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Academic Competitiveness Grants, Section 401A of the “Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005” establishes a grant program for students who have concentrated in math/science or a foreign language critical to U.S. National Security. Grants for first or second year undergraduate students are called “Academic Competitiveness Grants.” Grants for third or fourth year undergraduate students are called “National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant." The grant program is managed by the Academic Competitiveness Council chaired by the Secretary of Education consisting of officials from federal agencies already managing federal programs that promote mathematics and sciences. Definition of Rigorous High School Programs of Study: Because many states do not yet offer formally recognized rigorous High School programs of study, and to ensure that private High School students, home-schooled students and students enrolled in Department of Defense overseas High School schools are eligible, the Secretary of Education will immediately recognize four options for eligibility. They are: · Advanced or Honors diploma programs. The Secretary of Education will recognize all Advanced or Honors diplomas conferred by the states as rigorous programs of study. According to research by the Department, nineteen states currently offer such diplomas upon completion of recognized coursework. · State Scholars Initiative requirements. This program, supported by Congress, sets course requirements modeled after the National Commission on Excellence in Education recommendations. Fourteen states participate in this program, and eight additional states will begin participation this year. · Course requirements similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, three years of social studies, and one year of a foreign language. · Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and scores. Students who have taken two AP or IB courses and received passing scores on the exams for those courses will be considered eligible. These guidelines will define rigorous secondary school programs of study for academic years 2006-07 and 2007-08 while long-term coursework guidelines are established. States that wish to identify alternative rigorous programs of study for 2006-07 have the option of submitting proposals to the Department by June 1, 2006. To identify alternative programs for 2007-08, the deadline is November 1, 2006. The USF Office of Undergraduate Admission maintains High School transcripts and other credentials used to certify a student’s eligibility for the ACG. Students who are Home Schooled should contact their office (813)974-3350 to inquire about verifying their eligibility. Students who receive a G.E.D. are ineligible for ACG funds. These same students may receive SMART Grant funds once they become a junior or senior provided they meet all other eligibility criteria at that time. Eligibility Requirements and Grant Amounts: 1st academic year undergraduate [Freshman 0-29 hours earned]: Recipients must: · Be full-time students, consult academic advisor for course selection · Be U.S. citizens,
·
Complete
a
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · Be pursuing a first baccalaureate degree, · Be eligible for federal Pell Grants,
·
Must
have completed
a rigorous secondary school program · Must not have received ACG Year two funds Grant amount: Up to $750 during freshman year. 2nd academic year undergraduate [Sophomore 30-59 hours earned]: Recipients must: · Be full-time students, consult academic advisor for course selection · Be U.S. citizens,
·
Complete
a
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · Be pursuing a first baccalaureate degree, · Be eligible for federal Pell Grants,
·
Completed
a rigorous secondary school program · Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the conclusion of the first year of undergraduate education (completion of 30 credit hours). · The hours and GPA include college level credit earned while in H.S. due to exam, Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or dual enrollment credit. · A student classified as a sophomore will be paid a freshman award if there is not a GPA associated with accepted college level credit for the first term. If that student’s GPA is below a 3.0 after the first term, the student will be ineligible for any more disbursements from the ACG program. · Must not have received SMART Grant funds. Grant amount: Up to $1,300 during sophomore year. 3rd academic year undergraduate [Junior 60-89 hours earned]: Recipients must: · Be full-time students, with at least one course that is required and specific to an eligible primary major, consult academic advisor for course selection · Be U.S. citizens,
·
Complete
a
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · Be eligible for federal Pell Grants, · Be pursuing a first baccalaureate degree in an eligible major: National SMART Grants - Fields of Study, · Eligible major must be approved before end of drop/add to reserve the award for the term, consult academic advisor for course selection · Have a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of each disbursement. · New! Submit the SMART Grant Hours to Degree Certification form each term to be paid after drop/add. · A student classified as a junior will be paid a freshman award if there is not a GPA associated with accepted college level credit for the first term. If that student’s GPA is below a 3.0 after the first term, the student will not be paid SMART funds until the next term their cumulative overall GPA is 3.0 or higher. Grant amount: Up to $4000 during Junior year. 4th academic year undergraduate [Senior 90-119 hours earned]: Recipients must: · Be full-time students, with at least one course that is required and specific to an eligible primary major, consult academic advisor for course selection · Be U.S. citizens,
·
Complete
a
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · Be eligible for federal Pell Grants · Be pursuing a first baccalaureate degree in an eligible major: National SMART Grants - Fields of Study, · Have a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of each disbursement. · New! Submit the SMART Grant Hours to Degree Certification form each term to be paid after drop/add. · Eligible students may receive their senior year award until they have received the maximum award amount or they have earned the number of hours required for their degree program, whichever comes first.* · A senior with college level credit earned while in H.S. that does not count toward their degree program, may have those hours excluded from the maximum on a case by case basis, provided the student has not already received the maximum award amount for their senior year. This will require verification by a USF Academic Advisor. Grant amount: Up to $4,000 during Senior Year. *Exception for 0607 & 0708 ONLY - Students are eligible until they have received $4000, graduate, or reached the graduate level of a five year Master's Degree program, whichever comes first. Additional Rules: · The grant amount in combination with the student’s Pell grant assistance and remaining financial aid may not exceed their unmet need or the cost of attendance. (including student loans) · Students will be monitored for class code progression (i.e. Freshman to Sophomore, Sophomore to Junior, etc..) after grades are processed by the Registrar each term. · If the total amount of the grant fund is less than the amount required to provide grants to all eligible students, then the amount of the grant for each student will be ratably reduced by the U.S. Department of Education nationally. · If additional amounts are then appropriated for any fiscal year the reduced grants will be increased in the same manner as they were reduced.
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