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Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant

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Title: Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant


1
Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART
Grant General Session Overview David
Bergeron Jeff Baker Kay Jacks

2
  • The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005
    (HERA)

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
National Science and Mathematics Access to
Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant)
3
Other Sessions
  • Session 5 - ACG and National SMART Grant
  • Student Eligibility and Academic Year Issues
  • Session 6 - ACG and National SMART Grant
  • Transfer Student, Secondary School Program of
    Academic Rigor, and Academic Major Issues.
  • Session 17 - ACG and National SMART Grant
  • Reporting from CPS to COD.
  • General Session - Federal Update (Friday)

4
Authorization and Funding
  • Funding for these programs is not subject to the
    annual appropriations process
  • 2006-07 -- 790 million
  • 2007-08 -- 850 million
  • 2008-09 -- 920 million
  • 2009-10 -- 960 million
  • 2010-11 -- 1.01 billion

5
Rules and Regulations
  • Interim Final Regulations for the 2006-2007 award
    year published on July 3, 2006
  • Invitation to comment through August 17, 2006 for
    possible changes for the 2007-2008 award year
  • Received 80 comments
  • Final Regulations for the 2007-2008 award year
    published on November 1, 2006
  • Institutions may implement changes made in the
    final regulation for the 2006-2007 award year

6
Rules and Regulations
  • One Significant Change
  • July 3 interim final rule required student to
    have received a Pell Grant in the same payment
    period (e.g., term) to receive an ACG or National
    SMART Grant
  • November 1 final rule requires student to have
    received a Pell Grant sometime in the same award
    year to receive an ACG or National SMART Grant

7
Rules and Regulations
Negotiated Rulemaking for the 2008-2009 Award
Year and Beyond
  • Tentative Calendar
  • Sessions December 2006, February and
  • March 2007
  • NPRM May 2007
  • Comments July 2007
  • Final Rule November 1, 2007
  • Effective Date July 1, 2008 with possible
  • early implementation

8
Institutional Responsibilities
  • Institutions are responsible for implementing the
    new programs within the guidance provided
  • The Secretary recognizes that institutions will
    face significant challenges in implementing the
    programs with virtually no lead time for the
    2006-2007 award year
  • These facts will be considered during reviews of
    an institutions implementation of the programs

9
  • Basic Program Requirements

10
Programs Are Similar in Some Ways
Student Eligibility
U.S. Citizen Only Eligible Non-Citizens Do Not Qualify
Pell Grant Recipient During Same Award Year
Full-time Enrollment for Payment Period
Enrolled in Degree Program
Progression by Student Academic Year
Only One Scheduled Award for Each Academic Year
11
Separate and Distinct Programs
ACG National SMART
1st 2nd academic years of a two or four-year degree program 3rd 4th academic years of a four-year degree program
Requires completion of rigorous secondary school program of study Requires student to be in a designated major
1st Academic Year - 7502nd Academic Year - 1,300 3rd Academic Year - 4,000 4th Academic Year - 4,000
GPA of at least 3.0 as of the end of 1st academic year only GPA of at least 3.0 at each disbursement
12
  • Duration of Student Eligibility
  • For ACG, students are restricted to
  • one grant for the students first academic year
    and
  • one grant for the students second academic year
  • For National SMART Grant, students are restricted
    to
  • one grant for each of the students third and
    fourth academic years

13
  • Academic
  • Competitiveness
  • Grant
  • (ACG)

14
ACG Eligibility Requirements
  • 1st-year students
  • Have completed a rigorous secondary school
    program of study after January 1, 2006
  • May not have been previously enrolled while in
    high school as a regular student in an ACG
    eligible program
  • 2nd-year students
  • Have completed a rigorous secondary school
    program of study after January 1, 2005
  • Have a 3.0 or higher GPA at the end of 1st year

15
Previous Enrollment Restriction for 1st- Year ACG
  • While in High School
  • Not eligible if enrolled as a regular student
    in an ACG eligible program
  • May be eligible if not enrolled as a regular
    student in an ACG eligible program
  • After High School
  • No previous enrollment restriction for a student
    enrolled after high school

16
ACG Options for Rigorous Program
  • State-Designated Program
  • State-submitted program
  • An advanced or honors program established by a
    state and in existence for the 2004-2005 or
    2005-2006 school year
  • State Scholars Initiative (SSI) Programs

