Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1640-01-09-.05 - SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT, LENGTH, AND INTERVALS OF PAYMENTS

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) below, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student to receive an award for a semester. The amount of the maximum award per semester shall be determined by the TSAC Board of Directors and published on TSAC's website. The amount awarded to a student in a semester shall be based on the number of credit hours attempted in the semester that are applicable to the student's eligible program of study.

(2) A student who is enrolled in twelve (12) or more credit hours in the student's eligible program of study will receive the maximum award. A student enrolled in nine (9), ten (10), or eleven (11) credit hours in the student's eligible program of study will receive three-fourths (3/4) of the maximum award. A student enrolled in six (6), seven (7), or eight (8) credit hours in the student's eligible program of study will receive one-half (1/2) of the maximum award. A student enrolled in less than six (6) credit hours in the student's eligible program of study will receive one-fourth (1/4) of the maximum award.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) above, a student who is not enrolled as a full-time student may still receive an award based on the number of credit hours attempted in the semester that are applicable to the student's eligible program of study as provided in paragraph (2), but only in the following circumstances:

(a) In the semester of graduation, if less than twelve (12) credit hours are required to complete the student's eligible program of study;

(b) In any semester in which the eligible postsecondary institution does not offer at least twelve (12) credit hours of coursework applicable to the student's eligible program of study; or

(c) The student's eligible program of study requires enrollment in less than twelve (12) credit hours for a semester.

(4) If the scholarship recipient also receives federal and/or state educational assistance for the same award period(s), the total scholarship and other aid may not exceed the cost of attendance.

(5) The recipient must maintain continuous enrollment to remain eligible.

(6) Recipients must achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) each academic year to remain eligible.

(a) If a student ceases to be eligible for the Ned McWherter Scholars award due to failure to achieve the required cumulative GPA at the end of an academic year, the student may regain the award by maintaining continuous enrollment as a full-time student at an eligible postsecondary institution and attaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Eligibility shall be reviewed at the end of each academic year following the loss of the award. The student may regain the award one (1) time. A student who subsequently loses the award after regaining eligibility shall be permanently ineligible.

(7) Recipients in a baccalaureate degree program are eligible for the scholarship for up to eight (8) semesters or twelve (12) quarters. Recipients in an associate degree program are eligible for up to four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters.

(8) Scholarship recipients must use the Ned McWherter Scholars award for education-related expenses. Ned McWherter Scholars awards shall be first applied to tuition and fees, room and board, and the excess, if any, shall be distributed to the recipient provided the student remains eligible according to this rule. The funds will be sent by direct deposit to the eligible postsecondary institution and the institution will disburse the funds to the recipient. At institutions utilizing the quarter system, one-third of the annual award will be paid at the start of the fall, winter, and spring quarters. At semester institutions, one-half of the annual award will be paid at the start of the fall and spring terms.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1640-01-09-.05

Original rule filed April 10, 1986; effective July 14, 1986. Amendment filed May 7, 1991; effective August 28, 1991. Amendment filed January 29, 1993; effective April 30, 1993. Amendment filed April 2, 1996; effective August 28, 1996. Amendment filed August 6, 2002; effective December 27, 2002. Amendments filed February 13, 2017; effective May 14, 2017. Rule was previously numbered 1640-01-09-.04 but was renumbered 1640-01-09-.05 with the introduction of new rule 1640-01-09-.02 filed April 21, 2023; effective 7/20/2023. Amendments filed April 21, 2023; effective 7/20/2023.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-4-201, 49-4-203, 49-4-204, and 49-4-209.