Hope (Lottery) Appeals
Learn more about the ETSU Hurricane Helene Policy Effective Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) is awarded based on policies set forth by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC Chapter 1640-1-19) in accordance with Tennessee State Law (T.C.A. §§ 49-4-901 through 49-4-928) governing the administration of this scholarship program.
In accordance with these regulations, ETSU has established an Institution Review Panel (IRP) to hear appeals for students who are denied or who lose their TELS award. If you receive notice that you have lost your eligibility for a TELS award, you will need to submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships as soon as possible. Appeals are reviewed by the IRP according to the TELS IRP Committee Schedule, which can be found below. Once a decision has been reached on your appeal, you will be sent written notice of the decision to your ETSU email.
APPEAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS:
- Supply ALL information requested on the form
- Attach ALL appropriate documentation
- Submit the form to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Keep a copy of the form and all documentation for your records
- Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed by the committee
To submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at ETSU: APPEAL FORM.
Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 TELS IRP Schedule
| TELS Appeal Submission Deadline |
IRP Review Committee Meeting | Students will be notified of the decision no later than: |
| August 5, 2024 | August 9, 2024 | August 12, 2024 |
| August 19, 2024 | August 23, 2024 | August 26, 2024 |
| September 16, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
September 23, 2024 |
| October 21, 2024 | October 25, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
| January 6, 2025 | January 10, 2025 | January 13, 2025 |
| January 13, 2025 | January 17, 2025 | January 20, 2025 |
| January 20, 2025 | January 24, 2025 | January 27, 2025 |
| February 1, 2025 | February 7, 2025 | February 10, 2025 |
If you have lost your TELS award for any of the following reasons, you must appeal directly to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC):
- changed enrollment status (dropped from full-time to below full-time or half-time
to below half-time) at another school
--- or --- - failed to enroll in a post-secondary institution within 16 months of high school graduation
--- or --- - did not maintain continuous enrollment at another institution
Qualifying students may also submit:
- Lottery Scholarship Regain Option Form
- Lottery Scholarship Repeat Option Form
- Students may contact their personal Financial Aid counselor with any questions.
- For information on maintaining eligibility for the Hope (Lottery Scholarship) click here.
- NOTE: For students submitting the Lottery Scholarship Repeat Option Form, you are required
to meet with a counselor.
ETSU Hurricane Helene Policy Effective Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025
- Per Governor Lee's Major Disaster Declaration, students in the following counties
may be eligible to appeal for a leave of absence or a change of enrollment status:
- Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties
- The type of TELS Hurricane Helene appeal a student needs to complete will depend on
the term the appeal is for:
- Students may complete an appeal for an enrollment status change for fall 2024 due to Hurricane Helene if they needed to drop classes in the middle of the term.
- Students may request a leave of absence for spring 2025 and/or summer 2025 due to Hurricane Helene if they needed to take a break from continuous enrollment.
- The following conditions apply to documentation needed for TELS Hurricane Helene appeals:
- Students who live in a declared emergency county will only need to provide the appeal form and a short letter requesting an appeal due to change in enrollment status.
- Students who do not live in a declared emergency county will need to complete the appeal form, provide a letter explaining the reason for their request and supporting documentation. This applies to requesting a LOA or a change of enrollment status.
- Students granted an appeal approval for fall 2024 due to being affected by Hurricane Helene will not have their attempted hours count in their TELS hours. The SPC will work with the registrar to have these specific courses excluded for these students in Banner.