The Institutional Review Panel (IRP) is established for the purpose of hearing appeals from decisions denying or revoking an applicant’s Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, TCAT Reconnect Grant, or Tennessee Promise Scholarship. Students may appeal loss of state aid resulting from non-continuous enrollment for one or more trimesters.

The IRP will be designated by the institution administrator and may be composed of, but not limited to, the following:  one faculty member, one administrator and one support staff. The IRP should always be of an odd number of members. An alternate will be designated for any IRP member who is personally involved in a particular case or is otherwise unable to attend. One of the IRP members will be appointed the committee chair.  No eligible institution official rendering a decision to deny or revoke a WNTSG/TCAT Reconnect/TN Promise award shall participate in the appeal process.

** Loss of eligibility due to failure to maintain satisfactory progress cannot be appealed. **

IRP Appeals/Leave of Absence Process and Timeline

A student wishing to appeal must submit the TCAT Appeal/Leave of Absence Request form along with supporting documentation to the financial aid office.  All appeals/leaves of absence requests will be reviewed by the IRP.

The IRP may review the student’s appeal with or without a hearing and shall decide no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the student properly files an appeal.  Under no circumstances should an individual approve or deny an appeal received from a student.

The IRP shall render a written decision no later than seven (7) calendar days after considering an appeal, except for exigent circumstances.

Notification of Decision to Student

Students are notified via campus email, upon a decision from the IRP. The notification must include the IRP’s determination as well as reason(s) supporting the decision. A copy of the notification must be retained in the student’s record.

Appeals of IRP’s Decision

A student seeking an appeal of a decision rendered by the IRP shall request in writing an appeal outlining the basis for the appeal with the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation TELS Award Appeals Panel within 45 calendar days from the date the decision was delivered to the student.