O'More College of Design - Renewal Requirements

Renewal Requirements

Merit-based aid, as cited throughout this section, usually has a GPA requirement for renewal that varies according to fund. Need-based aid, whether from O'More itself or from a governmental source, requires submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Below are some other important considerations for keeping aid from year to year:

All financial aid recipients must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Several fund sources require a higher cumulative GPA and may require immediate loss of the funding if the cumulative GPA falls below an acceptable level. Failure to have the required GPA for federal and state funds will result in financial aid probation for the next regular semester. If the GPA is not raised to meet the requirement at the end of the probationary period, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (HOPE) has unique GPA requirements corresponding to hours attempted; it also computes GPA on the basis of hours attempted at all institutions, even if some of these hours are not accepted as transfer hours by O'More.
All financial aid recipients are required to successfully complete—with a grade of D or better—at least 50% of the courses for which they register during any given semester. If this requirement is not met, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the next regular semester. If the pass ratio is not met during the probationary semester, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. A student may not attempt more than 150% of the courses required to complete a degree. Anyone who exceeds 150% of the courses required for a degree will be placed on financial aid suspension.
Academic progress is recorded by the Registrar's Office and evaluated by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Students placed on financial aid suspension may appeal to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by submitting a statement and supporting documentation explaining the reason for a low GPA or low pass rate.
All financial aid recipients must have a course load of at least six credit hours. All institutional funds, however, require a minimum of 12 semester hours. Many federal and state grants are awarded on a prorated schedule according to course load while federal loans require at least half loads (6 credit hours). Be aware of the load requirements for the funds you receive.