1. (1) As used in these rules (Chapter 1640-01-03):

   1. (a) Cost of Attendance: T he combined cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books, and other educational expenses as determined by the financial aid office of the eligible postsecondary institution.
   2. (b) Default: The failure of a recipient in repayment status to make installment payments for a period of two hundred seventy (270) consecutive days.
   3. (c) Deferment: A period of time in which the student’s payments may be postponed, pur- suant to Rule 1640-01-03-.08.
   4. (d) Eligible Academic Program: A graduate program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and/or by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing which leads to a master’s or post-master’s degree in a field of study which will qualify the graduate to become a teacher or administrator in a college or university nursing edu- cation program.

   5. (e) Eligible Postsecondary Institution:

      1. 1. A Tennessee institution that is operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents of the state university and community college system;
      2. 2. An institution in the University of Tennessee system;
      3. 3. A Tennessee private postsecondary institution that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS); and
      4. 4. An out-of-state institution that is accredited by a regional accrediting association and which uses distance education to deliver instruction to a graduate nursing loan recipient residing in the state of Tennessee.
   6. (f) Full-time enrollment: The minimum number of credit hours per term necessary to be considered a full-time student, as defined by the eligible postsecondary institution.
   7. (g) Grace period: The three (3) month period of time that begins when the recipient either completes his or her eligible academic program or no longer meets the graduate nurs- ing loan eligibility requirements, and during which period of time interest accrues, but repayment is not required.
   8. (h) Graduate Nursing Loan: The loan-scholarship referenced in T.C.A. § 49-4-702.
   9. (i) Loan forgiveness: T he partial or complete cancellation of a graduate nursing loan, as described in these rules.
   10. (j) Part-time enrollment: Enrollment in fewer credit hours per term than the number nec- essary to be considered a full-time student, as defined by the eligible postsecondary institution.
   11. (k) Priority Date: March 1 preceding the intended academic year of attendance, or such other date as TSAC may require.
   12. (l) Program Administrator: T he T S A C staff member assigned administrative responsi- bility for the graduate nursing loan forgiveness program by the Associate Executive Di- rector for Grant and Scholarship Programs.
   13. (m) Regional Accrediting Association: Approved accrediting agencies including the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest- ern Association of Schools and Colleges, the Southern Association of College and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
   14. (n) Satisfactory Academic Progress: A standard of progress toward completion of the el- igible academic program during which the student meets minimum academic require- ments and progresses towards a degree as required by the nursing education program at the eligible postsecondary institution attended.
   15. (o) TSAC: Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.
   16. (p) Year of continuous full-time employment: Nine (9) to twelve (12) months of continuous employment considered by the employer to be full-time.
   17. (q) Year of continuous part-time employment: Nine (9) to twelve (12) months of continu- ous employment considered by the employer to be at least half-time but less than full- time.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-4-201, 49-4-203, 49-4-204, and 49-4-702. Administrative History: Original rule filed January 23, 1976; effective April 15, 1976. Repeal and new rule filed as a public necessity rule on December 11, 2006; effective through May 25, 2007. Original rule filed December 11, 2006; effective April 30, 2007. Repeal and new rule filed March 1, 2013; effective August 29, 2013. Amendment filed December 27, 2013; effective May 31, 2014.