2008-09
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
&
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
Fact Sheet

A Federal Program Administered by the United States
Department of Education Federal Regulation 34 CFR 691

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be eligible to receive a Pell Grant;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program for the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting postsecondary institution;
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, for a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student);
• Florida Recognized Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study provides eligibility options for a student graduating from a secondary school in Florida during the 2008 academic year.
• If a second year student, have at least a 3.0 institutional cumulative grade point average (GPA) for the first academic year; and
• Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.

• ED Student Eligibility Options for New Academic Grants
  http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart.pdf
• Additional information on the ACG and the National SMART Grant is available at
  http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/NewPrograms.jsp
  and a listing of frequently asked questions and answers is available at
  http://www.ifap.ed.gov/HERA/GenEligibilityChgElig.html

• Be a US citizen;
• Be eligible to receive a Pell Grant;
• Be enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program;
• Have a 3.0 institutional cumulative GPA;
• Be enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories:  Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies.  You may visit http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/CompleteListEligibleMajors0708SMART.pdf to view a complete list of eligible majors.
• Contact the financial aid office at the postsecondary institution to notify the institution of potential eligibility.

• The student will demonstrate financial need via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • The student who completes the FAFSA online:
    • Will be evaluated for preliminary eligibility.
    • If the student is predetermined eligible, the student is given the opportunity to answer the ACG questions.
  • The student who completes the FAFSA via hardcopy:
    • Will receive information on the Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating whether or not the student is eligible to answer the ACG questions.
    • If the student is predetermined eligible, the student should answer the ACG questions by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID.
  • The student’s postsecondary institution will receive the results of the FAFSA.
  • The student’s completed courses and grades received from high school (for a first year grant recipient) and college (for a second year grant recipient) will determine eligibility for the ACG.

• The student will demonstrate financial need via the FAFSA.
• The student’s postsecondary institution will receive the results of the FAFSA.
• The student should contact the financial aid office at the postsecondary institution to notify the institution of potential eligibility.

• Meet the eligibility requirements annually.
• Demonstrate financial need by completing an error free FAFSA each academic year by the specified deadline

• First year students may receive up to $750, and second year students may receive up to $1,300.
• The postsecondary institution uses the results of the FAFSA to aid in the determination of a student’s award amount.  Additionally, the ACG is a need-based grant and may not, in conjunction with other gift aid or need-based loans or work, exceed the student’s need.

• Third and fourth year undergraduate students may receive up to $4,000 for each year of undergraduate study.
• The postsecondary institution uses the results of the FAFSA to aid in the determination of a student’s award amount.  Additionally, the National SMART Grant is a need-based grant and may not, in conjunction with other gift aid or need-based loans or work, exceed the student’s need.