FINANCIAL AID: Hope Lottery Scholarship

The TELS Program is administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) and the rules can be reviewed at College Pays TN. You can review a summary of eligibility requirements by downloading the TELS Fact Sheet. You may contact a TSAC TELS representative by calling 800-342-1663 or (615) 741-1346.

The Columbia State Financial Aid Office locally awards the TELS Program. You may contact our office if you have specific questions.

Columbia State determines eligibility based on information received from TSAC in combination with information that is locally verified. Students cannot simultaneously receive more than two of the TELS Program Scholarships/Grants. In cases where the student is eligible for both the General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) and the Need-Based ASPIRE Scholarship, ASPIRE takes precedence.


TELS Legislation

The following TELS legislation became effective on July 1, 2005:

1. Sixteen month rule – This allows students to delay enrollment in college for up to 16 months after high school graduation without losing their eligibility for the TELS awards. The 2004 high school graduates were grandfathered in on this rule. However, they would have needed to be enrolled by Fall 2005 to make use of this option.
2. Out-of-state return – This allows students who attend out-of-state colleges to transfer back to eligible TN colleges and receive TELS funding. However, these students must have been continuously enrolled and must meet the TELS GPA requirements at the benchmarks (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 attempted hours).
3. Regain option – This allows students to regain their scholarship if it was lost from failure to maintain the required TELS GPA. This can only be used once. These students must also have maintained continuous enrollment, met satisfactory academic progress, and not drop enrollment status (full-time to part-time) without prior permission from the Institutional Review Panel (IRP). The “Regain Option Request” form is available on the Financial Aid site.
4. Repeat option – This allows students to re-take one course and allow only the highest grade to count for their TELS GPA. The hours for both courses will still count towards the maximum TELS attempted hours. This will not have any impact on the student’s CSCC GPA. This option can only be used one time. The “Repeat Option Request” form is available on the Financial Aid site.
5. Non-traditional students – This allows non-traditional students who meet the following criteria to apply.
1. At least 25 years old
2. Never enrolled in any post-secondary institution (this includes TTCs, beauty schools and business colleges)
3. An adjusted gross income of less than $36,000 on their federal tax return
4. TN residents for at least one year prior to September 1st of the year they enroll
5. Apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the September 1st deadline
6. Attempt 24 credit hours and earn 2.75 GPA before any awards are made 
6. HOPE Foster Care Grant – This allows students who were in state foster care for at least one year after reaching 14 years of age and meet the criteria for the Hope Scholarship to receive additional funding. This grant is to cover any tuition and fees not covered by other scholarships and grants. This is for public institutions only.
7. Dual Enrollment Grant – This allows students who are still in high school to receive a grant while participating in a dual enrollment program. These students must be TN residents for at least 1 year prior to receipt of the grant. They must also maintain a 2.75 GPA in the dual enrollment courses to retain eligibility. Joint enrollment does not qualify for this grant. Hours and grades earned in this program will have no impact on future TELS eligibility. Unlike the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship, the Dual Enrollment grant is coordinated by the Admissions, Records and Business Offices, not the Financial Aid Office.

The following legislation has been adopted by the Tennessee legislature this year. However, these changes are still considered to be in draft form by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC):

• Senate Bill 2683 changes the basic Hope Scholarship amounts from $1650 to $1900 per year at eligible two-year postsecondary institutions. It also makes certain students that are Tennessee citizens, dependent children of religious workers serving outside the United States, and certain students graduating from accredited high schools in a contiguous out-of-state county eligible for a Tennessee Hope Scholarship.
• Senate Bill 2981 permits students who are initially eligible for a Tennessee Hope Scholarship but who instead obtain a Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, to be eligible for a Hope scholarship at an eligible postsecondary institution. The student must apply for a Hope Scholarship within three years of the diploma program.
• House Bill 2809 allows students attending private as well as public, postsecondary institutions to obtain Tennessee Hope Foster Child Tuition Grants.

Scholarship Rules & Regulations

1. September 1 is the priority renewal deadline to reapply for TELS funds each Fall semester.  If you are enrolling for the first time during the 2006-2007 school year in the Spring semester, then the priority deadline is February 1. Reapplication is done through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be completed online. Verification may be required, in which case ALL requested documents must be submitted before TELS funds can be disbursed to the student account.
2. Please be advised that you must enroll in a degree-seeking program in order to receive TELS. Certificate programs do not qualify for TELS nor does undeclared major.
3. The amount of the TELS award will be based on the hours in which you are enrolled as of the census date (14th calendar day of classes). Your enrollment status and award amount will be certified at that time, unless there are required documents lacking from your financial aid file. Fund disbursement should occur at least 14 – 18 business days after certification.
4. Grades will be checked each semester to ensure that students are maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined in our policy. .
5. Student progress also will be verified at certain benchmark hours.
1. 24 attempted hours – 2.75 TELS GPA
2. 48, 72, and 96 attempted hours – 3.0 TELS GPA
6. The TELS GPA and CSCC GPA may differ. To determine your TELS GPA, access your lottery information on myCN or check withthe Financial Aid Office.
7. Prior approval to drop or withdraw is required if a student wishes to continue receiving TELS funds. This approval can only be obtained through completing the “TELS Appeal” form, which is available on the Financial Aid sites. Keep in mind that requests for prior approval and appeals for reinstatement of eligibility MUST be based on documented medical or extreme personal reasons and must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Panel (IRP).
8. In order to request a leave of absence, students must complete the “TELS Appeal” form, which is available on the Financial Aid site.
9. If there is a grade change or completion of an incomplete grade, the Financial Aid Office must be notified within 30 days using the “Request for Reinstatement Due to Grade Change “form, which is available on the Financial Aid site.
10. As of July 1, 2005, there are now two new options for TELS students:
    • Repeat feature: This allows students to repeat one course and have the grade replace a prior grade for that course. This option may only be taken once and may be used while not receiving the TELS scholarship. To do this, please complete the “Repeat Option Request” form, which is available on the Financial Aid site.
    • Regain feature: Students who have lost their funding due to not maintaining the required TELS GPA may use this option to regain their scholarship. These students must have maintained continuous enrollment and have the required TELS GPA at their next benchmark (48, 72, 96 or 120 attempted hours). To use this option, complete the “Regain Option Request” form, which is available on the Financial Aid site. This option may only be used once

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