Financial Aid

Student Financial Aid

The purpose of Student Financial Aid is to provide a comprehensive program of financial assistance to qualified students who would find it difficult or impossible to attend Volunteer State Community College without financial assistance.

Financial aid is administered in conjunction with the nationally established policy and philosophy that the student and his/her family have the primary responsibility for financing a college education. Financial assistance is designed only for filling in the gap between the family’s potential resources and the student’s expenses.

All applicants for financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is on-line at www.fafsa.gov.

Renewal of aid is not automatic; students must file a new FAFSA form each academic year. All first-time applicants must be fully accepted for admission by the College before aid will be awarded. For inquiries, e-mail the Financial Aid Office at financial.aid@volstate.edu.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Volunteer State Community College has the following standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress applicable to all Title IV funds. These funds include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP), and Federal Direct Student Loans. The following institutionally awarded state funds are subject to the same Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, Tennessee Student Assistance Award, Tennessee Educational Lottery Scholarships, and Access and Diversity Grants. The TN Promise and TN Reconnect scholarships have individual standards of satisfactory academic progress and are not subject to those standards set forth in this policy.

Federal and state regulations require that students maintain adequate academic progress toward receiving a degree or certificate in order to continue eligibility for Title IV financial aid programs. The following standards are for the Title IV financial aid purposes only and neither replaces or overrides VSCC Academic Status and Retention Standards as published in the VSCC catalog.

Criteria Requirements

1. Qualitative: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
   Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA. Transfer credits and the grades received in those courses are not considered in this GPA calculation.
2. Quantitative: PACE - Measurable Progress Requirement
   Student must complete, with a passing grade, 66.7% of all classes attempted including transfer hours. Grades of W, I, K, YC, FA, or F are considered in this calculation and will negatively impact the student where measurable progress is concerned.
3. Maximum Time Frame (MTF)
   Students must complete their program of study within 150% of the published length of the program. For associates degree programs, students are allowed to receive Title IV financial aid up to the first 90 hours attempted. When it is first determined that a student cannot complete his/her program by the MTF limit, notice that the student is off aid will be sent. Students enrolled in Title IV eligible certificate programs may receive aid through completion of 150% of the individual program length. Transfer credit and repeated coursework will negatively impact the student. All VSCC coursework is included in this measurement even if it does not apply to the student’s current program.

Learning Support Time Limit
Students are limited to 30 attempted hours of remedial, developmental, and learning support coursework. All attempts including withdrawals and repeats count toward the maximum number of hours attempted. Federal Aid for a student who has exceeded this maximum will be based on college level courses only. This time limit cannot be appealed.

Financial Aid Warning and Probation
The Financial Aid Office will evaluate each of these measurements at the end of each academic term (including summer term). Students, who do not meet the standards of the GPA or Pace will be placed on Financial Aid Warning.

• Students in this status may continue to receive Title IV financial aid for one additional term. At the end of that term if they have not met the GPA and/or Pace requirement, they will be placed on Financial Aid Probation (suspension). 
• Students on Financial Aid Probation will be ineligible to receive any Title IV financial aid (including loans) and must take classes at their own expense until GPA and/or Pace meet the standards outlined in this policy. 

Students who do not meet the Maximum Time Frame (MTF) measurement are not eligible for a Financial Aid Warning Period and immediately become ineligible for Title IV financial aid. 

Warning Transfer Status
Students who are transferring in academic credits whose transcripts have not yet been evaluated will be placed on Transfer Warning (WARTRF) status.  This means that the student will be tentatively awarded until the academic transcript has been officially evaluated and the students SAP can be calculated.  If at that time the student is deemed to not be meeting SAP, the funds offered will be withdrawn and the student will be responsible for payment of their fees.  The student will be given the opportunity to submit a Financial Aid Appeal to attempt to regain use of his/her aid eligibility if necessary.

