Session 6 ACG & National SMART Grant Update: Transfer Student, Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study, and Academic Major Issues Sophia McArdle Office of Postsecondary Education

Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)

3 ACG Eligibility Requirements U.S. Citizen Federal Pell Grant recipient for same payment period or award year (if choose to implement early) First or second year student in a two- or four-year degree program Full-time enrollment Completed rigorous secondary school program of study No specific major required

4 ACG Eligibility Requirements First-year students –May not have been previously enrolled in a program of undergraduate education –Have graduated from secondary school program after January 1, 2006 Second-year students –Have graduated from secondary school program after January 1, 2005 –Have a 3.0 GPA in an eligible program

5 ACG Previous Enrollment Restriction Not applicable if prior enrollment was –Not as a “regular” student –After high school graduation

6 ACG Eligibility Requirements Student must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study ED has outlined options to meet requirements in the interim final regulations

7 ACG Recognition of Rigorous Program For an award year: – The Secretary recognizes at least one rigorous secondary school program of study for each State as established by an SEA or if legally authorized by the State to establish a separate secondary school program of study, an LEA

8 ACG Recognition of Rigorous Program The Secretary establishes a deadline for SEAs and LEAs to submit proposals for recognition of rigorous secondary school programs of study An LEA must submit documentation that the LEA is legally authorized by the State to establish a separate secondary school program of study

9 ACG Recognition of Rigorous Program For : Deadline for new submissions was November 1, 2006 If State did not submit new or revised programs, remove current programs, or clarify State Scholars Initiative program requirements, State’s currently recognized secondary school programs of study will carry over

10 ACG Recognition of Rigorous Program In identifying a rigorous program, the SEA or LEA must consider separate identifiable secondary programs that: –Are offered by secondary schools in the State –Are considered by the SEA or LEA to prepare a student to pursue postsecondary education successfully –Are not GED programs

11 ACG Recognition of Rigorous Program In addition to the State submitted programs that the Secretary recognizes, the Secretary also recognizes several other options as rigorous

12 ACG Options for Rigorous Program An advanced or honors secondary school program established by a State and in existence for the or school year as identified by the Secretary A secondary school program identified by a State- level partnership recognized by State Scholars Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

13 ACG Options for Rigorous Program Completion of at least: –2 Advanced Placement courses with a test score of at least 3; OR –2 International Baccalaureate courses with a test score of at least 4 A set of courses as outlined in regulations

14 ACG Options for Rigorous Program 4 years of English 3 years of math (include Algebra 1 and one other higher-level math ) 3 years of science (at least two are one year each in Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 3 years of social studies 1 year of a foreign language Courses as Outlined in Regulations

15 ACG Options for Rigorous Program The Secretary publishes a list of rigorous secondary school programs of study that the Secretary recognizes for each award year For : Web site address: For , submission deadline was November 1, 2006

16 ACG Options for Rigorous Program

17 ACG Applicant Self-identification Process Department notifies potentially eligible students of how to provide additional eligibility information Student provides additional information on website or calls toll-free number Department sends student responses to schools

18 ACG Documenting Rigorous Program Student not required to “apply” Institutions are responsible for determining the eligibility of students who ED reported as having self-identified eligibility –On at least the standard(s) selected by the student Institutions are also able to identify eligible students based on records they have (e.g. high school transcripts, test scores)

19 ACG Documenting Rigorous Program Documentation from “cognizant authority” can be provided by: –The student –Directly from “cognizant authority” If reason to believe documentation from student is inaccurate, must obtain directly from cognizant authority

20 ACG Documenting Rigorous Program Cognizant authority includes but is not limited to: –An LEA –An SEA or other State Agency –A public or private high school –A testing organization such as the College Board or State Agency –Parent if student is home-schooled

21 ACG Documenting Rigorous Program –For transfer students, an institution may rely on another school’s determination that student completed a rigorous program –NSLDS will store the data

22 ACG Grade Point Average For second academic year ACG, student must have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the first academic year –Only determined one time, at the completion of the first academic year

23 ACG Grade Point Average Special Rule for transfer student: –For student who transfers after completing the first academic year, the new school must calculate GPA using the grades from all coursework accepted from prior schools for the student’s first academic year in determining eligibility for the second academic year If no credits are accepted, there is no GPA

National SMART Grants

25 National SMART Grants Eligibility Requirements U.S. citizen Pell Grant recipient for same payment period or award year (if choose to implement early) In 3 rd or 4 th year of a four-year degree program Full-time enrollment in an eligible major Cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in student’s eligible program No rigorous high school program required

26 National SMART Grants Major Fields of Study Computer Science Engineering Technology Life Sciences Mathematics Physical Sciences Designated Foreign Languages Identified by CIP* code in DCL GEN and GEN *Classification of Instructional Program

27 National SMART Grants Major Fields of Study

28 National SMART Grants Major Fields of Study

29 National SMART Grants Critical Foreign Languages

30 National SMART Grants Major Fields of Study If a student’s eligible major is removed from the list of eligible CIP codes in subsequent years, student remains eligible if continues in that major If a student majors in a language no longer deemed critical in subsequent years, student remains eligible if continues to major in that language

31 National SMART Grants Monitoring Major Requires that a recipient: –Declare an eligible major or –If school policy does not allow declaring a major in time to qualify for a SMART grant, show intent to declare an eligible major as documented by the institution Student must formally declare an eligible major as soon as institutional policy allows

32 National SMART Grants Monitoring Major Whether a student declares a major or indicates intent, he or she must enroll in coursework leading to completion of the program with that eligible major Institutions must have a process or processes in place to monitor that the student is making progress toward completion of the program in that eligible major

33 National SMART Grants Monitoring Major If student changes to an eligible major between payment periods: –Eligible for new payment period –Cannot be paid for prior payment periods If student changes to an ineligible major between payment periods: –No grant for the new payment period –Prior disbursement need not be repaid

34 National SMART Grants Monitoring Major If student changes to an eligible major within a payment period: –Can be paid for the entire payment period –Cannot be paid for prior payment periods If student changes to an ineligible major within a payment period: –No additional disbursements –Prior disbursements, including for the current payment period, need not be repaid

35 National SMART Grants Grade Point Average For all payment periods, student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 –Includes entire program – all courses required for degree in approved major –Calculated as of last completed payment period –Reviewed prior to each disbursement –Schools can make an “interim disbursement” at school’s risk

36 National SMART Grants Grade Point Average Special Rule for student who transfers after completing two or more academic years, the new school: –For the first payment period upon transfer, must use the grades from all coursework accepted from prior schools for GPA determination –For subsequent payment periods, comply with school academic policies –Same policy for all students

37 National SMART Grants Eligibility Determination No student self-identification as in ACG Institutions are responsible for reviewing records to identify all eligible students: –ISIR for Pell Eligibility, Citizenship, and other Title IV eligibility requirements –Academic Records for: Eligible Major or, if available, intent Third or fourth academic year of enrollment GPA Full-time Enrollment

38 Contact Information We appreciate your feedback and comments. We can be reached at: Sophia McArdle Phone: Fax: