The COVID-19 pandemic challenged educators and students in multiple ways. For students attending the University of Tennessee at Martin who lost merit scholarships during the pandemic, some help is coming. Students who did not meet the grade-point-average requirement at the end of the 2021 spring semester to retain merit scholarships will have these scholarships reinstated to start the 2021-22 academic year.  A total of 508 students will have their scholarships reinstated.

“So many students struggled last year because of the method of course delivery caused by the pandemic,” said Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, university provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This will give students another chance to get on track.”

Students are receiving direct emails about the reinstatement, which reads in part, “We believe in you and want to see you succeed, so here is a second chance to bring your GPA (Grade Point Average) up to the minimum required to retain your scholarship(s) past the 2021-22 academic year.”

“At this point, students will have a one-year grace period to bring their GPAs back up to above the scholarship thresholds,” Cavalier added. “Last year will still have an effect on their GPA calculations, of course, but one extra academic year will help many of them.”

Students and families who have questions can contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 731-881-7040 or by email at <a href="mailto:financialaid@utm.edu">financialaid@utm.edu</a>. Students suspended from financial aid at the end of the 2021 spring semester must file a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal before reinstatement of federal and state aid will be considered.

The university’s main campus and five regional centers in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer and Somerville will fully open Aug. 23 for in-person classes. The university uses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for pandemic safety that include encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations, mask wearing for the unvaccinated, washing hands frequently and social distancing when possible. The university maintains a pandemic website at <a href="http://www.utm.edu/coronavirus">www.utm.edu/coronavirus</a>.
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