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Tennessee Reconnect is a program that aims to assist more adults return to school to obtain new skills, improve in their careers, and achieve their long-held goals of earning a degree or certification. Adults who dream to earn a degree at a Tennessee community college or technical institution can apply for the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship.
Returning Tennessee students who need financial aid to pay for college should take advantage of this chance. This blog will assist you in learning more about the program as well as navigating the application process. To help you get started, we’ve put up a comprehensive guide. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
About the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship
The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship, also known as the Tennessee Reconnect Grant, is a last-dollar grant that covers the leftover tuition and obligatory fees after all other state and federal financial aid has been applied. It is accessible to qualifying people who want to attend a Tennessee community college or technical institution to earn an associate degree, technical degree, or technical diploma.
The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship can be used toward a qualifying associate degree at an eligible public or private college or university, but it is not a last-dollar award.
Those seeking a diploma or certificate at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCATs) are eligible for a portion of the award. TCATs can be found all around the state of Tennessee. They offer a comprehensive range of technical and occupational training programs, with the goal of connecting students with high-quality professions through quality technical education.
The scholarship, on the other hand, can be used to pay for tuition at Tennessee community colleges and some four-year institutions while pursuing a two-year associate degree. After additional state financial aid and Pell Grants have been applied to tuition and obligatory fees at the community college, this award pays the leftover amount.
The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship will not be last-dollar at a four-year university, meaning it will not cover all tuition and fees. The amount of money available to students will be determined by the average cost of tuition and fees at a community college.
Program Benefits
After all other gift aid has been applied, the amount of remaining tuition and obligatory fees determines the award amount. Scholarship recipients, however, are financially liable for books and materials.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship, you must:
- Be a Tennessee resident as classified by the Tennessee Board of Regents, pursuant to TCA 49-8-104
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline date
- Be classified as an independent student or be at least 23 years of age on or before January 1 of the academic year
- Not have previously earned an associate degree or more advanced degree
- Be enrolled in a federal Title IV eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or associate degree
- Enroll in and attend at least six credit hours at an eligible institution
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of each academic year, as determined by the institution
- Participate in a college success program, as determined by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC)
Eligibility Criteria for Scholarship Continuation
After the student has earned an associate degree or certificate in an eligible program of study, or five years have passed since their initial enrollment as a Tennessee Reconnect student, the scholarship will be terminated.
Following completion of a certificate that directly leads to an associate degree or sequential certificate, a student may continue to earn a Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship for an associate degree or sequential certificate.
The scholarship is terminated if a student completes a certificate that does not lead directly to an associate degree or consecutive certificate. The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship is not affected by the completion of a certificate or diploma at a TCAT.
Eligible Institutions
TCAT
Students can use the scholarship at any of the 27 TCATs across the state. Their locations can be found here.
Public Community Colleges
Tennessee has a system of 13 community colleges with over 65 campuses across the state, offering over 4,000 academic programs to prepare students for success. The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship can be used at any of the state’s 13 community colleges.
Public Four-Year Universities
Students can use the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship to pursue an associate degree at these institutions:
- Austin Peay State University
- Tennessee State University
Tennessee’s Independent Colleges and Universities
Independent, private, non-profit colleges and universities in Tennessee provide two- and four-year degrees, as well as graduate programs in traditional arts and sciences, as well as specialty fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and fine arts. The scholarship can be used to pursue an associate degree at the following institutions:
- Baptist College of Health Sciences
- Bethel University
- Bryan College
- Carson-Newman University
- Christian Brothers University
- Cumberland University
- John A. Gupton College
- Johnson University
- King University
- Lane College
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Southern Adventist University
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tusculum University
- Welch College
Private for Profit Colleges and Universities
Students can use the scholarship grant to pursue an associate degree at the South College.
The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship Application
To apply for the scholarship, follow these steps:
1. Complete the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship Application
To create an account and/or submit an online application, use a laptop or desktop computer with Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, mobile devices and Macs are not fully supported.
- Create a login on the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) portal.
- Once you have created an account, select “Apply for Scholarships” on the TSAC Portal. Choose “Tennessee Reconnect.”
- Complete the application and submit it.
- Finally, your personalized Reconnect Success Plan will be generated. Make sure you review it and print it out or save it to your computer.
2. Apply to Your Local Community College or Eligible Tennessee Reconnect Institution
We’ve compiled a complete list of eligible institutions at the previous section. Choose one and apply to your selected institution.
3. File the FAFSA
Remember to submit your FAFSA before June 30. This guarantees that you’ll get all of the federal and state aid you’re eligible for. The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship is a last-dollar award, which means it covers the remaining tuition after gift aid has been applied.
The Federal Pell Grant, the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA), and lottery-funded programs are all considered gift aid for the purposes of this scholarship. In the meantime, students interested in using the Reconnect Grant to attend a TCAT must complete the FAFSA by July 1 for the summer term, November 1 for the fall term, and March 1 for the spring trimester.
We have a comprehensive guide on FAFSA if you need assistance with it.
4. Enroll in a Degree or a Certificate Program
You can start your future by enrolling in a degree or certificate program, at least part-time. Before enrolling, check with the college to see if the program is right for you.
Closing Date
Applicants must submit applications before the admission deadline from the university or college of choice.
Contact Details
Connect with Tennessee Reconnect on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the program.
The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship Official Website
All in all, learn more or apply to the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship by visiting its official website at https://tnreconnect.gov.
