Understanding the General Assembly Merit Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities

The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) program offers various scholarships to help Tennessee students afford higher education. Administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), the TELS program includes the General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS), a merit-based supplemental award designed to recognize and support high-achieving students. This article delves into the requirements, eligibility, and other essential details of the General Assembly Merit Scholarship. The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation is the state headquarters for the TELS program. This scholarship is sometimes called the "Lottery" or "TELS" scholarship.

Applying for the HOPE Scholarship and GAMS

Students can apply for both the HOPE scholarship and the GAMS supplement by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To apply for a HOPE Scholarship, you must fill out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Early application is recommended. The TELS program requirements change from time to time, so review application and eligibility requirements regularly to ensure that you remain in full compliance.

Key Deadlines

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than September 1st for the fall semester, March 1st for the spring semester and May 1st for the summer semester.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) Explained

The General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS), also known as ‘HOPE Merit’, is a merit-based supplemental award. The General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) is a merit-based supplement to the HOPE scholarship awarded to students beginning in their freshman year and thereafter for those who remain HOPE-eligible.

Eligibility Criteria for Entering Freshmen

To be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman, a student must:

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Meet all requirements for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship
Achieve a final high school grade point average of at least 3.75. *This means a grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by the state Board of Education.
Attain a composite ACT score of at least 29 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date. ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment after high school graduation. Neither an ACT/SAT Super Score nor a Residual Test Score are not acceptable for eligibility purposes.

Eligibility for Home School Graduates

To be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman, a student who completes high school in a Tennessee home school program after December 1, 2003, or who graduates from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school after December 1, 2003, shall:

Meet all requirements for a Tennessee Hope scholarship that are applicable to the student
Attain a composite ACT score of at least 29 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date
During the course of a home school program or while attending an ineligible high school:
- Enroll in at least four (4) dual enrollment courses totaling at least twelve (12) semester hours credit at an eligible postsecondary institution and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
- Participate in a governor's school program, and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
- Take two (2) Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, 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 fifty-five (55)
Apply for a general assembly merit scholarship

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Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school in a Tennessee home school program, or graduating from high school.

Maintaining GAMS Eligibility

A student, who receives a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman shall continue to be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship, if the student meets all requirements of § 49-4-911 for continuation of a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

Loss and Regaining of GAMS

If a student receiving a general assembly merit scholarship ceases to be academically eligible for the general assembly merit scholarship, by failing to maintain the required cumulative grade point average at the end of any semester in which academic eligibility is reviewed under § 49-4-911, then the student may regain the Tennessee HOPE scholarship award under § 49-4-911(b), but may not regain the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award. If a student receiving a general assembly merit scholarship ceases to be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship at any time, for any reason other than failure to maintain the required cumulative grade point average, then the student shall not be able to regain either the Tennessee HOPE scholarship or the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award.

Award Details

A student who meets the requirements for a general assembly merit scholarship shall receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship award under § 49-4-914 and a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award. The general assembly merit scholar supplemental award for full-time students shall be determined in accordance with § 4-51-111 and shall be set in the general appropriations act. Both the Tennessee HOPE scholarship award and the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award are subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery.

Understanding HOPE Scholarship Variations

Traditional TN HOPE Scholarship

The Traditional TN HOPE Scholarship is what is known to most simply as the ‘TN HOPE Scholarship’. The Traditional HOPE Scholarship is what is known to most simply as the ‘HOPE Scholarship’. It is available for graduating high school seniors who meet the minimum requirements to receive the award. In order to continue receiving the award, you must meet the minimum GPA requirements at each 24-hour benchmark.

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TN HOPE Aspire Award

The TN HOPE Aspire Award, also known as ‘HOPE Need’, is a need-based supplemental award. Student's receiving the TN HOPE Scholarship may qualify for the TN HOPE Aspire award if they meet the following criteria: Parent or independent student (and spouse) adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less. This award cannot be combined with the General Assembly Merit Scholarship. If a student is eligible for both the HOPE Aspire Award and GAMS, they will be paid TN HOPE Aspire as it is the higher amount.

Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship

The Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship is available to students who meet all of the following criteria:

Student must- Be an independent student as determined on the FAFSA application and enroll in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution; OR
Enroll in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution on or after August 1, 2018 while maintaining continuous enrollment following the completion of an associate degree as a TN Reconnect recipient.
Student must be continuously enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution in every fall and spring term.
Student must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Student must be classified as a TN resident and admitted as In-state.
Student's adjusted gross income (combined with spouse, if applicable) must be $36,000 or less as determined by the FAFSA for the academic year awarded.
Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 12 *attempted semester hours (or required GPA at subsequent benchmark). *Note - Attempted hours and college grades prior to re-enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution are not considered.

A non-traditional student must be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program while maintaining continuous enrollment. Failure to remain in a baccalaureate degree program will result in a permanent loss of eligibility.

Except for an approved leave of absence, recipients enrolled at four-year eligible postsecondary institutions must remain continuously enrolled as Non-Traditional HOPE students.

A student who initially qualifies for a lottery scholarship under non-traditional rules will continue to be eligible for the award as long as he or she meets continuing eligibility requirements and has an Adjusted Gross Income of $36,000 or less on the FAFSA.

Scholarship Amounts and Potential Combinations

Lottery scholarship amounts vary, depending on the particular award(s) for which the student is eligible. The base scholarship, the HOPE Scholarship, will depend on the grade level of the student. Specific award amounts are defined by the TN Student Assistance Corporation.

Award: Up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshman and sophomore; then up to $2,850 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior. Additional funding may also be available through HOPE supplemental awards. The HOPE Scholarship may be combined with any financial aid up to the full estimated cost of attendance.

Maintaining HOPE Scholarship Eligibility

Understanding how dropping classes or changing from full to part-time status may impact your TELS eligibility is especially important. You should talk to a One Stop counselor before dropping courses to see how the enrollment change will affect your financial aid.

Regaining HOPE Scholarship Eligibility

If you fail to meet the academic renewal requirements and lose the HOPE Scholarship, you can regain the award one time only by meeting the renewal criteria listed below. You cannot appeal to regain your HOPE Scholarship if your GPA falls below the renewal requirements. To regain the HOPE Scholarship, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress and achieve a cumulative HOPE GPA of 2.75 after attempting 48 semester hours. If you lose the award due to a nonacademic reason-such as not maintaining continuous enrollment or changing your enrollment status from full time to part time, or part time to less than part time-you are not eligible to regain the award unless an appeal is approved by the post-secondary institution or TSAC.

Your HOPE GPA includes hours and grades for all courses taken after your high school graduation, including other institutions you may have attended.

Provisional Qualification

At the 72 bracket and subsequent checkpoints, a student may provisionally qualify with a 2.75 cumulative TELS GPA and a 3.0 semester GPA. Students must earn a 3.0 MTSU semester GPA for each semester (including the benchmark semester) and must be enrolled full-time each fall and spring semester to maintain TELS eligibility under the provisional rules.

A student who, at the end of a semester, reaches the 72 or 96 hour benchmark and has a 2.75 - 2.99 TELS GPA and at least a 3.0 MTSU semester GPA for the current semester in which the benchmark is reached may be provisionally eligible for the TELS award.

Enrollment Requirements

Students must enroll no later than 16 months after graduation from high school or home school. Students may enroll in as little as one credit hour and remain eligible for future semesters; however, all TELS recipients must enroll at least half time (at least 6 credit hours) every fall and spring semester to receive the scholarship for that semester.

Continuous Enrollment

A TELS recipient must maintain his or her enrollment status each fall and spring semester. (Example: A student receiving a full-time scholarship must remain enrolled in at least 12 hours through the end of the semester. If extenuating circumstances prevent a student from meeting Continuous Enrollment requirements, the student may be eligible for an appeal.

Repeating Courses

You will be allowed to repeat a single class and request that the earlier grade be excluded from the TELS GPA.

TELS and Advanced Degrees

Effective Fall 2023, any TELS eligible student who graduates with their baccalaureate degree from an eligible Tennessee college/university on-or-after July 1, 2023 AND has not reached the maximum 5 year TELS program completion limit AND immediately enrolls in an eligible advanced degree program (i.e. Masters or Doctoral) the semester after receiving baccalaureate degree MAY be eligible to receive TELS funds while working on advanced degree program (i.e. The student completes an advanced degree program (i.e. Masters or Doctoral).

