How to Regain HOPE Eligibility

If a student ceases to be eligible for the HOPE Lottery Scholarship due to failure to achieve the cumulative grade point average required at the end of the trimester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24), forty-eight (48), seventy-two (72), ninety-six (96), or any subsequent multiples of 24 trimester hours, the student may regain the applicable award(s) by utilizing either of the one-time options below:

HOPE REPEAT OPTION
The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) HOPE Policies and Procedures allows for a student to "repeat one course and utilize the higher of the two grades in the calculation of their HOPE GPA.  This is a one-time only option AND you must notify the Financial Aid Office of your request to use this option by submitting a HOPE Course Repeat Option Form.

The following rules apply to the repeat option:

• If a student lost the HOPE due to a low grade point average at the 24,48,72,96,120 hours attempted benchmark, but has retaken a course within that bracket (prior to reaching the benchmark), the student may replace the prior course grade in order to possibly become eligible for HOPE.
• If a student chooses one course that they retake after the benchmark (for example, you are replacing a grade from Spring 2016 with a course you are retaking in Fall 2016 and you reach a benchmark  after Spring 2016), then you may not regain the HOPE until you reach the next benchmark  and meet all other eligibility requirements.

HOPE REGAIN OPTION
The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) HOPE Policies and Procedures allows for a student to use a one-time only Regain Option to regain eligibility for the HOPE Lottery Scholarship. If you lose the scholarship due to GPA, but meet the GPA requirement at a future bracket (24, 48, 72, 96, 120), and continue to meet all other continuing eligibility criteria for each trimester, you must notify the Financial Aid Office of your request to use the Regain option.

HOPE GPA CALCULATION
Your HOPE Lottery Scholarship GPA and attempted hours may differ from your Baptist University cumulative GPA and attempted hours, due any to the following:

• Credits gained through dual-enrollment, AP credit, or other test credits do NOT count in your HOPE GPA.
• All classes taken after high school graduation count in your HOPE GPA, including repeated classes which the institution may exclude from your institutional GPA.
• Your HOPE GPA will be based on the academic standards established by Baptist University.
• Be sure to contact the Financial Aid Office to check your HOPE GPA and attempted hours frequently to determine your progress if you are not sure of where you stand. 

Students who lose eligibility based on the HOPE GPA calculation will be notified in writing from the Financial Aid Office.  Students who wish to examine the HOPE GPA calculation shall notify the Financial Aid Office within 30 calendar days of this notification.

GRADE CHANGES
Students who receive a grade change shall notify the Financial Aid Office within 30 calendar days of the grade change and request reinstatement of his/her award. 

Baptist University shall make the necessary reductions in the student’s financial aid package if 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 trimester. 

If you have questions about the HOPE Lottery Scholarship program, visit the Financial Aid Office in the Enrollment Services Suite in the Main Campus Building, or call us (901) 575-2247.