• While on the warning-transfer status, the student may be tentatively awarded aid, however no funds will be paid until the student is removed from the warning-transfer status and found to be in good standing.
• If the student is found to be in a Max-Time Frame status, the student will be required to complete a Financial Aid Appeal to determine aid eligibility.
• If the student is found to be in poor academic standing with either their GPA or PACE the student will be placed on a Warning term.

Appeal Process for PACE and GPA
Students may file a Financial Aid Appeal to regain eligibility.  Students placed on Financial Aid Warning or Probation/Suspension status will be prevented from receiving Title IV financial aid, Access and Diversity Grant, and Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship.

Appeals should be submitted by the priority dates provided by the Financial Aid Office.  Students must anticipate a minimum of three weeks for the Appeals Committee to review the appeal and make a decision on their request.  Failure to provide required supporting documentation will delay the appeal process.  Students who have filed an appeal at the beginning of the semester are responsible for fee payment pending the review of their appeal.

To appeal the student must:

• Complete a Financial Aid Appeal Form. The Appeal form can be found by logging into the student portal then clicking on the Student Forms App. From there you will see the menu of Optional Financial Aid Forms and the Financial Aid Appeal is form #1.
• The student must provide an explanation of the circumstances which caused their past unsatisfactory performance during the previous semesters and submit documentation of the extenuating circumstance.
• The student must also state how the issues have been corrected or list the steps they are currently taking to ensure that the circumstances do not reoccur.  The Appeal Form and required documentation must then be returned to the Office of Financial Aid for processing.  All requests will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.
• On an individual basis, the Financial Aid Appeals Committee may recommend the student be placed on a Financial Aid Academic PLAN for the subsequent semesters at VSCC.  The Financial Aid Academic PLAN requires the student to complete a PLAN form with their academic advisor to map out all of the required remaining courses through the completion of the credential. The student must adhere to the PLAN until regaining Financial Aid good standing.  Students placed on a Financial Aid Academic PLAN will be individually monitored by the Office of Financial Aid.  Any unauthorized change to the PLAN will result in the student returning to Financial Aid Suspension status.  
• Any changes to the PLAN must be approved by the assigned academic advisor. A revised PLAN form must be forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid for approval.
• Students who have exceeded the Maximum Time Frame (MTF) may have their limit extended by an amount equal to any transfer credit work applied to academic history that does not apply to their current program of study or the number of hours remaining to graduate.  In order to appeal MTF, the student must complete the Financial Aid Appeal Form and provide documentation where required.  Based on the review of this request by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee and the student degree audit, students may have their MTF limit extended.
• To appeal the decision of the Appeals Committee, a student must submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Student Services within five business days from the date of notification of the committee’s decision.  If further action is deemed necessary, an appeal of the decision of the Vice President for Student Services should be made in writing to the President.

Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)
The law specifies how your school must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from school, officially or unofficially. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, TEACH grants, Stafford Loans, PLUS loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants(FSEOG) and Federal Perkins Loans.

When you withdraw during your period of enrollment the amount of Title IV program assistance that you have earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If you received (or the school or parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or you.

The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. For example, if you completed 30% of your period of enrollment, you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more that 60% of the period of enrollment, you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If your post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, your school must get your permission before it can be disburse them. You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt. Your school may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds to cover tuition and fees. The school needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal grand disbursement for all other school charges. If you do not give permission (some schools ask this when you enroll), you will be offered the funds. However, it may be in your best interest to allow the school to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the school.

There are some Title IV funds that you were scheduled to receive than cannot be disbursed to you once you withdraw because of other eligibility requirements. For example, if you are a first-time, first-year undergraduate student and you have not completed the first 30 days of your program before you withdraw, you will not receive any Direct Loan funds that you would have received had you remained enrolled past the 30th day.

If you receive (or your school or parent receive on your behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, your school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

Your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of funds,

or

The entire amount of excess funds.

The school must return this amount even if it didn’t keep this amount of your Title IV program funds. If your school is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for the PLUS Loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the grant funds you received or were scheduled to receive. You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount of the overpayment is $50 or less. You must make arrangements with your school or the Department of Education to return the unearned grant funds.

