester GPA of 3.0 or above – eligible until the next semester

·         Students who exceeded the 120 hour benchmark in spring 08 with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a spring 08 semester GPA of 3.0 or above – eligible until the next semester (not have earned baccalaureate degree)

·         Students who exceeded the 144 hour benchmark in spring 08 with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a spring 08 semester GPA of 3.0 or above – eligible until the next semester (not have earned a baccalaureate degree)

3)  Will ineligible students who have a qualifying GPA and exceeded a benchmark (e.g. 53 hours with a 2.8 GPA in fall 07) become immediately eligible for fall 2008?

No.  The language in the bill specifically states that the law shall apply to students seeking to continue or regain eligibility who reach benchmarks for reviewing eligibility pursuant to § 49-4-911.  In summary, students are not reviewed under the new guidelines until they reach a benchmark.  For students over 120 hours, see question 6. 

4)  If a student receives the award with a 2.75 GPA at the 48 hour benchmark, is that considered a regain?

No.  If the student meets the new continuation requirements at a benchmark, he/she will not have used their one-time regain provision.  Meeting the requirements of the new law does not constitute a regain. 

5)  Can students regain once through the traditional method and once through the provisional method? 

No.  Students may regain the award one time through either the traditional method or the provisional method.  Students who regain and lose the scholarship a second time may not regain the scholarship. 

6)  How will students who exceeded the 120 hour limitation be handled?

Students who exceeded the 120 hour benchmark at any time prior to the effective date of the act will be eligible in 2008-09 if they meet the following requirements:

·         Have been continuously enrolled since they lost the award

·         Have not received a baccalaureate degree

·         Will not exceed five (5) years from date of initial enrollment at the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year

·         Meet all academic and nonacademic requirements

·         Enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution for 2008-09

·         Meet the new continuation requirements in § 49-4-911

·         Reapply for the scholarship

7)  Will there be a retroactive award for students who lost the award when they exceeded the 120 hour limitation?

No.  There will be no retroactive awards made for students who exceeded the 120 hour limitation. 

8)  What are the new terminating events for a HOPE Lottery Scholarship for traditional students?

Eligibility for a HOPE Lottery Scholarship terminates when:

·         The student has earned a baccalaureate degree or

·         Five (5) years have passed from the date of initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution. 

9)  If under the new rules, a GAMS (Merit) recipient would not have lost eligibility, does the student maintain eligibility for Merit even if his GPA is in the 2.75-to-2.99 range?  For example: Lost eligibility at 48 hours with a 2.9 GPA.  After 72 hours, has a 2.95 with a 3.1 semester GPA for the most recent semester.  Under the old rules, he lost eligibility and even if he’d regained he wouldn’t get the Merit back.  Technically, though, he wouldn’t really have lost it according to the new rules.  Does he get Merit now, since he shouldn’t really have lost it?

A student whose award is restored under the new legislation will not be considered to have exercised their one time regain provision.  Therefore, both the HOPE award and the GAMS supplement should be restored. 

10)  A student lost eligibility previously.  He earned a 2.75 at the 96 benchmark at the end of Fall 2007, but his semester GPA at that point was below the 3.0 semester GPA required.  The next semester (Spring 2008) he had a 3.0+ GPA, but he won’t reach the benchmark until after Fall 2008.  Can he regain between benchmarks, if he had the 2.75 cum GPA but not the semester GPA at the most recent benchmark?  Or will he have to wait until after the 120-hour point to regain?

Students cannot regain the award between benchmarks; they can only retain the award between benchmarks.  Therefore, this student will have to wait until the 120 hour benchmark to regain the award or any following benchmark at multiples of 24 hours. 

11)  If a student hits the 72 hour benchmark at the end of a semester with only a part-time load and he has a 2.88 cumulative GPA but a term GPA of 3.0, does that make him eligible for HOPE for the next term?

Yes.  If he reaches the 72 hour benchmark and has a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 and a semester GPA of at least 3.0 then he is eligible via the provisional method.  However, during his eligibility on the provisional method, he must remain enrolled full time. 

12)  If a student hits the 72 hour benchmark at the end of the spring term with a 2.88 cumulative GPA but a term GPA of 3.0 then he receives HOPE for the following fall term. Does he have to enroll in 12 hours and make a term GPA of 3.0 for fall term to be eligible for the next spring term?

Yes.  A student can enter into provisional status based upon progress in a semester in which he met a benchmark for evaluation and was enrolled either full time or part time.  However, during his eligibility on the provisional method, he must remain enrolled full time.   

