Section 1640-01-19-.13 - CALCULATION OF POSTSECONDARY CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE(1) The postsecondary cumulative grade point average used to determine eligibility for a renewal of a TELS award, must be calculated by the eligible postsecondary institution the student is attending, utilizing its institutional grading policy, based on all credit hours attempted after high school graduation, and calculated on an A through F grading scale, except as otherwise provided in this rule and as described in T.C.A. § 49-4-911. Unique grades associated with the failure of a class due to an unofficial withdrawal must also be included in calculations of attempted credits and grade point average. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) above to the contrary, when determining whether a non-traditional student who is receiving the HOPE scholarship will continue to be eligible, only grades earned and credit hours attempted as a non-traditional student, in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-4-931, shall count toward the benchmark requirements.(2) All credit hours attempted at all postsecondary institutions the student has attended after graduating from high school and their corresponding grades must be included in the calculation of the postsecondary cumulative grade point average, regardless of whether the receiving institution will apply the credit hours toward the student's degree requirements. Except as provided in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, credit hours that were repeated shall be included in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average calculation. (a) A student shall have a one-time option to repeat one (1) course and utilize only the higher of the two (2) grades in the calculation of their postsecondary grade point average for purposes of determining continued eligibility for a TELS award. The credit hours for both attempted courses, however, will be included in the overall number of credit hours attempted for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(b) It shall be the responsibility of the student to advise the appropriate official of the eligible postsecondary institution when this option is being exercised.(3) Grades received for courses attempted prior to high school graduation, completion of a home school program in Tennessee or GED or HiSET attainment do not count in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average or in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(4) Credit hours earned by examination are not eligible for payment with TELS awards and shall not be included in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average or in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(5) Credit hours attempted as part of a diploma or certificate program of study are not considered to be college credit hours and therefore shall not be included in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average or in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility unless those hours are accepted toward a degree.(6) Remedial and developmental studies and independent studies courses are eligible for payment with TELS awards and shall be included in the calculation of the postsecondary cumulative grade point average and in the attempted hours in an eligible program of study for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(7) Courses in which a student enrolls as an audit student for which no college credit will be received cannot be paid with a TELS award or included in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(8) Continuing education courses are not eligible for payment with TELS awards and shall not be included in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average or in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(9) A student who obtains a grade change shall notify the financial aid office within thirty (30) calendar days of the grade change and request reinstatement of his or her award on a form developed by the institution for this purpose. If the grade change makes the student eligible for a TELS award, the student can be awarded a TELS award retroactively in the current award year. If the grade change affects the student's eligibility from the previous award year, the TELS award may be adjusted in the current award year. The eligible postsecondary institution shall make necessary reductions in the student's financial aid package if the reinstatement of a TELS award results in either an over-award of need-based aid or exceeds the institution's cost of attendance for any semester. If the student's application for reinstatement is denied, the student may appeal the decision in accordance with Rule 1640-01-19-.16.(10) A student enrolled in a matriculating status at an eligible postsecondary institution shall qualify for TELS award payment for distance education courses in an eligible program of study if all other eligibility requirements are met. Students may take courses through more than one (1) eligible postsecondary institution during the same semester. Payment for the distance education courses shall be made in the same manner as transient students as provided in Rule 1640-01-19-.14(11) A student enrolled in a matriculating status at an eligible postsecondary institution may qualify for TELS award payment while participating in an internship or co-op program as part of an eligible program of study if the student receives college credit from the internship or co-op experience and is charged tuition and fees for the credit. The credit hours shall be included in the postsecondary cumulative grade point average.(12) A student enrolled in a matriculating status at an eligible postsecondary institution may qualify for TELS award payment while participating in an alternative study or study abroad program if all other eligibility requirements are met. The eligible postsecondary institution which is the student's home institution must approve the alternative study or study abroad program for credit toward the student's degree and the number of hours in an eligible program of study that will be applied toward the degree prior to the student's departure.(13) Courses that appear on a student's transcript as an "incomplete" shall be considered credit hours attempted, except as noted in Rules 1640-01-19-.12(2) and 1640-01-19-.12(4). The student's TELS award eligibility, however, shall be determined by excluding the credit hours attributable to the course for which an "incomplete" has been assigned from the cumulative grade point average calculation. (a) If the student fails to retain eligibility for a TELS award as a result of the calculation of an "incomplete," but later becomes eligible when the grade for the "incomplete" course is reported, the student is eligible to receive a TELS award retroactively within the award year and shall retain eligibility. Retroactive TELS awards for previous award years shall be added to the current award year. The eligible postsecondary institution shall, however, make necessary reductions in the student's financial aid package if the reinstatement of a TELS award results in either an over-award of need-based aid or exceeds the institution's cost of attendance for any semester. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the financial aid office at the eligible postsecondary institution that a grade has been awarded and request that the TELS award be reinstated. Each eligible postsecondary institution shall develop a standard form for use by students to comply with this provision. If the student's application for reinstatement is denied, the student may appeal the decision in accordance with Rule 1640-01-19-.16.(b) If the student retains eligibility for a TELS award as a result of the calculation, but later becomes ineligible when the grade for the "incomplete" course is reported, then the student shall be ineligible for all TELS awards. Additionally, the student shall reimburse the institution for TELS awards received in the interim.(14) Courses from which a student withdraws shall not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. The hours shall be included in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(15) Courses in which a student takes a pass/fail course shall not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. The hours shall be included in the attempted hours for determining HOPE Scholarship eligibility.(16) Students who reach a benchmark during the summer semester shall have their continuing eligibility determined based upon the cumulative grade point average and semester grade point average, if required, as of the end of the summer semester.(17) When determining the provisional eligibility of a student for the HOPE scholarship under T.C.A. § 49-4-911(a)(2), the student may earn the qualifying semester grade point average as either a part-time or full-time student in the semester in which continuing eligibility was reviewed.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1640-01-19-.13
Original rule filed December 29, 2003; effective April 29, 2004. Public necessity rule filed October 4, 2005; effective through March 18, 2006. Public necessity rules 1640-01-19-.01 through 1640-01-19-.26 filed October 4, 2005, expired on March 18, 2006. On March 19, 2006, rules 1640-01-19-.01 through 1640-01-19-.26 reverted to rules in effect on October 3, 2005. Repeal and new rule filed November 9, 2005; effective March 30, 2006. Public necessity rule filed November 20, 2007; effective through May 3, 2008. Repeal and new rule filed November 20, 2007; effective March 28, 2008. Amendments filed April 27, 2021; effective July 26, 2021. Amendments filed August 7, 2023; effective 11/5/2023.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-4-201, 49-4-204, 49-4-902, 49-4-903, 49-4-911, 49-4-913, 49-4-919, 49-4-924, and 49-4-931.