The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that your school may have. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges. You will be required to repay Volunteer State Community College any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return. You may obtain from the Advising Center the requirements and procedures for officially withdrawing from Volunteer State Community College.

The Return Calculations based on the premise that students “earn” federal financial aid for each calendar day that they attend classes.  For example, if a student withdraws after completing 20% of the term, then the student earns 20% of accepted federal financial aid for which eligibility was established prior to withdrawing.

Steps to Calculating a Return Calculation
Many variables are used in the calculation inclusive of attendance, length of time enrolled, date of withdrawal, sources and amounts of federal aid, institutional charges, etc.  A balance on your account will place a hold on all academic transcripts and registration. Listed below are the steps used by the Financial Aid Office when performing a Return Calculation:

Step 1
Determine the percentage of the semester you attended before withdrawing:

• Start with the first day of the semester and count the number of days including weekends, up to the withdrawal date.  This number is your numerator.
• Start with the first day of the semester and count the number of days (including weekends but excluding breaks of 5 days or more) up through final exams.  This number is your denominator.
• Divide the number of days attended by the number of days in the semester.  If the percentage is less than 60.05%, this is the percentage of aid earned.  If the percentage is equal to or greater than 60.05%, you earned 100% of your aid.

Example:

Spring Semester

Classes start: January 12 - Exams End : May 3

Withdrawal Date = February 1

Number of days attended (counting weekends) = 21 days (numerator)

Number of calendar days in semester minus scheduled breaks of 5 or more days = 104 days (total days of 113 minus 9 days for Spring Break) (denominator)

21/104 = .20192 or 20.2%

This percentage is the amount of earned aid.

Step 2
Determine the amount of federal aid earned by multiplying the total federal aid disbursed or could have been disbursed by the percentage of aid earned calculated in Step 1.

Step 3
Compare the amount earned to the amount actually disbursed prior to withdrawing.  If more aid was disbursed than was earned, determine the amount of aid that must be returned.  If less aid was disbursed than was earned, the student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement for the difference.

Step 4
Determine how much the school must return plus the amount the student must return.  The amount of unearned aid that must be returned by VSCC is the lesser amount of unearned Title IV aid or the amount of unearned charges for the term.  The student is responsible for repaying any amount the school must return which creates a debt to VSCC.

Step 5
Return aid in the following order:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Direct Stafford Loan
3. Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
The Federal Work-Study Program is a federally funded program to provide funds for the employment of students who demonstrate need as determined by FAFSA. To participate in this program, students must be accepted for admission to VSCC and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

The FWS program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Students may work an average of 10 hours per week.

Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a federally funded program based on need as determined by FAFSA. The amount of the actual grant is based upon family contribution as determined by the federal government. You may apply for federal aid online at www.fafsa.gov.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally subsidized program. FSEOG is awarded based on exceptional financial need as determined by FAFSA.

Federal Direct Student Loan
A Federal Direct Student Loan is a variable low-interest loan which will help to cover educational cost. There are two types of Direct Student Loans: Subsidized - the government pays the interest while the student is in school, deferment and grace period; Unsubsidized - the student pays the interest while in school, deferment and grace period. The FAFSA application is used in making the determination as to whether the student is eligible for a subsidized loan or an unsubsidized loan.

After you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment, you have a six-month grace period before repayment begins. The Federal Government will send you information about repayment.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program
The Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program provides a source of loan funds to the parents of dependent undergraduate students. The student is required to file a FAFSA application. Parents can borrow up to the cost of education minus other financial aid for the student. The interest rate on PLUS loans is at a variable rate not to exceed 9%. Repayment on both principal and interest begins within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. There is no grace period for these loans. Interest will begin to accumulate at the time the first disbursement is made.

