(1) “Academic requirement” means a requirement of a specified grade point average, ACT or SAT score or cumulative grade point average that determines either initial or continuing eligibility for postsecondary financial assistance from net lottery proceeds;

(2) “Academic year” means:

(A) For students who first received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the Tennessee HOPE access grant or Tennessee HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students in the fall semester 2009 or thereafter, three (3) consecutive semesters beginning with a fall semester and including the immediately following spring and summer semesters. This definition shall apply to the award of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the Tennessee HOPE access grant or Tennessee HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students beginning with the fall semester 2011 for students;

(B) For students who first received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the Tennessee HOPE access grant or Tennessee HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students prior to the fall semester 2009, a period of time, typically nine (9) months, in which a full-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two (2) semesters of academic work;

(3) “ACT” means the ACT assessment administered by ACT;

(4) “Adjusted gross income attributable to the student” or “student's adjusted gross income” means:

(A) The adjusted gross income of the student's parent or parents as reported on the student's FAFSA and used by TSAC in determinations of eligibility for federal or state financial aid, if the student is a dependent of a parent or parents; or

(B) The adjusted gross income of the student and, if applicable, the student's spouse as reported on the student's FAFSA and used by TSAC in determinations of eligibility for federal or state financial aid, if the student is financially independent of parents;

(5) “Advanced degree” means a master's degree, a doctorate or other degree conferred by an eligible postsecondary institution upon completion of a unified program of study at the graduate level;

(6) “Certificate” or “diploma” means a credential, other than a degree, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of training in a program of study offered by a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system;

(7) “Continuous enrollment” means a student is enrolled in the fall and spring semesters of a single academic year. Enrollment in summer semester or inter-session terms is not required;

(8) “Cost of attendance” means the combined cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and other educational expenses as determined by the financial aid office of the eligible postsecondary institution;

(9) “Dual enrollment grant” means a grant for study at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to students who are attending high school and who are also enrolled in college courses at eligible postsecondary institutions for which they will receive college credit;

(10) “Eligible high school” means:

(A) A Tennessee public secondary school;

(B) A private secondary school that is located in this state and is approved by the state board of education as a Category 1, 2 or 3 secondary school in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations;

(C) A secondary school operated by the United States department of defense on a military base that is located in whole or in part in this state;

(D) An out-of-state public secondary school located in a county bordering this state that Tennessee residents are authorized to attend under § 49-6-3108; or

(E) An out-of-state boarding school attended by a bona fide Tennessee resident that is accredited by:

(i) A regional accrediting association; or

(ii) A member of the National Association of Independent Schools Commission on Accreditation;

(11) “Eligible independent postsecondary institution” means:

(A) An institution created by testamentary trust for which the state acts by statute as trustee and for which the governor is authorized to appoint commissioners with the advice and consent of the senate and that offers courses leading to undergraduate degrees;

(B)

(i) A private postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state; provided, however, that a postsecondary institution that was an eligible independent postsecondary institution and whose students received funds from the Tennessee education lottery scholarships prior to the amendment of this subdivision (11)(B) by the enactment of chapter 1142 of the Public Acts of 2008 shall remain an eligible postsecondary institution, until June 30, 2016, so long as the institution remains accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(ii) A postsecondary institution that, pursuant to this subdivision (11)(B), shall cease to be an eligible independent postsecondary institution after June 30, 2016, shall include on its web site and in any literature for students or prospective students a statement that students attending the institution after June 30, 2016, shall not be able to receive Tennessee HOPE scholarships for study at the institution. TSAC shall include the same information on its web site and in any Tennessee HOPE scholarship informational brochures in which the eligible postsecondary institutions are listed. Such information shall be posted on the institution’s web site and on TSAC’s web site within thirty (30) days of May 21, 2012, and in any literature published by the institution or in any brochure with a list of eligible postsecondary institutions published by TSAC after May 21, 2012;

(C) A private, four-year or two-year postsecondary institution that:

(i) Has been chartered in this state as a not-for-profit entity for at least thirty (30) consecutive years;

(ii) Has had its primary campus domiciled in this state for at least thirty (30) consecutive years;

(iii) Is a member of an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States department of education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation;

(iv) Awards associate or baccalaureate degrees; and

(v) Has an articulation agreement with an institution of the state university and community college system or the University of Tennessee system; or

(D) A private four-year postsecondary institution that:

(i) Has been chartered in this state as a not-for-profit entity for at least one hundred (100) years;

(ii) Has had its primary campus domiciled in this state for at least one hundred twenty-five (125) years;

(iii) Awards baccalaureate degrees; and

(iv) Requires all students to participate in a four-level college work program in which students provide services to the institution and to the community;

(12) “Eligible postsecondary institution” means an eligible independent postsecondary institution or an eligible public postsecondary institution;

(13) “Eligible public postsecondary institution” means:

(A) An institution operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system; or

(B) An institution in the University of Tennessee system;

(14) “Entering freshman” means a student entering a postsecondary institution who has not attempted any semester hours at any postsecondary institution after graduating from high school, completing high school in a home school program or obtaining a GED® or HiSET®;

(15) “FAFSA” means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;

(16) “Freshman student” means a student at a postsecondary institution who is in the first two (2) semesters of full-time attendance or the equivalent, if the student attends part-time;

(17) “Full-time equivalent semester” means any semester in which a student is enrolled full-time and receives a Tennessee HOPE scholarship. A semester in which a part-time student attempts six (6), seven (7) or eight (8) semester hours and receives a Tennessee HOPE scholarship shall be counted as one-half (½) of a full-time equivalent semester. A semester in which a part-time student attempts nine (9), ten (10), or eleven (11) semester hours and receives a Tennessee HOPE scholarship shall be counted as three-fourths (¾) of a full-time equivalent semester;

(18) “Full-time student” means a student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for at least twelve (12) semester hours during each semester of attendance;

(19) “GED®” means a general educational development credential awarded by a state-approved institution or organization;

(20) “General assembly civic education scholarship” means the scholarship funded from net lottery proceeds and awarded under § 49-4-939 to meet the goals of the general assembly to promote and encourage civic learning and participation in community and government by high school students;

(21) “General assembly merit scholarship” means the scholarship that is awarded for academic excellence under § 49-4-916. A “General assembly merit scholarship” consists of two (2) parts, a Tennessee HOPE scholarship and a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award;

(22) “Gift aid” means scholarships and grants from any source that do not require repayment, including funds provided through the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, compiled generally in title 42 U.S.C., and other similar programs. Student loans and work-study awards shall not be considered gift aid;

(23) “Grade point average” means the numbered grade average calculated using a 4.0 scale;

(24) “HiSET®” means the High School Equivalency Test credential awarded by a state-approved institution or organization;

(25) “Home school student” means a student who completed high school in a Tennessee home school program meeting the requirements of § 49-6-3050(a)(2) or (a)(3) or § 49-6-3050(b). For one (1) year immediately preceding completion of high school as a home school student, the student shall have been a student in a home school;

(26) “Middle college” means a program operated by an eligible public two-year postsecondary institution in partnership with an LEA that permits students in the fall semester of their junior year in high school to enter the eligible public two-year postsecondary institution and to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in two (2) years;

(27) “Nonacademic requirement” means any scholarship eligibility requirement other than an academic requirement;

(28) “Nontraditional student” means a student who:

(A)

(i) Is at least twenty-five (25) years of age; and

(ii) Enrolls in an eligible postsecondary institution prior to August 1, 2018:

(a) As an entering freshman; or

(b) At least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution;

(B)

(i) Is at least twenty-five (25) years of age; and

(ii) Enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution on or after August 1, 2018:

(a) As an entering freshman; or

(b) At least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution; or

(C) Enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution on or after August 1, 2018, while maintaining continuous enrollment following completion of an associate degree under the Tennessee reconnect grant, established under § 49-4-944;

(29) “Parent” means the parent or guardian of a student;

(30) “Part-time student” means a student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for at least six (6) semester hours, but less than twelve (12) semester hours, during a semester of attendance;

(31) “Regional accrediting association” means:

(A) The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;

(B) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(C) The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(D) The Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges;

(E) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or

(F) The Western Association of Schools and Colleges;

(32) “SAT” means the Scholastic Aptitude Test administered by the College Board;

(33) “Scholarship” means a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or a Tennessee HOPE access grant;

(34) “Semester” means fall, spring, or summer semester at a postsecondary institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or the equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system;

(35) “Semester hour” means the credit hour used by a postsecondary institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or its equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system. “Semester hour” includes each semester hour attempted, whether remedial or for credit toward a degree, but shall not include any semester hour attempted before graduating from high school or earning a GED® or HiSET®;

(36) “Student who has obtained a GED® or HiSET®” means a student who was a Tennessee resident for at least one (1) year prior to obtaining a GED® or HiSET®;

(37) “Tennessee HOPE access grant” means a grant for study in pursuit of an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to freshman students meeting the requirements of § 49-4-920;

(38) “Tennessee HOPE scholarship” means a scholarship for study in pursuit of an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part;

(39) “THEC” means the Tennessee higher education commission;

(40) “Title IV” means Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 1070 et seq.;

(41) “TSAC” means the Tennessee student assistance corporation;

(42) “Unweighted grade point average” means grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated without additional points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses;

(43) “Weighted grade point average” means grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses, according to the uniform system of weighting of courses adopted by the state board of education, under § 49-1-302(a)(17); and

(44) “Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant” means a grant for study in pursuit of a certificate or diploma at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part.