§ 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) Submit an initial Tennessee HOPE access grant application no later than September 1, 2021, or a renewal application by the deadline published on TSAC's website each year thereafter; (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 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 concordant equivalent score on the SAT 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 an advanced degree; or (2) Five (5) years have passed from the date of the student's initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution.

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 9, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, Secs.s 40, s 41 eff. 8/1/2020. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, s 39, eff. 8/1/2020. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 328, s 4, eff. 5/9/2017. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 900, s 8, eff. 7/1/2015. 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; 2011 , ch. 437, § 4.