17
ACG Options for Rigorous Program
  • States were given the option of retaining,
    modifying or adding rigorous programs of study by
    submitting those for review by November 1, 2006
    for high school seniors graduating in 2007 for
    2007-08
  • Several states Kentucky, Minnesota, South
    Carolina -- submitted programs that will be
    approved
  • Most states made no changes
  • A few states have made minor changes to
    previously approved plans

18
ACG Documenting Rigorous Program
  1. A set of courses as outlined in the final
    regulations
  2. Completion of at least two Advanced Placement
    (AP) courses with passing test score of 3 or two
    International Baccalaureate (IB) courses with
    passing test score of 4

19
ACG Options for Rigorous ProgramSet of Courses
  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of math
  • Two of which must be algebra I and above.
  • 3 years of science
  • Two of which must be biology, chemistry, or
    physics
  • 3 years of social studies
  • 1 year of a language other than English

20
ACG Documenting Rigorous Program
  • Institutions are responsible for determining the
    eligibility of students who self-identified on at
    least the standard(s) selected by the student
  • Institutions are encouraged to identify all
    eligible students based on records they have
    (e.g., high school transcripts, test scores)
  • Institutions are also responsible for determining
    eligibility if student informs the institution
    directly

21
ACG Documenting Rigorous Program
  • Documentation from cognizant authority
  • For home-schooled students, the parent or
    guardian is the cognizant authority
  • For transfer students, an institution may rely on
    another schools determination that the student
    completed a rigorous program
  • NSLDS will store the data

22
ACG Grade Point Average
  • For second academic year, student must have a
    cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least
    3.0 from the first academic year
  • GPA determined one time, after completion of
    first academic year
  • For a student who transfers after completing
    first academic year, the new institution must
    calculate GPA using the grades from all
    coursework accepted from prior schools

23
  • National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain
    Talent Grant
  • (National SMART Grant)

24
National SMART GrantMajor Fields of Study
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Technology
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Physical Sciences
  • Designated Critical Foreign Languages

Identified by CIP code in DCLs GEN-06-06
and GEN-06-15 Classification of Instructional
Program
25
National SMART Grant Major Fields of Study
  • Requires that a recipient
  • Declare an eligible major or
  • Show intent to declare eligible major if school
    policy does not yet allow a major to be declared
  • Institution must have a process for monitoring
    that the student is making progress toward
    completion of the program with that eligible major

26
National SMART Grant Grade Point Average
  • For each payment period, a student must have a
    cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least
    3.0 that
  • Includes all coursework required for degree in
    approved major
  • Is calculated through last completed payment
    period
  • Is reviewed prior to each disbursement

27
  • Other
  • General
  • Requirements

28
Both ProgramsGrade Point Average (GPA)
Incompletes
  • All coursework taken in the payment period must
    be used in the calculation of a students GPA
  • If a complete GPA for the payment period is not
    available, school can make an interim
    disbursement at its risk. Includes
  • When the GPA has not yet been officially
    calculated for the payment period
  • When there is one or more grades of incomplete
    for courses taken in the payment period

29
Both ProgramsNeed-Based Grants
  • Total of ACG/National SMART Grant, EFC, Pell, and
    all estimated financial aid cannot exceed cost of
    attendance
  • ACG and National SMART Grant may not replace EFC
    in need equation
  • To avoid an over-award, an institution may reduce
    other aid, including FSEOG, or it may reduce the
    ACG or National SMART Grant

30
Both Programs Determining Enrollment Status
  • Schools must have the same policy for determining
    enrollment status for Pell Grants and for ACGs
    and National SMART Grants
  • Schools must use same recalculation policy, such
    as recalculation date (census date) that is used
    for Pell Grants

31
Both ProgramsDisbursements
  • Funds maintained and disbursed according to Title
    IV cash management rules
  • Disbursements made on payment period basis
  • If disbursement is for a cross-over payment
    period, Pell Grant and ACG/National SMART Grant
    must be assigned to same award year
  • Student may not receive ACG or National SMART
    Grant concurrently from more than one school
  • All R2T4 requirements apply to the new grant
    programs

