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 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 students, and
up to
$1,300
to second-year ACG 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 --
-
Must apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have been determined to be eligible
for a Federal Pell Grant. Students who have not yet submitted a
FAFSA may do so online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov;
-
Must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen;
-
Must be enrolled in a two- or four-year degree program; and
-
Must be enrolled
at least half-time each semester.
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, students must have a grade point average
(GPA) from their first year of at least 3.0.
-
First- and second-year students who have already completed their
FAFSA and who may be eligible for an ACG 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 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 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.
San Diego City College requires students to take
the
Rigorous Coursework Verification form
to their high school to
verify that they have completed a rigorous course of study.
This 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
