# Aggie One Stop

**Source**: https://aggie.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/texas-armed-services-scholarship
**Parent**: https://aggie.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/international-student-scholarships

# Dr. Robert M. Gates and Neal W. Adams '68 Texas Armed Services Scholarship

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The Dr. Robert M. Gates and Neal W. Adams '68 Texas Armed Services Scholarship (TASSP), funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), was created to assist promising Texas students who are dedicated to both education and service. It encourages young leaders to participate in the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any branch of the armed services of the United States. Each year, the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students, while each state senator and state representative may appoint one student to receive a conditional TASSP award. The award has been renamed to honor the contributions of [Dr. Robert M. Gates](https://www.war.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/602797/dr-robert-m-gates/) and [Neal W. Adams '68](https://txhigheredfoundation.org/member/neal-adams/) to Texas A&M University, the State of Texas, and the United States of America.\
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Scholarship award amounts will be determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in mid-September of each academic year. The amount of this scholarship may not exceed the difference between the cost of attendance and other forms of student assistance for which the student may be eligible.\
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For more information, please visit [hhloans.com](http://www.hhloans.com/index.cfm?ObjectID=8FB593C7-EE1E-7872-00A8808886543AEE). For questions about your scholarship, please contact Scholarships & Financial Aid at [tassp@tamu.edu](mailto:tassp@tamu.edu), or the THECB at [tassp@highered.texas.gov](mailto:tassp@highered.texas.gov).\
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### TASSP Timeline

| Dr. Robert M. Gates Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP) Timeline | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **STEP 1** | **New TASSP Recipients** **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Student submits Notification of Selection from the Coordinating Board to [tassp@tamu.edu](mailto:tassp@tamu.edu). | **STEP 1** | **Continuing Texas A&M Students** **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Scholarships & Financial Aid reviews student’s eligibility for renewal of TASSP over summer. |

| Completed by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) | | ALL students complete the following steps | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Step 2** | Scholarships & Financial Aid posts TASSP notification in portal for eligible students and notifies students via TAMU email. | **Step 3** | **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Student logs in to the Financial Aid Portal to complete TASSP requirements, including the TASSP Good Standing Form requirement each fall and spring semester. |
| **Step 4** | When THECB releases finalized annual TASSP amount, Scholarships & Financial Aid offers finalized amount to students and notifies students via TAMU email. | **Step 5** | **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Student logs in to Financial Aid Portal to accept finalized TASSP offer. |
| **Step 6** | Scholarships & Financial Aid notifies THECB of students that have accepted TASSP. Please allow 2-3 business days for your application to be available on hhloans.com after you have accepted TASSP in the portal. | **Step 7** | **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Student goes online to [hhloans.com](http://www.hhloans.com/) to complete the application, self-certification, and promissory note. This is done once a year. |
| **Step 8** | THECB receives student’s completed documents and mails a disclosure statement to the address provided on the student’s application. The disclosure statement instructs student to accept the loan terms by logging into hhloans.com for the second time. | **Step 9** | **YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:** Student logs in to [hhloans.com](http://www.hhloans.com/) to accept the Loan Acceptance Disclosure (LAD), and any other required TASSP terms. |
| **Step 10** | Scholarships & Financial Aid receives the first semester TASSP funds approximately ten business days after the student accepts the Loan Acceptance Disclosure (LAD), and any other required TASSP terms. |  | |
| **Step 11** | The next semester, THECB will send the second disbursement and eligibility will be checked again before being disbursed by Scholarships & Financial Aid. |  | |
| \*NOTE: The entire process will take at least three weeks from start to finish. Student must meet all eligibility requirements at time of certification and disbursement. | | | |

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## [Eligibility for Nomination (meet two of the following four criteria)](#a-eligibilityfornominationmeettwoofthefollowingfourcriteria-1AGrOg)

- Be on track to graduate high school in a Distinguished Achievement Program or International Baccalaureate program
- Maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Be ranked in the top third of high school graduating class
- Achieve an SAT score of 1070 or ACT score of 23

## [Eligibility for Award](#a-eligibilityforaward-3q-wzs)

- To receive a scholarship, an appointed student must:
- Be registered with Selective Service or be exempt
- Be enrolled and in good standing in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program or another undergraduate officer commissioning program as certified by the institution
- Have completed a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program or another undergraduate officer commissioning program as certified by the institution.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as indicated by the financial aid office at the recipient’s institution of higher education
- Enter into a written agreement with the THECB
- Complete school-initiated TASSP application
- Repay the scholarship if requirements are not met

## [Initial Application](#a-initialapplication-7LDn65)

You must be appointed by a state representative or state senator or by the Governor or Lieutenant Governor. The nomination letter from the nominator needs to be sent to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) directly.

**Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board**\
ATTN: Loan Services\
PO BOX 12788\
Austin, TX 78711

- Once the THECB receives the nomination they will send the student a confirmation of the nomination. Please send this confirmation from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to [tassp@tamu.edu](mailto:tassp@tamu.edu). Estimated awards will be offered via the Financial Aid Portal in late summer of each year. Final award amounts may differ from the estimate and will be adjusted each year in mid-September after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has released the annual award amount. Please monitor your Financial Aid Portal to accept the award and for steps to complete the application process via [hhloans.com](http://www.hhloans.com/).

## [Renewal Application](#a-renewalapplication-RXmP5G)

You must complete a new application each year to receive TASSP. This process begins with an offer in the Financial Aid Portal and includes completing an application each year via [hhloans.com](http://www.hhloans.com/). Renewal awards will be offered via the Financial Aid Portal in late summer of each year. Final award amounts may differ from the estimate and will be adjusted each year in mid-September after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has released the annual award amount. Please monitor your Financial Aid Portal to accept the award and for steps to complete the application process. A Good Standing Form must also be completed and submitted in the Financial Aid Portal each Fall and Spring.

## [Payment of TASSP funds](#a-paymentoftasspfunds-SVLNRM)

Please note that funds from TASSP will not pay until the semester has already begun. This is due to the fact that the final award amount is not set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board until mid-September and Texas A&M must verify that TASSP recipients are enrolled in courses and in an ROTC program. Typically, the earliest funds will arrive to be disbursed to the student is in the beginning of October. Please plan your budget and bill payments accordingly.

## [Changing Graduation Date](#a-changinggraduationdate-GcvH8M)

If you need to update your graduation date, you should contact the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board directly - (800) 242-3062 (outside Austin) or (512) 427-6340 (inside Austin).

## [Graduating TASSP Students](#a-graduatingtasspstudents-tDCz6U)

Graduating TASSP students need to complete the [Annual Certification/ Notice of Fulfillment form](https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a0e373f1955c4e3184c6a5c737122e6d) and provide the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) with a copy of your Military orders upon graduation. Each of the following years (for four years) this Annual Certification form needs to be completed and sent to THECB to show continuing eligibility.

## [Hardships or Other Proper Causes](#a-hardshipsorotherpropercausesnbspnbsp-w5hr8Y)

If you do not meet renewal requirements due to extenuating circumstances, you may submit an appeal for us to review your eligibility. The request must be submitted in writing to tassp@tamu.edu and must explain the reason for the request.

Reasons that may be considered include:

- A severe illness or other condition that affected academic performance.
- Your academic performance being affected by your responsibility for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person.
- Other circumstances that may have impacted your ability to meet renewal requirements.

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The TASSP Program Coordinator will respond to your request through your Texas A&M email account. Other supporting documentation may be requested. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee any adjustments can or will be made.

For more information, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website.

## [Frequently Asked Questions](#a-frequentlyaskedquestions-R301gu)

Q: How long am I eligible to use TASSP?\
A: A student cannot receive a scholarship for more than four academic years.\
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Q: Who can I contact to sign my Good Standing Form?\
A: A point of contact in your command or commissioning program should be able to complete the Good Standing Form.\
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Q: How is my TASSP amount calculated?\
A: We calculate the award eligibility by deducting the amount of accepted financial assistance, as well as any resources, such as Tuition Assistance (TA) or the Hazlewood Act Exemption.\
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Q: What is the maximum TASSP amount?\
A: The amount of the award will be the lesser of $30,000.00, or the student’s cost of attendance (COA).\
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Q: Do I qualify for TASSP if I’m in the Corps of Cadets?\
A: No, alone the Corps of Cadets is not a qualifying commissioning program.\
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Q: When will I receive my TASSP funds?\
A: TASSP funds will be released approximately ten business days after the student accepts the Loan Acceptance Disclosure (LAD), and any other required TASSP terms.\
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Q: What is considered an eligible commissioning program?\
A: Any Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program or other undergraduate officer commissioning program as certified by the institution. Please email [TASSP@tamu.edu](mailto:TASSP@tamu.edu) regarding specific program questions.  \
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Q: How do I get nominated?\
A: If you’re interested in this opportunity, follow these steps to get started:

- Connect with the Texas A&M University Government Relations team and complete the [TASSP Interest Form](https://u.tamu.edu/TASSPForm). The Government Relations team will reach out to provide you with more information.
- Talk to your elected official: Be sure to have your resume and a cover letter prepared, expressing your interest and goals.
- Check in and follow up appropriately.

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Q: Why haven’t I received my TASSP funds?\
A: Check your status:

- Verify your award status in the Financial Aid Portal in [Howdy](https://howdy.tamu.edu/)
- Review your application status at [HHLoans](https://www.hhloans.com/)
- Email [TASSP@tamu.edu](mailto:TASSP@tamu.edu) if you are unable to determine your status

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Q: Why is my TASSP award amount lower than the initial offer?\
A: You may have had an award added, increased or received an additional resource, which we must consider when determining the TASSP award amount.

##### Dr. Robert M. Gates and Neal W. Adams '68 Texas Armed Services Scholarship

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