32
Both ProgramsRemaining Eligibility
  • Determination of remaining eligibility based on
    percent of scheduled award remaining
  • Example Student with second year ACG for two
    quarters for a total of 866 has received 66.7
    of the 2006-07 scheduled award of 1,300.
    Student is only eligible, as a second-year
    student, for the remaining 33.3 of the ACG
    scheduled award (434 of 1,300)
  • Note Scheduled award may be different if balance
    of an academic year is in a new award year

33
Both ProgramsAcademic Year
  • Students progress and duration of eligibility in
    an eligible program is measured in Title IV
    academic years. A Title IV academic year is
    defined in the HEA to be
  • A minimum of either
  • Twenty-four semester credit hours, or
  • Thirty-six quarter credit hours, or
  • 900 clock hours.
  • --AND--
  • A minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time (26
    weeks for clock-hour programs)

34
Both ProgramsAcademic Year - Credit Hours
  • An institutions Title IV Academic Year will
    often be different from the grade level
    progression used for most institutional purposes
    and for loan limits for FFEL and Direct Loans
    (e.g., 30 credit hours to progress from grade
    level 1 to grade level 2)
  • Regardless of how many credit hours an
    institution uses to define a programs academic
    year, full time for an undergraduate is a minimum
    of
  • 12 semester hour credits for a semester or
    trimester
  • --or--
  • 12 quarter hour credits for a quarter

35
Both ProgramsAcademic Year - Credit Hours
  • 24 Credit Hour Definition
  • First Academic Year is 0 to 24 credits
  • Second Academic Year is 25 to 48 credits
  • Third Academic Year is 49 to 72 credits
  • Fourth Academic Year is 73 to 96 credits
  • 30 Credit Hour Definition
  • First Academic Year is 0 to 30 credits
  • Second Academic Year is 31 to 60 credits
  • Third Academic Year is 61 to 90 credits
  • Fourth Academic Year is 91 to 120 credits

36
ACGAssociates Degree Second Academic Year
  • For the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Award Years
  • For a student enrolled in an associates degree
    program, the second academic year ends when the
    student has completed the credits required for
    completion of that academic program, as published
    in the institutions official academic
    publications
  • For example, for an AA program that requires 65
    credits, the second academic year is from 31
    credits to 65 credits
  • See DCL GEN-06-18

37
National SMART GrantBachelors Degree Fourth
Academic Year
  • For the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 award years
  • For a student enrolled in a bachelors degree
    program, the fourth academic year ends when the
    student has completed the credits required for
    completion of that academic program, as published
    in the institutions official academic
    publications
  • For example, for an BA/BS program that requires
    130 credits, the fourth academic year is from 91
    credits to 130 credits
  • See DCL GEN-06-18

38
Both ProgramsAcademic Year Weeks of
Instructional Time
For the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 award years, an
institution with a 30-week academic year and
standard terms ( Formula 1) may
- OR -
  • Determine the actual number of weeks of
    instructional time that were included for the
    student to complete the number of credit hours in
    the institutions Title IV academic year
    definition
  • Assume that there were 30 weeks of instructional
    time for each increment of credit hours that
    comprises the institutions Title IV academic
    year definition

39
Both ProgramsAcademic Year Weeks of
Instructional Time
  • May exercise option
  • On a student by student basis
  • For same student for different terms
  • For transfer credits differently than for
    home-earned credits
  • NOTE An institution must determine the actual
    number of weeks of instructional time for a
    student who requests that such a determination be
    made or questions whether they have completed an
    academic year
  • See DCL GEN-06-18

40
  • Business Processes

41
ACG Documenting Rigorous Program
  • Documentation from cognizant authority
  • For home-schooled students, the parent or
    guardian is the cognizant authority
  • For transfer students, an institution may rely on
    another schools determination that the student
    completed a rigorous program
  • NSLDS will store the data

42
ACG Applicant Self-Identification Process
  • Starting July 1, 2006, the Department began
    notifying potentially eligible students about the
    ACG program
  • Changed the FOTW to ask questions about high
    school and rigorous programs
  • Offered a call-in option for non-electronic
    filers

43
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • After July 1, 2006
  • FOTW Filers Potential ACG recipients will
    submit the additional information at the time
    they complete their FAFSA
  • Paper Filers Potential ACG recipients will
    receive a SAR comment directing them to the web
    site and toll-free number