STATE AID PROGRAMS
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
The Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program was established to provide non-repayable financial assistance to financially-needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment, at least half time, at a public or an eligible non-public postsecondary institution in Tennessee.  The TSAA is a state-funded grant program.

To receive priority consideration, students are strongly encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 each year.

Tennessee Promise Program
The TN Promise is a state program funded through TN Lottery funds for graduating TN high school seniors. Students must be enrolled full time in a certificate or associate’s degree program, complete 8 hours of community service per term, maintain a 2.0 GPA, work with a mentor, and register for full time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester) at an eligible institution. 

This award is a last-dollar scholarship and will pay the tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by Pell grant, HOPE scholarship, TSAA funds or tuition waiver/discounts.  Students must apply for the program online at www.tennesseepromise.gov by November 1st.

Tennessee Reconnect Grant
The Tennessee Reconnect is a state program funded through TN Lottery funds and allows all Tennessee adults who qualify, to attend a community college to earn a degree. It is a last-dollar scholarship and only covers tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by Pell grant, HOPE scholarship, TSAA funds or tuition waiver/discounts.

In order to be considered for Reconnect funds, you must complete the FAFSA application by a specific deadline and the TN Reconnect application on the TSAC student portal, which is available at www.tnreconnect.gov. The student must be enrolled at least part-time (6 credit hours per semester) in a certificate or associate’s degree program and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program is intended to provide scholarship funds to offset costs associated with pursuing postsecondary education.  The Lottery Scholarship program includes the HOPE Scholarship, Aspire Award, General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS), and the Access Grant.  In order to be considered for lottery scholarship funds, applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the September 1, deadline date for Fall or February 1, deadline date for Spring and Summer.

General eligibility requirements for each program include:
HOPE Scholarship - A minimum 21 ACT composite or 980 SAT on a national test date or a final cumulative weighted 3.0 GPA for entering freshmen graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high school is required for consideration of the HOPE Scholarship. Students who have passed the HiSET test must have the minimum ACT/SAT test score as stated above and an average of at least 525 on the HiSET test. The ACT Residual test is not accepted for HOPE Scholarship eligibility determination.

For students graduating July 1, 2021, and thereafter, a homeschool student must:

Achieve a 21 composite score or above on a single test date for the ACT test (or concordant equivalent score on the SAT taken on a single test date) for HOPE Scholarship consideration.  The ACT Superscore cannot be used for HOPE Scholarship eligibility. If a minimum 21 ACT is not achieved, students may qualify for HOPE by completing at least two (2) dual enrollment classes at an eligible postsecondary institution while enrolled in the home school program totaling at least six (6) semester hours and achieving a minimum 3.0 college GPA in each of the two (2) dual enrollment courses and achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative college GPA in all dual enrollment courses attempted.

Applicants must enroll within 16 months following high school graduation at any postsecondary institution.  However, enrollment at an ineligible postsecondary institution during the 16 months will make the student permanently ineligible.

If a student ceases to be eligible for HOPE, except for GAMS or Access Grant, the student may regain HOPE one-time only, after they meet the regain requirements.

Aspire Award - Applicants must meet the HOPE Scholarship requirements and parents’ or independent student’s (and spouse’s) adjusted gross income must be $36,000 or less on the appropriate year tax form.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) - Entering freshmen graduating from an eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cumulative weighted 3.75 GPA AND 29 ACT composite or 1280 SAT (Math & Critical Reading ONLY) on a national or state test date. For GAMS eligibility, a homeschool student must in addition to meeting the HOPE scholarship requirements, during the course of a home school program: The student must achieve a minimum 29 ACT or a minimum 1330 SAT, exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests (concordant equivalent score) for GAMS consideration; AND Enroll in at least four (4) dual enrollment courses totaling at least twelve (12) semester hours at an eligible postsecondary institution and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0; OR Participate in a Governor’s School program, and achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; OR Take two (2) Advanced Placement (AP) exams and make a score of at least three (3); OR Take one (1) College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test and make a score of at least 55

Students may receive Aspire or GAMS, but not both.

