Tennessee Hope Scholarship FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Do I have to reapply every year to continue to receive my award?

Yes.  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each  year.  The application can be found at www.fafsa.gov.

Do I need to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) to retain my award?

Yes.  To continuing receiving the HOPE Scholarship, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 after attempting 24 and 48 semester hours.  After attempting 72 semester hours or any multiple of twenty-four (24) semester hours, a student can maintain the award in two ways:

• score an overall GPA of at least 3.0 or

• if your total GPA is between 2.75-2.99 and your semester GPA is 3.0 or higher in the previous semester then you can keep the award on a semester-to-semester basis.  Under these conditions, students must keep full time enrollment and  eligibility is monitored after each semester (but not for the summer semester).  However, students that match these guidelines and enroll full time for the summer will have eligibility checked upon the close of the summer semester. Students that win the HOPE Access Grant ca  keep the award for each semester until they have attempted 24 semester hours.  If students complete the HOPE Scholarship renewal criteria discussed earlier then their award will convert to the HOPE Scholarship.  Students that win the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant and are attempting a certificate or diploma must achieve satisfactory academic progress and have to be continuously enrolled every semester until granted a certificate or diploma from the Tennessee Technology Center.

How will my eligibility be affected if I drop a course(s)?

First, do not drop a course without discussing your situation wth the financial aid office at your school.  Your full-time (12+ hours) or part-time (6-11 hours) enrollment notice,  as of the institution’s census (or status counting) date, is  the enrollment status you must maintain during the semester.  If you drop a course(s) and do not have a documented, approved medical or personal reason, you might permanently lose your HOPE Scholarship eligibility.

If I  take a semester off, how will my award be affected?

Every award winner must complete continuous enrollment at an eligible postsecondary school.  This requires that students be enrolled at a minimum part time for the fall and spring semesters to receive the award.  Enrollment in the summer semester is not a requirement condition.   Although students enrolled in less than six (6) credit hours will maintain continuous enrollment, they are not qualified for an award.   It is recommended that students receiving the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant should check with their institution with respect to continuous enrollment conditions as enrollment in the summer term might be required for their program of study.

If I lose my award, can I regain it?

Yes, you can.  Students who fail to match the renewal conditions and drop the HOPE Scholarship can again win the award one time by completing the renewal requirements listed above at a benchmark.  Students cannot appeal to rewin the HOPE Scholarship if their GPA drops under the renewal conditions.  Students who no longer win the award because of a nonacademic reason such as not maintaining continuing enrollment or modifying their enrollment from full time to part time, or part time to less than part time, are not able to regain the award except an appeal is approved by the post-secondary institution or TSAC.  For further information concerning the appeal process, contact your school.  Students who drop the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant cannot receive future awards.

How long can I receive the HOPE Scholarship?

Students who achieve all conditions to maintain the HOPE Scholarship may win the award until the student has earned a baccalaureate degree  or five (5) years have passed from student’s initial enrollment at any post-secondary institution.

How will my grade point average be calculated for eligibility of the HOPE Scholarship?

All courses attempted post high school graduation shall be used in the grade point average calculation.  Students may retake one (1) course one (1) time and use the higher grade achieved; however, both courses attempted are used in the attempted hours total for eligibility requirements.

How can I qualify for the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant each year?

Students must make application each year by completing the FAFSA, maintain unbroken enrollment in a certificate or diploma program at an eligible Tennessee Technology Center, and complete satisfactory progress.  No minimum number of enrollment hours is required to hold the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant.  Prior HOPE Scholarship recipients cannot be awarded this grant.  Wilder-Naifeh recipients who finish their diploma may be eligible for a HOPE Scholarship if initial eligibility requirements were achieved at high school graduation.   For a complete list of eligible institutions, please visit http://www.tn.gov/CollegePays/mon_college/eligible_instut.htm.

If I enroll less than full time, will my award be less?

Yes.  HOPE Scholarship winners who are enrolled less than full time will receive a smaller amount.  Students enrolled in 9-11 hours will receive ¾ of the award and students enrolled in 6-8 hours will receive ½ of the award.  Students enrolled less than 6 hours are not eligible for an award.  Your enrollment status is based on the institution’s census date.  Students receiving the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant will receive a reduced award if they are enrolled less than full time or are not enrolled for a full academic term.

Where can I use the HOPE Scholarship?  

The HOPE Scholarship can only be used at an eligible postsecondary institution in the state of Tennessee.  Here is a complete list of eligible institutions. Students who decide to attend an out-of-state institution cannot receive the award.

If I change schools, how do I transfer my award?

If you move to another eligible postsecondary institution, you can take your award in one of two ways.  You may complete a Change of Institution Request Form which can be found here. You may also list your new institution as the first choice on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  NOTE:  Any changes made to your FAFSA will overlay any changes provided to TSAC via the Change of Institution Request Form.  If you transfer your award via the FAFSA, you may be selected for verification.