13)  If a student has a cumulative 2.75 GPA at the end of 72 hours, but a 3.0 term GPA,  does he continue to receive HOPE regardless of whether or not his cumulative GPA reaches 3.0? (If he continues to be full-time and make a 3.0 each term – is he still eligible at 96 hours if his cumulative isn’t 3.0?) 

Yes.  The student in this scenario can remain eligible without ever earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.  Students on the provisional method must remain enrolled full time and keep their cumulative GPA between 2.75-2.99 and their semester GPA must be at least 3.0 in the preceding semester they will receive the award.  Students on the provisional method should be reviewed at the end of each semester for continuing eligibility. 

14)  If students achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA at any time, they will be reviewed at the next benchmark.  So, if they end with a 3.0 cumulative between benchmarks and have a couple of semesters before they hit their next benchmark, are we still to monitor for the 2.75 cumulative/3.0 term or just switch back to monitoring at the next benchmark?

Students on the provisional method should be reviewed at the end of each semester for continuing eligibility.  Students on the provisional method must remain enrolled full time and keep their cumulative GPA between 2.75-2.99 and their semester GPA must be at least 3.0 in the preceding semester they will receive the award.  If a student on the provisional method achieves a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in any given semester then his eligibility will not be reviewed until the next benchmark. 

15)  If a student covered by the provisional method enrolls below full-time, will this end their eligibility or would he simply not receive funds for that semester of part-time enrollment but remain eligible for the next semester at full-time enrollment with a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 2.99? Would a minimum 3.0 semester GPA be required when registered below full-time?

A student on the provisional method must maintain full-time enrollment to remain eligible.  If the student is not enrolled full time, he will lose eligibility and must regain the award at a later benchmark.  If the student has regained the award and loses the award again because of not maintaining full-time enrollment, he is permanently ineligible. 

16)  How will the retroactive part of this be handled?  Will students be eligible for spring 08 HOPE if they lost it at the end of fall 2007 because of number of hours?  Do we have to notify TSAC about who would be eligible?

No.  There will be no retroactive awards made due to students exceeding the 120 hour limitation.  These students will become eligible if they meet the requirements in Section 7. 

Nontraditional students

17)  What are the terminating events for nontraditional students?

·         student has earned a baccalaureate degree, or

·         the sum of the number of years of receiving a HOPE Scholarship as a traditional and nontraditional student equals five (5) years, or

·         five (5) years have passed since the student enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution as a nontraditional student

18) Can nontraditional students be prior HOPE recipients?

Yes.  Nontraditional students can be prior HOPE recipients. 

19)  Which nontraditional students are eligible for 2008-09 

All students who could be eligible for the nontraditional award should be evaluated immediately based upon the most recent semester in which they passed a benchmark. 

Below are the nontraditional students who will become eligible in 2008-09:

·         Students who exceeded the 12 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75

·         Students who exceeded the 24 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75

·         Students who exceeded the 48 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75

·         Students who exceeded the 72 hour benchmark with a GPA of 3.0 or above

·         Students who exceeded the 72 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a preceding semester GPA of 3.0 or above

·         Students who exceeded the 96 hour benchmark with a GPA of 3.0 or above

·         Students who exceeded the 96 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a preceding semester GPA of 3.0 or above

·         Students who exceeded the 120 hour benchmark with a GPA of 3.0 or above

·         Students who exceeded the 120 hour benchmark with a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a preceding semester GPA of 3.0 or above

Additionally, nontraditional students now have a sum of five years as a HOPE recipient.  This includes any years for which the student may have received the award as a traditional student.     

20)  If a student originally was a traditional Lottery student and they stopped attending and started back to school at age 25 and qualify for the non-traditional status, when does their 5 year rule start?  Do we have to include the time that they were in school previously?

The five-year rule that applies to previously HOPE-eligible recipients is as follows:  the sum of the number of years they received the award as a traditional student and the number of years they receive the award as a traditional student shall equal five (5) years. 

21) Does the new “not enrolled for at least two (2) years” only apply to students returning to school in fall 2008?  e.g. If a student was enrolled 1998-2000, then came back to school fall 2007 and has met all other requirements, are they eligible?

Nontraditional students who are in the pipeline will be eligible if they met the eligibility criteria at the last benchmark they reached. 

22)  Can a non-traditional student be awarded the HOPE for the first time at the 72/96/120 hour benchmark based on the semester 3.0 or must the cumulative be a 3.0 GPA?

Yes.  Nontraditional students can receive the award for the first time at the 72, 96, or 120 hour benchmark if they have a cumulative GPA between 2.75-2.99 and a semester GPA of 3.0; or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. 

23)  If they are in the group that takes the two-year hiatus, do any credits hours and GPA from those prior years count or do they start fresh with the 12 attempted hours to get on the scholarship?

