Academic Competitiveness Grant & National SMART Grant 

Two new federal grants, the Academic Competitiveness Grant and the National SMART Grant, were created by the "Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005."

Grants for first and second year students are called "Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)," while grants for third and fourth year students are called "National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants (SMART)."

These are new programs and implementation and regulation guidance is currently being promulgated by the US Department of Education.

Application Process

ACG - File the FAFSA.  The Office of Financial Assistance will send you an Award Notice if you are eligible for the  Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG).

SMART - File the FAFSA. You must be currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies.  Must be enrolled in at least 1 course required for the SMART grant major...cannot be enrolled in all general education courses. The Office of Financial Assistance will send you an Award Notice if you are eligible for the National SMART grant.  **Eligible majors are subject to change.**

Eligibility Requirements:

Academic year definition:

Classification	Hours Earned
1st Year	0-29
2nd Year	30-59
3rd Year	60-89
4th Year	90-119

Eligibility terminates when 120 hours have been earned. 

ACG :  1st academic year (0-29 hours) undergraduate recipients must (max award = $750/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipient
• Be US citizen
• Be enrolled in a 4 year degree program
• Be full-time
• Graduate high school since January 1, 2006
• Demonstrate federal 'need'
• Be enrolled for the first time as a regular student
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school curriculum
• Can only receive ACG grant once as a 1st year student.
  

ACG:   Second academic year (30-59 hours) undergraduate recipients must (max award = $1,300/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipient
• Be US Citizen
• Be enrolled in a 4 year degree program
• Be full-time
• Graduate from high school since January 1, 2005
• Demonstrate federal 'need'
• Have competed a rigorous secondary school curriculum
• Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time that 30 hours are earned -- GPA determined once
  
• Can only receive ACG grant once as a 2nd year student.

SMART Grant:  3rd (60-89 hours) and 4th year (90-119 hours) undergraduate recipients must (max award = $4,000/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipient
• Be US citizen
• Be full-time
• Demonstrate federal 'need'
• Earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA -- GPA is continuously monitored
  
• Can only receive SMART grant once as a 3rd year and once as a 4th year student.
• Be enrolled in at least 1 course required for the SMART grant major...cannot be enrolled in all general education courses
• Be enrolled in specific majors: (see below)

Reasons Student Can Lose Grant Eligibility:

• Cumulative GPA falls below the 3.0 minimum requirement
  
• Advancement to another 'year' (ex. 1st year to 2nd year) and eligibility requirements for the new 'year' are not met
• SMART grant recipient changes major to one that is not listed in the regulations as an eligible major
• Change in program regulations or funding amounts provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Not enrolled in at least 1 course required for the SMART grant major that is not a general education requirement.

Important:  Cumulative GPA, cumulative earned hours(used to determine 'year'), major, and all other eligibility requirements will be monitored by the Office of Financial Assistance throughout the year and at the end of each semester.  If you do not meet the eligibility requirements at any point during the year, your grant will be removed and you will be responsible for the balance owed the University.

Eligible Majors at FMU:

MAJOR CODE

ABBREV

DESCRIPTION