44
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • Student presented with questions on their high
    school curriculum
  • High school completed after January 1, 2005
  • State where high school curriculum completed
  • Drop-down box with state designated programs
  • AP/IB course and test completion question
  • Listed courses question

45
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46
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • As of November 10, 2006, 681,986 students have
    self- identified themselves
  • Clearly some students do not meet minimum
    criteria
  • Institutions can use other data such as age to
    screen applicants.no follow-up necessary
  • See Electronic Announcement dated October
    24, 2006

47
ACGRecognized State Rigorous Programs
  • Quick Reference to the Recognized
  • State Rigorous Secondary School
  • Programs of Study
  • http//www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/attachments/
    0713HERAOperGuidanceAttachA.xls

48
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49
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50
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51
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • Results of student self-identification will be
    sent to all schools listed on students record
  • CPS will send ISIRs with new comment codes
  • If no other changes, message class will be
    IGAA07AP
  • Special flat file with separate message class
    of ED2007OP
  • Student-specific information available using FAA
    Access

52
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • Comment codes will be provided on SAR for student
    and ISIR for schools
  • Comment codes can be found in ISIR positions 1677
    to 1736
  • Multiple comment codes - one for each rigorous
    criterion selected by student

53
ACGApplicant Self-Identification Process
  • For 2007-2008 Award Year, a criterion will be
    added that approximates the date of high school
    graduation
  • For 2008-2009
  • Likely, add graduation from high school question
    to the paper form
  • Same for FOTW

54
Availability of Funds
  • Initial authorizations in GAPS and COD with
    Electronic Statements of Account (ESOA) on July
    29, 2006
  • Not like campus-based
  • No institutional allocation
  • Allocation more like Pell
  • Funds have been available in GAPS since early
    August
  • Separate authorization for each program

55
Status of Funds
  • As of November 17, 2006
  • 762 schools out of 3,351 schools have drawn 45
    million for ACG
  • 484 schools out of 1,944 schools have drawn 41
    million for National SMART Grant

56
Data Suggest
  • Schools are using their own money
  • Institutions have not made awards
  • Burden too great, given time frame
  • Uncertainty
  • Are not aware they must make awards
  • Think they can wait until next year
  • Students do not qualify
  • Risk is we leave a large portion of 790 million
    designated for needy students on the table

57
Reporting of Awards and Payments
  • Schools report student-specific awards and
    disbursements with COD Release 5.2, beginning
    December 16, 2006
  • COD can handle one grade level for Direct Loans
    and a different academic year for new grants

58
NSLDS and ACG/SMART
  • NSLDS will begin
  • Receiving ACG/SMART Grants from COD on December
    17, 2006
  • Displaying ACG/SMART Grants on the web site on
    December 18, 2006
  • Using a new file format for Transfer Student
    Monitoring/Financial Aid History on January
    1, 2007

59
NSLDS and ACG/SMART
  • No ACG/SMART Grant award data will appear on
    2006-2007 ISIRs
  • Beginning on January 1, 2007
  • 2007-08 ACG/SMART Grant disbursement data will
    appear on 2007-08 ISIRs
  • ISIR Financial Aid History will display up to
    three ACG and three SMART Grant disbursements

60
Upcoming HERA Training
  • Stand Up Training
  • More than 50 sites across country
  • Began late September
  • Will also offer a Spring series

61
Other Sessions
  • Session 5 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Student Eligibility and Academic Year Issues
  • Session 6 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Transfer Student, Secondary School Program of
    Academic Rigor, and Academic Major Issues
  • Session 17 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Reporting from CPS to COD
  • General Session - Federal Update (Friday)

62
  • Words to Live By

63
  • Aristotle
  • "To give away money is an easy matter and in any
    man's power. But to decide to whom to give it,
    and how large and when, for what purpose and how,
    is neither in every man's power nor an easy
    matter. Hence it is that such excellence is rare,
    praiseworthy and noble."

64
  • Baker
  • If it was easy, anyone could do it.

65
Other Sessions
  • Session 5 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Student Eligibility and Academic Year Issues
  • Session 6 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Transfer Student, Secondary School Program of
    Academic Rigor, and Academic Major Issues
  • Session 17 - ACG and National SMART Grant
    Reporting from CPS to COD
  • General Session - Federal Update (Friday)
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