2023 Tennessee Code › Title 49 - EDUCATION (§§ 49-1-NEW — 49-50-1703) › Chapter 4 - FINANCIAL AID (§§ 49-4-101 — 49-4-1008) › Part 9 - STATE LOTTERY PROCEEDS (§§ 49-4-901 — 49-4-944) › Section 49-4-902 - Part definitions

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1)
"Academic requirement" means a requirement of a specified grade point average, ACT or SAT score or cumulative grade point average that determines either initial or continuing eligibility for postsecondary financial assistance from net lottery proceeds;
(2)
"Academic year" means three (3) consecutive semesters beginning with a fall semester and including the spring and summer semesters immediately succeeding the fall semester;
(3)
"ACT" means the ACT assessment administered by ACT;
(4)
"Adjusted gross income attributable to the student" or "student's adjusted gross income" means:
(A)
The adjusted gross income of the student's parent or parents as reported on the student's FAFSA and used by TSAC in determinations of eligibility for federal or state financial aid, if the student is a dependent of a parent or parents; or
(B)
The adjusted gross income of the student and, if applicable, the student's spouse as reported on the student's FAFSA and used by TSAC in determinations of eligibility for federal or state financial aid, if the student is financially independent of parents;
(5)
"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;
(6)
"Certificate" or "diploma" means a credential, other than a degree, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of training in an eligible program of study offered by an eligible postsecondary institution;
(7)
"Continuous enrollment" means a student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters of a single academic year. Enrollment in summer semester or inter-session terms is not required;
(8)
"Cost of attendance" means the combined cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and other educational expenses as determined by the financial aid office of the eligible postsecondary institution;
(9)
"Dual enrollment grant" means a grant for study at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to students who are attending high school and who are also enrolled in college courses at eligible postsecondary institutions for which they will receive college credit;
(10)
"Eligible high school" means:
(A)
A Tennessee public secondary school;
(B)
A private secondary school that is located in this state and is approved by the state board of education as a Category 1, 2 or 3 secondary school in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations;
(C)
A secondary school operated by the United States department of defense on a military base that is located in whole or in part in this state;
(D)
An out-of-state public secondary school located in a county bordering this state that residents of this state are authorized to attend under §
49-6-3108
; or
(E)
An out-of-state boarding school attended by a bona fide resident of this state that is accredited by:
(i)
A regional accrediting association; or
(ii)
A member of the National Association of Independent Schools Commission on Accreditation;
(11)
"Eligible independent postsecondary institution" means:
(A)
An institution created by testamentary trust for which the state acts by statute as trustee and for which the governor is authorized to appoint commissioners with the advice and consent of the senate and that offers courses leading to undergraduate degrees;
(B)
A private four-year postsecondary institution that:
(i)
Has been chartered in this state as a not-for-profit entity for at least one hundred (100) years;
(ii)
Has had its primary campus domiciled in this state for at least one hundred twenty-five (125) years;
(iii)
Awards baccalaureate degrees; and
(iv)
Requires all students to participate in a four-level college work program in which students provide services to the institution and to the community; or
(C)
A private postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state;
(12)
"Eligible postsecondary institution" means an eligible independent postsecondary institution or an eligible public postsecondary institution;
(13)
"Eligible program of study" means:
(A)
A curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or diploma at a Tennessee college of applied technology; or
(B)
A federal Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate, diploma, or an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree at an eligible postsecondary institution;
(14)
"Eligible public postsecondary institution" means:
(A)
An institution operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system; or
(B)
An institution in the University of Tennessee system;
(15)
"Entering freshman" means a student entering a postsecondary institution who has not attempted any semester hours at any postsecondary institution after graduating from high school, completing high school in a home school program or obtaining a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education;
(16)
"FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
(17)
"Freshman student" means a student at a postsecondary institution who is in the first two (2) semesters of full-time attendance or the equivalent, if the student attends part-time;
(18)
[Deleted by 2023 amendment.]
(19)
"Full-time student" means an undergraduate student attending a postsecondary educational institution who is enrolled for at least twelve (12) semester hours during each semester of attendance, or a graduate student enrolled in the requisite number of semester hours, as determined by the institution attended;
(20)
[Deleted by 2023 amendment.]
(21)
"General assembly merit scholarship" means the scholarship that is awarded for academic excellence under §
49-4-916
. A "General assembly merit scholarship" consists of two (2) parts, a Tennessee HOPE scholarship and a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award;
(22)
"Gift aid" means scholarships and grants from any source that do not require repayment, including funds provided through the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, compiled generally in title 42 U.S.C., and other similar programs. Student loans and work-study awards shall not be considered gift aid;
(23)
"Grade point average" means the numbered grade average calculated using a 4.0 scale;
(24)
"High school grade point average" means grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses, according to the uniform system of weighting of courses adopted by the state board of education, under §
49-1-302(a)(14)
;
(25)
[Deleted by 2023 amendment.]