Access Grant - Entering freshmen graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cumulative weighted 2.75 - 2.99 GPA and 18, 19 or 20 ACT Composite or 860 -970 SAT (Math & Critical Reading ONLY) on a national or state test date AND parents’ or independent student’s (and spouse’s) adjusted gross income must not exceed $36,000 as documented by FAFSA. This award is non-renewable after 24 attempted hours; however, students may become HOPE eligible if they meet the HOPE renewal criteria at the 24-hour benchmark.

Tennessee HOPE Renewal Criteria
Eligibility shall be reviewed at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of 24, 48, 72, 96 or any subsequent multiple of 24 semester hours. Additional, at 72 attempted hours and beyond, students may be reviewed at the end of each semester if they maintain the award on a provisional basis.

• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours. After attempting 72 hours and beyond a student may retain the award by either:

              Achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, or

              Achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a semester GPA of at least 3.0

              in the preceding term for which the student will receive the award as a full-time enrolled student

• Must maintain satisfactory academic progress AND continuous enrollment
• Scholarship is terminated after attainment of baccalaureate degree OR student has attempted 120 semester hours OR the student has received the award for 8 full-time equivalent semesters; whichever comes first OR 5 years have passed from initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution - whichever occurs first
• To receive funding, students must be enrolled in at least 6 hours; 12 hours if eligible on the provisional basis.
• Enrollment status changed during the semester can impact a student’s lottery scholarship eligibility for renewal.  Students should NEVER drop a course without talking to the financial aid office about how it may impact their HOPE scholarship eligibility.

Information regarding the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship rules and regulations can be found at: www.TN.gov/collegepays 

*The TN Lottery Scholarship requirements are subject to change each July 1, pending legislative ruling.

Helping Heroes Grant - This grant is funded by the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship Program. It is awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. The Helping Heroes Grant is designed to serve former members of the armed forces, reserve or National Guard who were called into active duty and have met the following general criteria:

• Received an honorable discharge and has been awarded The Iraq Campaign Medal, The Afghanistan Campaign Medal or after 9/11/01, received The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Be a Tennessee resident 1 year prior to application deadline
• Be admitted to and enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution
• Must not have received a baccalaureate degree
• Cannot be in default on a Federal Title IV educational loan or TN educational loan nor owe a refund on a federal Title IV student financial aid program or a TN student financial aid program
• Not be incarcerated and be in compliance with federal drug-free rules and laws for receiving financial assistance
• Complete the online Helping Heroes Grant Application:  www.tn.gov/collegepays.

HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant - The Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program provides resources specifically to meet the education and training needs of youth aging out of foster care. This award along with all other available financial aid sources shall be applied towards the student cost of attendance before utilizing awards offered through the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant. Students must be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Access Grant and have been in the custody of the Department of Children Services for at least 1 year after their 14th birthday in order to be considered for this grant. TSAC will work with the Department of Children Services to identify recipients.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS
Diversity Grant
The Diversity Grant is a program for students who are a part of our “underserved” populations according to the most current strategic plan. The student must submit a FAFSA application for consideration for the Diversity Grant and must maintain Academic Satisfactory Progress standards.

Presidential Scholarships
Graduating seniors may be eligible for a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $4,000.  Three new and three renewal scholarships for students participating in the Honors Program will be awarded annually.  In order to apply for the Presidential Scholarship, you must complete a VSCC Scholarship Application, Honors Program Application, and submit all required admissions documents by the appropriate deadline.  Entering freshmen must have a least a 3.5 high school GPA (seventh semester) and an ACT of at least 26.  To retain the award, the student must pass a minimum of 12 hours with a 3.0 GPA each semester.  This scholarship is awarded for only four semesters.

