(a) To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, a nontraditional student shall:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-4-931

  • Advanced degree: means a master's degree, a doctorate or other degree conferred by an eligible postsecondary institution upon completion of a unified program of study at the graduate level. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Continuous enrollment: means a student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters of a single academic year. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Eligible postsecondary institution: means an eligible independent postsecondary institution or an eligible public postsecondary institution. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Grade point average: means the numbered grade average calculated using a 4. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Nontraditional student: means a student who:
    (A) Is an independent student, as determined by the FAFSA, who has enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution and attempted at least twelve (12) semester hours. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Scholarship: means a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or a Tennessee HOPE access grant. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Semester: means fall, spring, or summer semester at a postsecondary institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or the equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Tennessee HOPE scholarship: means a scholarship for coursework in an eligible program of study in pursuit of an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Title IV: means Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, (20 U. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
(1) Not be ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904;
(2) Meet the requirements of § 49-4-905(a). Section 49-4-905(b) shall not apply to nontraditional students seeking Tennessee HOPE scholarships;
(3) Meet the requirements of § 49-4-915(a)(2);
(4) Not have earned a baccalaureate or advanced degree prior to initially receiving an award under this section;
(5) Maintain satisfactory progress in a course of study, in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs at the postsecondary institution attended;
(6) Subject to § 49-4-919, maintain continuous enrollment at the eligible postsecondary institution attended as a nontraditional student; and
(7) Apply for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.
(b) A nontraditional student shall be eligible for the award of a Tennessee HOPE scholarship at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twelve (12) semester hours if the student has a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75. A nontraditional student who does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twelve (12) semester hours shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student achieves a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twenty-four (24) semester hours. A nontraditional student who does not have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twelve (12) semester hours or twenty-four (24) semester hours shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student meets the requirements of § 49-4-911(a)(1) at the end of a subsequent semester at which continuing eligibility for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship is reviewed under § 49-4-911(a)(1) or the requirements of § 49-4-911(a)(2) at the end of any semester after the student has attempted forty-eight (48) or more semester hours.
(c) To continue to receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the student shall meet the applicable requirements of § 49-4-911.
(d) A student may receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students under this section until the first of the following events:

(1) The student has earned an advanced degree; or
(2) Five (5) years have passed since the student enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution as a nontraditional student.
(e) A nontraditional student shall not be eligible for an ASPIRE award for need under § 49-4-915 or a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award under § 49-4-916.
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