ACG - Academic Competitiveness Grant
Information For
Students About Academic Competitiveness
and National SMART Grants
On Feb. 8,
2006, President Bush signed into law two new student grant programs -- the
Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)
and National Science and
Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants, which were
created by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005.
Important Note: The ACG Grant
applies to students attending two year and four year colleges. The SMART
Grant does not apply to students attending a two year community college.
These
new grants will encourage students to take more challenging courses in high
school - making success in college more likely. In addition to the Pell
Grant award, up to $750 will be
awarded to eligible first-year ACG Grant students, and
up to $1,300 to second-year ACG
Grant students. Up to $4,000 will be
awarded to eligible National SMART Grant students for each year in addition
to the Pell Grant funds. Students and others can go to
www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov
to learn more about these new student aid grant programs.
For ACG Grants, students --
In addition -
-
Students must be in their first or
second academic year of a two- or four-year degree program;
-
First-year students must have
completed high school on or after January 1, 2006;
-
Second-year students must have
completed high school on or after January 1, 2005;
-
All ACG Grant students must have
completed a rigorous high school program of study as designated by
their state; and
-
For a second-year ACG Grant, students
must have a grade point average (GPA) from their first year of at least
3.0.
Starting on
July 1, first- and second-year students who have already completed their
FAFSA and who may be eligible for an ACG Grant will receive an email or
regular mailing from the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA)
office. Applicants will be provided with a link to a secure website where
they can learn more about the ACG Grant program and provide additional
information to determine eligibility.
For more information, visit
www.ed.gov
or call 1-800-USA-LEARN.
Applicants
without access to the Internet will be able to call
1-800-4FEDAID, toll-free, to provide
the additional information. New FAFSA filers will be provided with the
opportunity to submit the additional information at the time they complete
their FAFSA online. After students log on to the website using their FSA-PIN
(or call the toll-free number) they will be asked a few simple questions
about their high school course of study, including some questions specific
to their state.
A student is
eligible for an ACG Grant if -
-
The student completed one of his or
her state's designated secondary school programs of study, as noted on
the website; or
-
The student has taken and passed the
tests for at least two Advanced Placement (AP) or International
Baccalaureate (IB) courses; or
-
The student has completed a high
school course of study with at least -
-
Four years of high school English;
-
Three years of high school math,
including Algebra I and another higher level math course;
-
Three years of high school lab
science, which must include two years of biology, chemistry or physics;
-
Three years of high school social
studies; and
-
One year of high school foreign
language.
The information
provided by the student on the website (or over the phone) will be sent by
FSA to the Financial Aid Office at the student's college or university.
While students will receive an
on-screen confirmation of their submission, a grant is not confirmed until
eligibility is verified by their college or university.
The California Community Colleges are developing a common form for students
to take to their high school to verify that they have completed a rigorous
course of study. This new document must be completed and submitted before a
student can be awarded and disbursed an ACG Grant from San Diego City
College.
Director of Financial Aid:
Gregory Sanchez
Phone:(619) 388-3501
E-Mail:
cityaid@sdccd.edu
Room:
A-113