Students must enroll in the next immediate required Fall or Spring semester after graduating with their baccalaureate degree to maintain TELS continuing eligibility. Failure to do so will result in a total and permanent loss of TELS eligibility; however, if student has a valid and documentable circumstance, they may appeal the loss.

Students will NOT receive a TELS award for courses attempted towards a certificate (undergraduate or graduate) program OR on a 2nd baccalaureate degree. For lottery purposes, these programs are NOT considered advanced degrees. However if student maintains continuing eligibility while enrolled in certificate program or 2nd baccalaureate degree program, does not reach a terminating TELS event, and later enrolls in an eligible advanced degree program (i.e. An Advanced degree (i.e. Masters or Doctoral) TELS recipient must maintain their enrollment status each Fall and Spring semester. (For example, a graduate student receiving a full-time award must remain enrolled in at least 9 graduate level hours through the end of the semester.

For Advanced degree (i.e. Masters or Doctoral) TELS purposes, enrollment status at MTSU is defined below. Students enrolled less than ½ time MAY be eligible to receive funds for semester dependent on reason why student is enrolled less than ½ time. As with undergraduate TELS, advanced degree TELS may only be awarded and paid on credit hours towards an eligible program of study.

Additional Considerations

GED/HiSET: Qualifying GED/HiSET score. The Minimum Revised GED score is 170.
Less Than Half-Time Enrollment: Effective Fall 2023, any TELS eligible student who is enrolled less than half-time in Coursework towards Program of Study (CPoS) may be eligible to receive a less than half-time TELS award amount dependent on the reason why student is enrolled less than ½ time.
Associate Degree Graduates: Effective Fall 2022, any Tennessee eligible high school student graduating with an Associate degree OR a current college student who is graduating with an Associate degree will need to provide the MTSU Undergraduate Admissions Office with an official copy of their final high school transcript. The Financial Aid & Scholarship Office need the final high school transcript to confirm your initial eligibility for the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships.
Summer Enrollment: You must be enrolled in at least 6 hours to receive a summer lottery scholarship. Your award will be prorated based on enrollment. Most students are not eligible to receive the scholarship if enrolled less than 6 undergraduate (5 graduate) hours.
Award Adjustment: If you drop or add classes after your lottery scholarship is applied, your scholarship amount may increase or decrease. IMPORTANT If you add classes after the July fee payment deadline, or fail to contact us about a missing or incorrect award by that date, we will be unable to assist you with scholarship funds.
Coursework towards Program of Study (CPoS): Eligibility to receive TELS funds for a semester is based on student’s enrollment in Coursework towards their Program of Study (CPoS). The disbursement of TELS funds is also based on student’s enrollment in Coursework towards their Program of Study (CPoS) for semester. Students enrolled full-time are eligible to receive the maximum amount.

Transferring Schools and TELS

Notify TSAC: Inform the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) of which school you plan to attend. You may do so by visiting College Pays TN’s Student Portal. It is recommended that you use the Student Portal, since it is processed by TSAC immediately.
Submit a TELS Transfer Notification form to the MT One Stop: If you are an Undergraduate student seeking your 1st baccalaureate degree - When you see all your transfer credits on your MTSU transcript, and you have made MTSU your school of record with TSAC for the applicable award year, complete the online MTSU TELS Transfer Notification Form. If you are a Graduate student you has already received their baccalaureate degree on-or-after July 1, 2023 from an eligible Tennessee institution, and are now seeking an Advanced degree (i.e.
Transferring Mid-Year: If you are transferring to MTSU in the middle of the academic year (for example, if you transfer in the spring after attending another school in the fall), please be aware that you may not receive your lottery award prior to the fee payment deadline and the beginning of classes, depending on the timing of when you complete all steps for eligibility processing.

Please Note: If you received your baccalaureate degree from an out-of-state institution, and you are transferring to MTSU in pursuit of an Advanced degree (i.e.

Staying Informed

It’s important to periodically check your lottery scholarship status and other lottery information on your PipelineMT account.

The most common cause of a missing TELS award is that you listed a school other than MTSU first on your FAFSA. Inform the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) of which school you plan to attend. You may do so by visiting College Pays TN’s Student Portal. This is called changing your ‘school of record’. Your FAFSA may have been selected for verification, and we may still be waiting for you to submit required verification documents.

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