Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1640-01-26-.06 - COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

(1) A student participating in the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program shall perform and report eight (8) hours of community service for each semester the scholarship is received.

(2) Community service reporting deadlines shall be determined by the TSAC Executive Director and published on TSAC's website. If the deadline occurs on a weekend or holiday, then the application deadline will be the next business day. It is the responsibility of the student to report community service in a timely manner to ensure it is received by the published deadlines. The TSAC Executive Director is authorized to modify published deadlines for well-documented extraordinary cause, where necessary to protect the public interest.

(3) A student who is granted a leave of absence may complete the community service during the leave of absence or in the first academic term following the period for which the leave of absence was granted. Community service performed in the first academic term following the leave of absence shall be in addition to any other community service required in the same academic term.

(4) Upon completion of the community service, each student shall verify to the Partnering Organization a description of service performed, the date(s) the service was performed, the total hours of service provided, and the name, phone number, and email address of the organization for which the service was provided.

(5) Community Service generally benefits the community-at-large or its institutions but shall not include:

(a) Service performed prior to the Tennessee Promise Scholarship application deadline preceding the initial academic term;

(b) Service resulting in payment or remuneration of any kind; or

(c) Service performed for family members or individual citizens.

(6) Community service may be performed with or under the direction of a faith-based organization, but shall not include religious teaching, proselytizing, or participation in religious services.

(7) Community service in excess of eight (8) hours performed in any semester shall not be carried over into subsequent semesters. Unless the student is on an approved leave of absence, failure to complete and report the eight (8) hours of community service prior to an academic semester will result in the immediate termination of eligibility for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship. Community service performed during an approved leave of absence shall count towards fulfillment of the community service requirement in the first semester following the leave of absence.

(8) A student who knowingly provides false verification of community service shall be ineligible to receive additional benefits under the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1640-01-26-.06

Emergency rule filed August 14, 2014; effective through February 10, 2015. Original rule filed August 14, 2014; effective November 12, 2014. Repeal and new rule filed December 19, 2014; effective March 19, 2015. Emergency rule filed August 4, 2015; effective through January 31, 2016. Amendments filed February 9, 2016; effective May 9, 2016. Amendments filed February 22, 2016; effective May 22, 2016. Emergency rules filed February 13, 2017; effective through August 12, 2017. The emergency rules expired on August 13, 2017 and reverted back to their previous status. Amendments filed July 17, 2017; effective October 15, 2017. Amendments filed October 31, 2018; effective January 29, 2019. Amendments filed August 7, 2023; effective November 5, 2023. Rule was previously numbered 1640-01-26-.07 but was renumbered 1640-01-26-.06 with the deletion of rule 1640-01-26-.05 filed November 22, 2024; effective 2/20/2025.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-4-201, 49-4-204, and 49-4-708.