VSCC Academic Service Scholarships
The VSCC Academic Service Scholarship is in the amount of $2,400 per academic year.  This scholarship involves an on-campus work obligation for the student.  The VSCC Academic Service Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of incoming freshmen whose high school records show academic excellence.  The requirements for this scholarship are a high school grade point average of 3.0 or more or an ACT of at least 21.  The application priority date for Fall Semester is March 1.  To retain the award, the student must pass a minimum of 12 hours with a 2.5 GPA each semester and fulfill the work requirement of 75 hours per term.  This scholarship is awarded for only four semesters.

TN Promise Book Scholarship
A graduating high school senior with a GPA of at least 2.5 (seventh semester) or ACT composite score of 19 or higher who has maintained eligibility for the TN Promise Scholarship will be considered for a Promise book Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

1. Be classified as a TN resident.
2. Entering freshmen must have a high school GPA of at least 2.5 (seventh semester) or an ACT composite score of 19 or higher, be enrolled full-time at VSCC and maintain eligibility for the TN Promise Scholarship.
3. Entering freshmen must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and subsequently possess an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) allowing a federal financial aid award not sufficient to completely cover tuition and fees.
4. To retain the scholarship in subsequent semesters the student must complete a FAFSA annually and possess an Estimated Family Contribution, (EFC) allowing a federal financial aid award not sufficient to completely cover tuition and fees, be enrolled full-time, and maintain eligibility for the TN Promise Scholarship.  Any semester that the student does not meet these requirements, the scholarship will be automatically cancelled.
5. Students may receive this scholarship for no more than four (4) semesters.

TN Reconnect Book Scholarship
A new freshman, transfer or returning who has applied and is eligible for the TN Reconnect scholarship will be considered for a Reconnect Book Scholarship either in the amount of $500 or $1,000.  The dollar amount awarded is based on the number of credit hours in which they are enrolled.

1. Be classified as a TN resident.
2. Entering freshman, transfer or returning student who has applied and is eligible for the TN Reconnect scholarship, be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours and maintain eligibility for the TN Reconnect Scholarship.
3. All Reconnect eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and subsequently possess an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) allowing a federal financial aid award not sufficient to completely cover tuition and fees.
4. To retain the scholarship in subsequent semesters the student must complete a FAFSA annually and possess an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) allowing a federal financial aid award not sufficient to completely cover tuition and fees, be enrolled fulltime, and maintain eligibility for the TN Reconnect Scholarship.  Any semester that the student does not meet these requirements, the scholarship will be automatically cancelled.
5. Students may receive this scholarship for the period of time that eligibility exists for the TN Reconnect Scholarship and/or until the credential is completed and awarded.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Eligible recipients may receive various types of financial assistance as they pursue career training/retraining. Businesses, government, and schools work together to provide training programs or employability skills to those who are out of work or who need new skills/training to successfully enter the job market. The Office of Adult Learners and Veteran Affairs works in conjunction with those WIOA agencies that are sponsoring these students.

FEE WAIVER/DISCOUNTS
PC 191 Fee Waiver
Employees of TBR or UT system schools are eligible to enroll in one credit class per term using the PC 191 fee waiver. The eligible employee must complete a fee waiver application with their personnel office each semester. The fee waiver form should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.

State Employee Fee Waiver
Eligible employees of the Tennessee State Government are eligible to enroll in one class per term. This is called a fee waiver. The eligible state employee must complete the necessary paperwork with their personnel office for approval.  The approved application should then be submitted to the Financial Aid Office prior to registration and no later than 10 days after the term begins.

TBR Employee Dependents (Children or Spouse) Discount
Employees of TBR or UT system schools dependent children (under the age of 26) or spouse is eligible to receive a 50% discount toward maintenance fees each semester. The eligible employee must submit a new discount form for their dependent child or spouse to the Financial Aid Office each semester prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.

Public School Teacher/State Employee Dependent Discount
Dependent children (under the age of 24) of a certified public school teacher or a full time State employee are eligible to receive a 25% discount toward maintenance fees each semester. The eligible employee must submit a new discount form for their dependent child to the Financial Aid Office each semester prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.