TELS Appeals

The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship is awarded based on policies set forth by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.  TSAC’s TELS policy allows an appeal process for students who fail to meet enrollment requirements due to extenuating medical or personal circumstances.  Students may appeal because of the following ineligibility reasons:

þ      Failure to successfully complete 24 hours (2003 graduates only).

þ      A change of enrollment status from full-time to part-time after the Census Date (the last day to drop a class without a “W”).

þ      Withdrawal from the university.

þ      Failure to enroll within 16 months of high school graduation, home school completion, or GED test date.

þ      Failure to enroll for one or more required semesters.

According to TSAC’s TELS policy, appeals cannot be approved (regardless of extenuating circumstances) for the following ineligibility issues:

x     Initial eligibility requirements, such as GPA and ACT minimums.

x     GPA requirements for continuing eligibility.

x     Limit on attempted hours or years of enrollment.

x     Income limit for an Aspire Supplement.

x     Residency status.

To file an appeal, a student must submit a Tennessee Lottery Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Office.  The appeal must include a detailed statement regarding the extenuating circumstances, as well as documents to support the appeal.

If the appeal is denied by the MTSU Institutional Review Panel, the student will have an opportunity to appeal to TSAC’s Review Panel.  Instructions will be provided in the denial letter sent to the student’s campus mail box or permanent address.

Military Service

A student may be eligible for a Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship if the student does not meet residency requirements due to the military service of one or both parents.  The student must submit documentation to establish that the parent’s State of Record is Tennessee and that the parent has been stationed outside of Tennessee.  Dependents of Department of Defense employees may qualify for a TELS award under this rule.  Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

A student who does not meet enrollment requirements due to active military service may request a Leave of Absence for the applicable semester(s).  The student must submit documentation to establish the location of the active service, as well as the beginning and end dates.

A student meeting the above requirements is not required to appeal to the Institutional Review Panel. However, the student must submit a Military Service Appeal Form, along with documentation as indicated above.