Walters State Community College

Grants

Grants, unlike a loan, do not have to be repaid. Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. Grants may be funded by federal, state, local or institutional funds. The Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and non-federal sources might be added.

Grants Offered at WSCC

Pell – Federal Grant
FSEOG – Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Access & Diversity Grant
TSAA – TN Student Assistance Award– State Grant
Dual Enrollment Grant

Pell – Federal Grant

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

Application: FAFSA (yearly)

Award: $0 - $6,095 Year (may change yearly)

Eligibility:

Needs based to EFC less than 5,486 (may change yearly)
Enrolled in Degree or Approved Certificate Program
Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen of U.S.
Undergraduate
Meeting SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
Not in default of student loan or owe a federal repayment

FSEOG

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

(Campus Based Aid) It is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need for students with the lowest EFC and highest unmet need. (limited funding available).

Application: FAFSA (yearly)

Award: $0 - $1,200 year (may change yearly)

Eligibility:

Lowest EFC and highest unmet need
Meeting SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
Cannot exceed COA (Cost of Attendance)
Not in default of student loan or owe a federal repayment

Committing Ourselves to Excellency

(COTE) Access and Diversity Grant

The Committing Ourselves to Excellency (COTE) Access and Diversity Grant is designed to promote diversity, enhance inclusiveness and strengthen the success of underrepresented groups on campuses. The under representation may be the result of gender, age, race, income, lack of college experience by parents, demographics, and/or urban/rural residence.

The award is based on the number of eligible applications received, documented need and recommendations from the COTE Grant Committee.

Students must meet all of the following criteria:

Be a Tennessee resident; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Be admitted to Walter State Community College
Have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Meet with Coordinator of Multicultural Engagement or Assistant to the President for Diversity
Complete a COTE Grant Application. Submission deadline of application for Fall 2021 is June 18, 2021.

Please contact Student Diversity Services Office for deadlines.

Students must meet one of the following qualifications:

(preference given to students who meet more than one)

First generation college student (your parents have no education beyond highschool)
Member of an underrepresented population: African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
Non-traditional student (age 25 or older)
Documented disability (must be registered with the office of Disability Services)
Geographically disadvantaged (living is Hawkins, Claiborne, or Union Counties)
Veteran (must be registered with the office of Veteran Services)
Along with at least on of the above, documented financial need

The student's unmet need, after all other grants and scholarships have been awarded, will be considered when determining eligibility for this grant.

The award is based on the number of eligible applications received and recommendations from the COTE Grant Committee. The amount of the COTE awards will be based on funding for the number of eligible recipients and determined need.

Maximum Amounts Awarded Based on Hours Enrolled

Hours Enrolled	Maximum Amount Awarded
12 or more	$1,800
9-11	$1,350
6-8	$900
1-5	$450

Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis, as determined by the COTE Grant Committee. *Subject to change in TBR policy.

Applicant must not be a graduate of a 2-year college, have earned a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. Graduation from WSCC terminates eligibility.

Applications received after the due date will be awarded based on available funds.

Grant recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress standards (SAP) as outlined by Walters State Community College.

These include but are not limited to:

Maintain 2.0 GPA in all coursework
Received grant for 12-15 hours of enrollment, must satisfactorily complete 9 hours
Received grant for 9-11 hours, must satisfactorily complete 6 hours
Received grant for 6-8 hours, must satisfactorily complete 3 hours
Received grant for less than 6 hours, must satisfactorily complete the hours attempted

Click here for the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.

Applicants must already be accepted into Walters State or Readmitted prior to applying for the program. Applicants must have completed all requirements for Financial Aid including the verification process in order to be considered. A copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be turned in with this application.

Application

Apply for the Educational Access and Diversity Grant

Diversity Services
Roxanne Bowen
Counseling and Testing
423.585.6806

Renewal

Educational Access and Diversity Grant Renewal

Committing Ourselves to Excellency (COTE)

2023-2024 Diversity Service Award Application

Apply for Diversity Service Award

TSAA – State Grant TN Student Assistance Award

Application: FAFSA (yearly)

Award: $0 – 1,300

Eligibility:

Needs based – EFC less than 2,100
Pell eligible
First come first serve (based on submission date of FAFSA)
TN Residents
Enrolled at least half-time
Degree seeking
Undergraduate
Meeting SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) Cannot exceed COA
Not in default of student loan or owe a federal repayment

The Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program provides non-repayable financial assistance to financially needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee and are enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at a public or an eligible non-public postsecondary educational institution in Tennessee. Student must be enrolled at least half-time. This program allows awards to be made for a maximum of four semesters.

Dual Enrollment Grant

The Dual Enrollment Grant program is funded by the Tennessee Lottery and administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. This program provides opportunities for students to begin working toward a college degree, while still pursuing a high school diploma, and encourages post-secondary education and the acceleration of post-secondary attainment.

Application: TSAC

Additional Information and Frequently asked questions about Dual Enrollment

Award Amounts at Eligible Two-year and Four-year Postsecondary Institutions

The award amounts at eligible two-year institutions and four-year institutions will be as follows:

Up to $500 – Course #1
Up to $500 – Course #2
Up to $200 – Course #3
No award – Course #4
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #5
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #6
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #7
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #8
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #9
Up to $100 per credit hour – Course #10
A student may receive funding for one (1) course per semester. To receive funding for one additional course per semester, the student must meet the minimum HOPE Scholarship academic requirements at the time of dual enrollment. For more details, please see the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements.
Students who receive the Dual Enrollment Grant amount for more than four (4) dual enrollment courses over the junior and senior years will have the amount reduced from their Tennessee HOPE Scholarship on a dollar for dollar basis.
College courses attempted and the number of years enrolled as dual enrolled students shall not count against the 120 semester hours and five (5) years limitation for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship program.
The Dual Enrollment Grant shall be used for lower division (courses numbered 100-200 or 1000-2000) postsecondary degree-seeking courses.

TSAC's Dual Enrollment Grant Rules

Eligibility and Participation Requirements

To be eligible for the Dual Enrollment Grant program, the student must:

Be a high school junior or senior
Be a Tennessee resident for 1 year by September 1of the application year
Complete the Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant online each semester
Not have received a high school diploma
The application processing deadline dates for the college award year are: September 15 for fall enrollment, February 1 for spring, or May 15 for summer enrollment. The processing deadline dates for Tennessee College of Applied
Technology are: November 1 for fall enrollment, March 1 for spring and May 15 for summer enrollment.

Grant Requirements and Application Instructions

Awarding Process

After students have completed the online dual enrollment grant application with TSAC indicating Walters State Community College as their college or university of attendance, the high school program's office verifies eligibility for the dual enrollment grant applicants. Once the applicant has been verified as eligible, the Financial Aid Office certifies the award and posts the dual enrollment grant award to the students’ Walters State account. If the student is registered, the award will post to the student account and offset tuition/fees for the semester. If the student has paid all tuition/fees, a refund will be processed through direct deposit or check by the Cashier’s Office.

No student will receive credit for a dual enrollment grant until their application has been verified and awarded.

Note: The Dual Enrollment Grant application deadline for summer is May 15. Dual enrollment grant recipients for summer must register for summer courses prior to May 24 to receive potential dual enrollment grant funds, if eligible. Any applicant registering after May 24 will not receive a summer dual enrollment grant.

FILL OUT THE FAFSA MAKE A PAYMENT