(26)
"Home school student" means:
(A)
A Tennessee resident who completed high school in a home school program prior to July 1, 2021, meeting the requirements of §
49-6-3050(a)(2), (a)(3), or (b)
. For one (1) year immediately preceding completion of high school as a home school student, the student must have been a student in a home school; or
(B)
A Tennessee resident who completed high school in a home school program on or after July 1, 2021;
()
"In-demand occupation" means an occupation for which there exists a high demand for a trained workforce in this state based on current job openings, hiring data, and future projections pursuant to § 49-7-112(b);
(27)
"Middle college" means a program operated by an eligible public two-year postsecondary institution in partnership with an LEA that permits students in the fall semester of their junior year in high school to enter the eligible public two-year postsecondary institution and to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in two (2) years;
(28)
"Nonacademic requirement" means any scholarship eligibility requirement other than an academic requirement;
(29)
"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; or
(B)
Enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution while maintaining continuous enrollment following completion of an associate degree through the Tennessee reconnect grant, established under §
49-4-944
;
(30)
"Parent" means the parent or guardian of a student;
(31)
"Part-time student" means an undergraduate student attending a postsecondary educational institution who is enrolled for at least six (6) semester hours, but less than twelve (12) semester hours, during a semester of attendance, or a graduate student who is enrolled in less than the number of semester hours required by the institution for full-time students, as determined by the institution attended;
()
"Quality non-degree credential" or "QNDC" means a credential, other than a degree or a diploma, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of a workforce training program that:
(A)
Has a defined curriculum, objectives, and results in the awarding of a credential upon successful completion;
(B)
Culminates in an industry certification, but does not include participation in, or completion of, a program of professional development, continuing education, exam preparation, or similar objectives;
(C)
May be articulated to other quality non-degree credentials, postsecondary degrees, or diploma programs;
(D)
Qualifies an individual for an in-demand occupation; and
(E)
Is not eligible for federal Title IV funding;
(32)
"Regional accrediting association" means:
(A)
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education;
(B)
The New England Commission on Higher Education;
(C)
The Higher Learning Commission;
(D)
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
(E)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or
(F)
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges;
(33)
"SAT" means the Scholastic Aptitude Test administered by the College Board;
(34)
"Scholarship" means a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or a Tennessee HOPE access grant;
(35)
"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;
(36)
"Semester hour" means the credit hour used by a postsecondary institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or its equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system. "Semester hour" includes each semester hour attempted, whether remedial or for credit toward a degree, but shall not include any semester hour attempted before graduating from high school or earning a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education;
(37)
"Student who has obtained a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education" means a student who was a resident of this state for at least one (1) year prior to obtaining a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education;
(38)
"Tennessee HOPE access grant" means a grant 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 to freshman students meeting the requirements of §
49-4-920
;
(39)
"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;
(40)
"THEC" means the Tennessee higher education commission;
(41)
"Title IV" means Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, (
20 U.S.C. § 1070
et seq.);
(42)
"TSAC" means the Tennessee student assistance corporation;
(43)
"Unweighted grade point average" means grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated without additional points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses; and
(44)
"Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant" means a grant for coursework in an eligible program of study at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 925,s 5, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 6, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 5, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 4, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 2, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 114, s 15, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 114, s 16, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 114, s 15, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1116, s 1, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1107, Secs.s 13, s 14 eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1107, s 12, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 467, s 2, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, Secs.s 60, s 64, eff. 8/1/2020 and s 25 eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, Secs.s 26, s 29, s 61, s 65, s 66, eff. 8/1/2020 and Secs.s 27, s 28, s 30 eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 695, s 2, eff. 8/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 448, s 2, eff. 8/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 405, s 1, eff. 5/18/2017.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 592, s 1, eff. 3/28/2014.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 495, s 1, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 495, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 900, s 4, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 900, s 3, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 361, s 1, eff. 5/13/2013.
Acts 2003 , ch. 298, § 1; 2004, ch. 840, §§ 1, 2, 26; 2004, ch. 881, § 8; 2005, ch. 481, §§ 1, 4, 27; 2006, ch. 977, § 2; 2008 , ch. 1142, §§ 1, 2, 14, 25; 2010 , ch. 1141, § 1; 2011 , ch. 437, § 1; 2012, ch. 1095, §§ 1, 2.