Academic Competitiveness & National SMART Grants

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant are new federal grant programs beginning fall 2006.  They are similar in basic eligibility criteria: You must be a U.S. citizen who is eligible for the Federal Pell Grant to be awarded either grant and be registered full-time to receive the funds. NOTE: Co-op quarters are considered full-time for Pell, ACG and SMART Grants.

Both grants have very specific criteria for retaining eligibility. Students who are awarded these funds must meet the defined criteria for these grants and the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for other Title IV aid sources including Pell.

ACG ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDING
The Academic Competitiveness Grant is awarded during a student’s first or second year of college based on accumulated credit hours. In addition to being a Pell Grant-eligible U.S. citizen, students must meet one of the following three categories to demonstrate that they have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study:

• State designated program – State Scholars Initiatives or other state-submitted program approved by the U.S. Department of Education; Ohio has no designated program at this time.
• Set of courses defined by the U.S. Department of Education – 4 years of English; 3 years of math (including Algebra I and above); 3 years of science (including 2 of biology, chemistry, or physics); 3 years of social studies; and 1 year of a foreign language.
• AP or IB coursework – Completion of at least two Advanced Placement courses with passing test score of 3 or two International Baccalaureate courses with passing test score of 4.   

Because of ACG’s relation to high school program of study, please review the sidebar for further limitations on eligibility.

Students who meet one of these criteria to demonstrate rigorous previous study can then qualify for up to two years of the ACG.

• ACG Year 1 – Amount up to $750 ($250 per quarter) is available for full-time quarters when Pell-eligible through the term where a student’s 45th credit hour* is earned.
• ACG Year 2 – Amount up to $1300 ($433 per quarter) is available for full-time quarters when Pell-eligible for terms following the completion of the 45th credit hour* through the term where the 90th credit hour* is earned.

ACG RENEWABILITY
Students awarded either year of ACG can continue their award until they have used the specified amount or achieved the termination credit hour as noted above, whichever comes first.

Additionally, a student’s record is reviewed to ensure that the university cumulative grade point average (GPA) is at 3.0 or higher for the quarter when the 45th credit hour is earned. Only students who meet this GPA requirement will be eligible for Year 2 funding.

ACG awards are projected eligibility based on credit hours earned.* Therefore an award may not be for all three quarters of an academic year. Because of the renewal requirements, students predicted to be eligible for year 2 midyear will see an estimated award for those terms on their award offer and eBill until the GPA review can be completed. Necessary adjustments due to enrollment and GPA may occur to any award or estimate.

Students who exhaust their year 1 funds prior to earning 45 hours or switch from full to part-time enrollment can have their grant reinstated for year 2 or when full-time. However, the federal awarding process does not allow for any appeal or reinstatement process for students who do not meet the GPA review for the term where the 45th hour is earned.

SMART GRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDING
The National SMART Grant is targeted for a student’s third and fourth year of baccalaureate studies based on accumulated credit hours.  While some students awarded ACG may later become SMART Grant-eligible, previous ACG award and the associated high school curriculum is not needed for SMART Grant eligibility.

SMART Grants can only be received by a U.S. citizen who is Pell-eligible with a 3.0 GPA or higher and declared major in an eligible baccalaureate program of study. Broad categories of eligible programs are computer science, mathematics, engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, technology, and designated foreign languages.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements can then qualify for up to two years of the National SMART Grant during their junior and senior years. 

• SMART Grant Year 3 – Beginning with the term following achieving the 90th credit hour*, a student can receive up to $4000 ($1333 per quarter) when full-time through the term where the student earns their 135th credit hour.*
• SMART Grant Year 4 – Beginning with the term following achieving the 135th credit hour*, a student can receive up to $4000 ($1333 per quarter) when full-time through the term where the student earns their 180th credit hour.*

SMART GRANT CONTINUATION AND RENEWABILITY
Students awarded either year of the SMART Grant can continue their award until they have used the specified amount or achieved the termination credit hour as noted above, whichever comes first.

Additionally, student records are reviewed quarterly to ensure that they are still in an eligible major program of study, are taking at least one course required by their major, and their university cumulative grade point average (GPA) is at 3.0 or higher. Students who are no longer eligible due to a major change or the GPA requirement will not be eligible for the next quarter.

Because of the quarterly renewal criteria, SMART Grant awards are made on a quarter-by-quarter basis. An estimated SMART Grant will display on an award offer or eBill for students who have additional quarters of eligibility or who are projected to become eligible midyear. Estimates will become awards following the grade posting period for the previous term. Necessary adjustments due to GPA, major changes, and enrollment may occur to any award or estimate.

Students who exhaust their year 3 funds prior to earning 135 hours, switch from full to part-time, or change major can have their grant reinstated for year 4 or when full-time or changing again to an eligible program of study. However, the federal awarding process does not allow for any appeal or reinstatement process for students who lose their SMART Grant due to GPA. Once a student goes below the 3.0 cum, eligibility for SMART Grant ceases. 

* NOTE: Hours earned include advanced standing due to AP or transfer credit.  Transfer students can be eligible for the grants if they meet the eligibility requirements when reviewing their high school program and/or cumulative GPA for previous coursework (even if all courses do not transfer).

ACG consideration is limited to students who complete a secondary school program after January 1, 2006, for Year 1 and after January 1, 2005, for Year 2. Students who are otherwise eligible but graduated before these dates cannot be awarded the ACG.

While Student Financial Aid will determine eligibility for ACG based on submitted high school information within your admission file, students who feel they are eligible and are not awarded ACG may go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete updated FAFSA questions to assist in the determination of eligibility.

SMART grant eligibility will be determined by Student Financial Aid based entirely on university records.

Students who have already earned* more than 45 credit hours cannot be considered for ACG. Students who have already earned* more than 180 credit hours cannot be considered for a National SMART Grant award.