Definitions

(1) Continuous Full-time Employment: Practicing in a qualified field as described in the Act. (2) Corporation: Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). (3) Deferment: A period of time in which the borrower’s payments may be postponed. (4) Eligible Postsecondary Institution: The term is defined in T.C.A. § 49-4-902. (5) Full-time Student: A student attending an eligible postsecondary institution and enrolled full-time according to the requirements of the eligible postsecondary institution. (6) Grace Period: The period of time that repayment is not required and ends twelve months after the borrower completes the program of study or the borrower no longer TENNESSEE RURAL HEALTH LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM CHAPTER 1640-01-21 meets the Tennessee Rural Health Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility requirements. (7) Health Resource Shortage Area: An area determined as a health resource shortage area by the Department of Health, Office of Rural Health. (8) Loan Forgiveness: The partial or complete cancellation of a Tennessee Rural Health Loan, as described in these rules. (9) Program of Study: An eligible postsecondary institution that offers: (a) Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; or (b) Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree; or (c) Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree; or (d) Physician Assistant program; or (e) Masters or Doctoral Degree from a Nurse Practitioner Program. (10) Repayment Period: A period of not more than ten (10) years in which the loan will be repaid and shall begin at the end of the grace period, or when TSAC determines that the recipient has not complied with the minimum requirements of the Act. (11) Satisfactory Progress: A standard of progress toward completion of the program of study during which the borrower meets minimum academic requirements and progresses towards an advanced degree as required by the eligible postsecondary institution. (12) Semester: Fall, Spring, or Summer semester at an eligible postsecondary institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or the equivalent, if the institution is on a system other than a semester system. (13) Tennessee Rural Heath Act of 2008: The loan forgiveness scholarship program referenced in T.C.A., Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9 in 2008 Public Acts, Chapter 1142, § 21(a).