Bill > HB2095

This bill makes several changes to Tennessee's higher education laws, primarily focusing on financial aid and transfer pathways. It removes specific deadlines for various reports, streamlines the rules for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) in administering financial aid programs, and clarifies eligibility criteria for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award, which is based on financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The bill also updates provisions related to the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, requiring continuous enrollment except for approved leaves and clarifying when awards can be revoked due to falsified information. Additionally, it mandates that new and existing transfer pathways between institutions must be reviewed every five years to ensure students can seamlessly transfer credits, and it allows the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to hold private meetings for specific administrative matters like personnel and contracts, though no official actions can be taken in these private sessions. Finally, the bill introduces a "transfer designation institution" status for public and private nonprofit colleges that commit to improving transfer student outcomes and clarifies that education provided through registered apprenticeship programs is exempt from certain regulations.

Education, Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2095&ga=114