If there are more Tennessee Hope Scholarship FAQ items that you think should be added to this list, please comment on the article and we will add them, and thanks for doing others a good service.

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As changes occur and are finalized for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship 2012 changes, we will get them added to the website.

HB0013
by Brooks HLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes high school academic requirements for initial receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

HB0014
by Brooks HLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes high school academic eligibility requirements for initial receipt of the HOPE scholarship

.HB0015
by Brooks HLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes the terminating events for receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year.

HB0078
by HardawayLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, creates the ASPIRE work study program to provide additional postsecondary financial assistance from net lottery proceeds to students receiving both the Tennessee HOPE scholarship and the ASPIRE award.

HB0106
by HardawayLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarship recipient to maintain academic eligibility by maintaining good standing at the eligible postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled; changes initial eligibility requirements for certain students to conform to the change in the continuing eligibility requirement.

HB0111
by HardawayLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student who as an entering freshman meets all nonacademic requirements, but not the academic requirements for a HOPE scholarship, to qualify for the scholarship by meeting the collegiate grade point average continuation requirements after enrolling in an eligible postsecondary institution.

HB0170
by ColeyLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, revises Tennessee HOPE scholarship program to permit payment of the scholarship award during summer school as well as during fall and spring semesters.

HB0474
by MathenyLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As enacted, allows a student with a documented medical disability that restricts the student’s attendance to part-time to petition for an extension of time in which to receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship; revises law regarding the dual enrollment grant.

HB0552
by HarmonLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student with a documented medical disability that restricts the student’s attendance to part-time to petition for an extension of time in which to receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

HB0777
by BrownLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, corrects definition of “regional accrediting association” for HOPE scholarship purposes to change the name of the Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges to its present name of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

HB0796
by TindellLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarships to be awarded during summer school as well as during fall and spring semesters.

HB1195
by PittsLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, establishes the Tennessee HOPE prospective teacher’s scholarship.

HB1343
by MatlockLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits home school students to obtain HOPE scholarships as entering freshmen if such students achieve a high school GPA of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21.

HB1696
by FitzhughLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarships to be awarded during summer school, reduces the number of years in which the HOPE scholarships may be received from five to four and alters the dual enrollment grant program.

HB2010
by McCormickLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As enacted, enables students who first received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, HOPE access grant or HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students in the fall semester 2009 or thereafter, to receive such lottery-funded scholarships and grants in the summer semester, in addition to the fall and spring semesters; revises the law on terminating events for the HOPE scholarship or access grant.

HB2318
by FitzhughLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits certain students, at their own option, to include grades from courses taken during summer semester 2011 in the cumulative grade point average for continuation of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

HB2579
by MontgomeryLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes a terminating event for receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship from attempt at any postsecondary institution of a specified number of semester hours to receipt of the scholarship for a fixed number of full-time equivalent semesters.

HB2649
by Brooks HLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, revises initial academic requirements for eligibility and the amount of the award of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship beginning with students entering college in 2015-2016; recommends use of net lottery proceeds for TSAA grants for 10 years beginning with 2015-2016.

HB2743
by PittsLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, broadens eligibility for the HOPE scholarship by removing the requirement that a military parent’s home of record or residence is Tennessee if a student qualifies to be classified as an in-state student and meets other specified requirements.

HB2944
by DennisLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student who has completed an associates degree while receiving a Tennessee HOPE scholarship to be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant to attend a Tennessee technology center in a diploma or certificate program, provided the student meets certain eligibility requirements.

HB3114
by RamseyLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, establishes means by which students with documented disabilities who do not meet high school academic qualifications for a HOPE scholarship can attend college, meet college academic requirements and receive the scholarship.

HB3249
by HillLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes the definition of “home school student” for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship to require that a student be home schooled the last year of high school instead of the last two years of high school.

HB3816
by DunnLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes a nonacademic eligibility requirement for receipt of Tennessee HOPE scholarship by home schooled student from being home schooled for two years immediately preceding completion of high school to being home schooled for one year immediately preceding completion of high school.

SB0774
by KetronLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, revises Tennessee HOPE scholarship program to permit payment of the scholarship award during summer school as well as during fall and spring semesters.

SB1021
by BarnesLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, establishes the Tennessee HOPE prospective teacher’s scholarship.

SB1237
by YagerLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits home school students to obtain HOPE scholarships as entering freshmen if such students achieve a high school GPA of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21.

SB1401
by GreshamLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes the terminating events for receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year.

SB1402
by GreshamLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes high school academic requirements for initial receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

SB1403
by GreshamLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes high school academic eligibility requirements for initial receipt of the HOPE scholarship.

SB1477
by Finney LLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarships to be awarded during summer school, reduces the number of years in which the HOPE scholarships may be received from five to four and alters the dual enrollment grant program.

SB1529
by NorrisLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As enacted, enables students who first received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, HOPE access grant or HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students in the fall semester 2009 or thereafter, to receive such lottery-funded scholarships and grants in the summer semester, in addition to the fall and spring semesters; revises the law on terminating events for the HOPE scholarship or access grant.