Only the coursework and grades attempted as a nontraditional student shall count toward the benchmarks and the calculation of the cumulative GPA.  However, if the student is a prior HOPE recipient then the coursework and grades shall count. 

24)  Should we re-evaluate any potential non-traditional students that were previously marked as ineligible due to previous attendance?

Yes.  Any nontraditional students who are enrolled at your institution and meet the continuation requirements should be re-evaluated. 

25)  A student previously receiving the HOPE Lottery Scholarship could receive it as a non-traditional student. Which students can do this? Only those students that lost the award due to non-continuous enrollment?

Any student who meets the nontraditional requirements shall be eligible for the HOPE Lottery Scholarship regardless of the reason they lost the award as a traditional student.   

26)  If a traditional student has a leave of absence, does their five-year rule extend for that period of time? 

Yes.  If the student has a personal or medical leave of absence approved by the institution or TSAC then the five-year limitation is extended. 

27)  If a traditional or non-traditional student who is in the military has leave, how does the five-year rule work?

Members of the military who are called to active duty or deployed overseas will have their five-year limitation extended if the leave of absence is approved by the institution or TSAC. 

Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship

28)  Who is eligible for the Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship?

To be eligible for the Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship, a student shall:

·         Not be ineligible under § 49-4-904

·         Be classified as an in-state student by TBR or UT on the date of application

·         Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution that:

§  Has a school of medicine providing a program of study accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, or its successor, as a full-time student seeking the degree doctor of medicine (M.D.)

§  Has a school of medicine providing a program of study accredited by the Liaison Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathy Association, or its successor, as a full-time student seeking the degree doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.)

§  Offers a physician assistant program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education, or its successor, as a full-time student seeking to become a physician assistant

§  Offers a nurse practitioner program that is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., or its successor, or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or its successor, as a full-time student seeking to become a nurse practitioner

§  Has a school of dentistry providing a program of study accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its successor, as a full-time student seeking the degree doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) or the degree doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.)

·         Maintain satisfactory progress in the program of study in which the student is enrolled

·         Agree to practice medicine/dentistry in a health resource shortage area as determined by the Department of Health, Office of Rural Health

·         Not accept other financial assistance that carries with it a service obligation after graduation except for a service obligation in the United States armed forces or the national guard

·         Sign a promissory note that stipulates cash repayment if the service is not fulfilled

29)  What is the award amount for the Tennessee Rural Health Scholarship?

The award amount is $12,000 or the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, books, and equipment for the program of study, whichever is less. 

HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant

30)  What are the changes to the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant? 

Gift aid is now defined to not include loans and work-study.  The amount of the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant is the cost of attendance less any gift aid and cannot exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the institution.  If the student attends an eligible independent institution then the award amount shall not exceed the statewide average public tuition and mandatory fee rate for the institution type (two-year or four-year). 

31)  Who will identify the recipients of the Foster Child Tuition Grant?

TSAC will continue to work with the Department of Children’s Services and to identify the recipients of the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant. 

Helping Heroes Grant

32)  Who will monitor applications and awards for the Helping Heroes Grant?  Will the limited number of awards be based upon when the application is received?

TSAC will monitor the applications and make awards for the Helping Heroes Grant.  The awards will be made on a first come, first-served basis.  The Helping Heroes Grant application is downloadable from TSAC’s website. 

33)  Who is eligible for the Helping Heroes Grant?

Former members of the armed forces, reserve, or National Guard who were called into active duty and have met the following criteria:

·         Received an honorable discharge

·         Successfully complete a semester with at least six (6) semester hours with a non-failing grade for each course

·         Have been a Tennessee resident for one (1) year immediately preceding the date of application

·         Not be ineligible under § 49-4-904

·         Have been awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (on or after September 11, 2001)

·         Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree

·         Have not received a baccalaureate degree

·         Make application for the grant

34)  How will the Helping Heroes program be administered?

TSAC has issued a press release throughout the state to notify the general public about the program and we have posted the application on www.tn.gov/collegepays.  The funds will be awarded on a first come, first-served basis to 375 eligible students.  Students will receive $1,000 per semester for full-time enrollment (12 hours or more with a non-failing grade for each course) and $500 for half-time enrollment (6-11 hours with a non-failing grade for each course). 

35)  How long can a Helping Heroes recipient receive the award?

Recipients can receive the award until the first of the following events:

·         receive the award for the equivalent of eight (8) full semesters, or

·         eighth anniversary of their honorable discharge, or

·         receipt of a baccalaureate degree

36)  Will prior-year recipients of the Helping Heroes Grant receive preference when they reapply in subsequent years?

No.  Applicants will be awarded on a first come, first-served basis for each academic year.