2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 4 - Financial Aid
Part 9 - State Lottery Proceeds
49-4-920 - HOPE access grant.

49-4-920. HOPE access grant.

(a)  To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant, an entering freshman student shall:

     (1)  Meet all requirements of §§ 49-4-904 and 49-4-905;

     (2)  Have an adjusted gross income attributable to the student that does not exceed thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000);

     (3)  Apply for a Tennessee HOPE access grant and file a FAFSA;

     (4)  Graduate from an eligible high school after December 1, 2003, upon having completed curriculum requirements of the high school for graduation;

     (5)  Achieve a final overall weighted high school grade point average of at least 2.75;

     (6)  Attain a composite ACT score of at least 18 on any single ACT test date or a combined SAT score of at least 860 on any single SAT test date; and

     (7)  Be admitted to, and enroll in, an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after graduation from an eligible high school.

(b)  (1)  A Tennessee HOPE access grant shall be awarded to an eligible student only until the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twenty-four (24) semester hours. A student who is eligible for a Tennessee HOPE Scholarship shall be ineligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant.

     (2)  A student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant shall maintain continuous enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution.

     (3)  If a student ceases to be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant at any time for any reason, then the student may not regain the Tennessee HOPE access grant and shall not be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

(c)  The receipt of a Tennessee HOPE access grant is contingent upon admission to an eligible postsecondary institution. Financially and academically qualifying for a Tennessee HOPE access grant does not guarantee admission to an eligible postsecondary institution.

(d)  Subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery, a Tennessee HOPE access grant shall be fifty percent (50%) of the combined award of the ASPIRE award under § 49-4-915 and the Tennessee HOPE scholarship awarded under § 49-4-914 that is applicable to Tennessee HOPE scholarship recipients at the eligible postsecondary institution at which the Tennessee HOPE access grant recipient is enrolled.

(e)  (1)  TSAC shall review a student's eligibility at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24) semester hours. If a student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant has achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24) semester hours, then the student shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship. If the student meets the requirements of § 49-4-915(a)(2), the student shall be eligible for an ASPIRE award.

     (2)  If a student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant 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 twenty-four (24) semester hours, but the student, without financial assistance from lottery proceeds, continues to attend an eligible postsecondary institution and meets the requirements of § 49-4-911(a)(1) at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted forty-eight (48), seventy-two (72), ninety-six (96) or any subsequent multiple of twenty-four (24) semester hours or the requirements of § 49-4-911(a)(2) at the end of forty-eight (48) semester hours or at the end of any subsequent semester, then the student shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student meets all other applicable requirements. If, at that time, the student meets the requirements of § 49-4-915(a)(2), the student shall be eligible for an ASPIRE award.

(f)  A student may receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship after having received a Tennessee HOPE access grant until the first of the following events:

     (1)  The student has earned a baccalaureate degree; or

     (2)  Five (5) years have passed from the date of the student's initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution.

[Acts 2003, ch. 298, § 1; 2004, ch. 840, §§ 16, 24, 25; 2004, ch. 881, §§ 6, 7; 2005, ch. 481, §§ 3, 11-13, 17, 29; 2008, ch. 1142, §§ 5, 9.]