SB1877
by KyleLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarships to be awarded during summer school as well as during fall and spring semesters.

SB1908
by KyleLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, corrects definition of “regional accrediting association” for HOPE scholarship purposes to change the name of the Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges to its present name of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

SB2007
by StewartLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student with a documented medical disability that restricts the student’s attendance to part-time to petition for an extension of time in which to receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

SB2008
by StewartLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As enacted, allows a student with a documented medical disability that restricts the student’s attendance to part-time to petition for an extension of time in which to receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship; revises law regarding the dual enrollment grant.

SB2057
by FordLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student who as an entering freshman meets all nonacademic requirements, but not the academic requirements for a HOPE scholarship, to qualify for the scholarship by meeting the collegiate grade point average continuation requirements after enrolling in an eligible postsecondary institution.

SB2058
by FordLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits Tennessee HOPE scholarship recipient to maintain academic eligibility by maintaining good standing at the eligible postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled; changes initial eligibility requirements for certain students to conform to the change in the continuing eligibility requirement.

SB2059
by FordLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, creates the ASPIRE work study program to provide additional postsecondary financial assistance from net lottery proceeds to students receiving both the Tennessee HOPE scholarship and the ASPIRE award.

SB2162
by CampfieldLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, allows a student who has completed an associates degree while receiving a Tennessee HOPE scholarship to be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant to attend a Tennessee technology center in a diploma or certificate program, provided the student meets certain eligibility requirements.

SB2187
by OverbeyLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes a terminating event for receipt of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship from attempt at any postsecondary institution of a specified number of semester hours to receipt of the scholarship for a fixed number of full-time equivalent semesters.

SB2454
by Finney LLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, permits certain students, at their own option, to include grades from courses taken during summer semester 2011 in the cumulative grade point average for continuation of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

SB2514
by GreshamLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, revises initial academic requirements for eligibility and the amount of the award of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship beginning with students entering college in 2015-2016; recommends use of net lottery proceeds for TSAA grants for 10 years beginning with 2015-2016.

SB2570
by BarnesLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, broadens eligibility for the HOPE scholarship by removing the requirement that a military parent’s home of record or residence is Tennessee if a student qualifies to be classified as an in-state student and meets other specified requirements.

SB2919
by OverbeyLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, establishes means by which students with documented disabilities who do not meet high school academic qualifications for a HOPE scholarship can attend college, meet college academic requirements and receive the scholarship.

SB3541
by CroweLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes the definition of “home school student” for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship to require that a student be home schooled the last year of high school instead of the last two years of high school.

SB3599
by BellLottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, changes a nonacademic eligibility requirement for receipt of Tennessee HOPE scholarship by home schooled student from being home schooled for two years immediately preceding completion of high school to being home schooled for one year immediately preceding completion of high school.

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They are coming…. the new requirements that is.  Tennessee and Georgia are both once again “tweaking” their respective programs due to shortfalls in lottery based funding and increases in tuition along with increases in student in-state enrollment.

The good news is that the legislative sessions for 2012 are about to come to a close.  This will shed light on what the final new requirements will be for school year 2012-2013.  What is apparent is that at a minimum, the aid amounts will cover a smaller percentage for the next school year than for the current.  There are some worse case scenario proposals being tossed around that would totally eliminate scholarship eligibility for some students.  One proposal would put a financial cap on the eligibility effectively eliminating any students above the cap.  Another proposal would once again make the filter finer for academic requirements.  The requirements would be tightened by increasing the minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) to receive a scholarship.  It seems like hope scholarship changes each year have become the norm.

Do Hope Scholarship Changes need Changing?

From most news accounts that I’ve been watching, the Tennessee legislature has better addressed the issues of funding (revenue) vs tuition costs (expenses) whereas the Georgia legislature has, for the most part, waited and waited hoping for a funding turnaround to solve the problem.  Since this has not happened, Georgia has started extreme tightening which has led to difficulty for students and parents that must budget for colleges costs.  It is interesting to me that in a country where the rule of law and contracts is constitutionally mandated that the citizens of these states allow the legislatures to run willy-nilly each year changing what was promised the previous year.  There should be some consideration to holding the new hope scholarship requirements stable for each entering freshman class for their four year college career, or, at least, hold the requirements steady for 2 year periods for everyone.

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The Tennessee Hope Scholarship

General Requirements for all TELS funded programs are:

1. Must be a TN resident for 1 year by Sept 1st of the application date.
2. Be dependent of US military, TN National Guard on active duty, DOD employee, or full-time religious worker with TN residency.
3. Complete the FAFSA application.

Additional Requirements for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship

1. Minimum ACT of 21 or SAT of 980
2. Overall GPA of 3.0
3. Student can regain the Hope Scholarship one time

Hope Access Grant Requirements

1. Minimum ACT of 18-20 or SAT 860-970
2. Minimum GPA 2.75
3. Parent or spouses adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less

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