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New Federal Grants in 2006
for College Students Who are Eligible to Receive Pell Grants
Revised 10/18/2007
Two new federal grants were announced in the summer of 2006, available to college students immediately. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education summarizes information about these grants here to assist Minnesota educators, counselors and financial aid professionals in their communication with students. To apply for these grants, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education. From this information, colleges and universities will determine a student’s eligibility. No separate application is needed. More information is available from the federal government at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Academic Competitiveness Grants
Academic Competitiveness grants are awarded to students who can demonstrate that they completed a rigorous high school program of study before enrolling in college. Eligible students receive up to $750 in their first year of college, and $1,300 for the second year if they also maintain a 3.0 grade point average in college. This grant is awarded to students over and above any other grants or scholarships. The program is one among many government grant programs for students. This program is different from other need-based grant programs because students must demonstrate completion of a rigorous course curriculum in high school. What are the eligibility requirements? To be eligible to receive an Academic Competitiveness grant, students must: be eligible to receive a Pell grant; be enrolled in college full time in a two- or four-year degree-granting program; have completed high school on or after January 2005; be a U.S. citizen; demonstrate completion of a rigorous academic curriculum in high school as defined for Minnesota and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 once in college.
How do students apply? First, students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Recent high school graduates who submit the FAFSA and are eligible to receive a Pell grant will be notified by mail or e-mail of their possible eligibility. From there, students bring documentation of their completion of a rigorous high school curriculum to the financial aid office at the college they plan to attend. There is no separate application for the Academic Competitiveness grant. How does a student demonstrate completion of a rigorous high school curriculum? It is up to the student to bring appropriate high school transcripts and records from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to the college to which he or she is enrolling. The college’s financial aid office will make the eligibility determination.
Are students entering their second year of college potentially eligible? Yes, as long as they completed high school in January of 2005 or later and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Can home-schooled students qualify for Academic Competitiveness grants? Yes, as long as a parent or guardian provides documentation of completion of a rigorous course of study. Are high school students enrolled in college courses through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program eligible? Yes. Students who take college courses while still in high school are eligible, provided they meet the eligibility criteria above. Their college courses in core subjects can be applied to the criteria in options 1 and 3. Students who passed both a PSEO math and science course can now qualify under a new Option 4 added for the 20072008 academic year.
Academic Competitiveness Grants
Minnesota high school graduates must show that they have completed ONE of the following options entirely to meet the rigorous course of study definition used for the Academic Competitiveness grant. Option 1 - four years of English; - three years of mathematics (including algebra I and a higher-level course such as algebra II, geometry or data analysis and statistics); - three years of science (including at least two courses in biology, chemistry or physics); - three years of social studies; and - one year of a foreign language Option 2 - take and pass exams in a minimum of two Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses (must score a three or higher on AP exams and a four or higher on IB exams) Option 3 - four years of language arts; - three years of mathematics (including one year of geometry and two years of algebra, one of which is intermediate or advanced algebra); - three years of science (including one year each of a biological and physical science); - three years of social studies; and - two years of a single foreign language. Option 4 (applies only to students graduating from high school in 2007 or thereafter) - With passing grades of “B” or better, one Post Secondary Education Options (PSEO) math course at an Algebra 2 level or higher AND one PSEO science course in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics for a combined total of 6 college credits. Above definitions of rigorous course of study taken from the U.S. Department of Education’s web site: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/2007/mn07.doc
SMART Grants
The U.S. Department of Education offers SMART grants to Pell-eligible students enrolled in the third and fourth years of bachelor’s degree programs who are pursuing majors in mathematics, science, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language (see list on back page). Eligible students receive $4,000 per year. SMART grants do not count against other state or federal grants for which students are eligible. The SMART grant (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) was created to encourage more students to pursue degrees in high-demand areas. What are the eligibility requirements? To receive a SMART grant, students must: be eligible to receive a Pell Grant; be enrolled full time in their third or fourth academic year of a four-year degree program; maintain a 3.0 grade point average in college; be a U.S. citizen; pursue a degree in mathematics, science, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language (see list on back page).
How do students apply? First, students must complete and submit the FAFSA. Colleges will identify students who may qualify based on their grade point average, program of study and their eligibility for a Pell grant. The college will notify potentially eligible students. There is no separate application for the SMART grant. Must a student be admitted to an eligible program or school within a university in order to be eligible? In nearly all cases, yes. How will this grant be awarded? The grant will be sent directly to the college by the U.S. Department of Education and the college will disburse the funds to the student.
Where can students find more information and answers about the Academic Competitiveness and SMART grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education? The financial aid staff at the college where the student is enrolled will be able to answer questions about the grants. Information is also available online at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Federal SMART Grant Academic Programs Pell-eligible students in their junior and senior years of college who are enrolled in these programs may be eligible to receive a $4,000 SMART Grant.
Computer Science
Computer & Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences Computer Programming Computer Science Computer Software & Media Applications Computer Systems Analysis Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunication Computer/Information Technology Administration Data Processing Information Science/Studies
Critical Foreign Language
African Languages, Literatures & Linguistics Arabic Language & Literature Bahasa Indonesian/Bahasa Malay Languages & Literature Bengali Language & Literature Chinese Language & Literature Filipino/Tagalog Language & Literature Hebrew Language & Literature Hindi Language & Literature Iranian/Persian Languages, Literatures & Linguistics Japanese Language & Literature Korean Language & Literature Panjabi Language & Literature Portuguese Language & Literature Russian Language & Literature Turkic, Ural-Altaic, Caucasian, & Central Asian Lang, & Lit. Turkish Language & Literature Urdu Language & Literature
Plant Sciences Soil Sciences Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Wood Science & Wood Products/Pulp & Paper Technology Zoology/Animal Biology
Mathematics
Applied Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics & Statistics Statistics
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering Agricultural/Biological Engineering & Bioengineering Architectural Engineering Biomedical/Medical Engineering Ceramic Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering, General Construction Engineering Electrical, Electronics & Communications Engineering Engineering Engineering Mechanics Engineering Mechanics Engineering Physics Engineering Science Engineering, General Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Forest Engineering Geological/Geophysical Engineering Industrial Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Materials Engineering Materials Science Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical Engineering Mining and Mineral Engineering Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Nuclear Engineering Ocean Engineering Operations Research Petroleum Engineering Polymer/Plastics Engineering Surveying Engineering Systems Engineering Textile Sciences & Engineering
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Chemistry Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Physical Sciences Physical Sciences Physics
Life Sciences
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations & Related Sciences Animal Sciences Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biology, General Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Biopsychology Biotechnology Botany/Plant Biology Cell/Cellular Biology & Anatomical Sciences Ecology, Evolution, Systematics & Population Biology Environmental Science Fishing & Fisheries Sciences and Management Food Science Food Technology & Processing Forest Sciences and Biology Genetics Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Nutrition Sciences Pharmacology & Toxicology Physiological Psychology & Psychobiology Physiology, Pathology & Related Sciences
Technology
Accounting & Computer Science Architectural Engineering Technology Biology Technician/Biotechnology Civil Engineering Technology Cognitive Science Computer Engineering Technologies Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies Electrical Engineering Technology Electromechanical Instrumentation & Maintenance Tech. Engineering Technology Engineering-Related Technologies Environmental Control Technologies Industrial Production Technologies Mathematics & Computer Science Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies Military Technologies Mining and Petroleum Technologies Natural Sciences Neuroscience Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies Nuclear Engineering Technologies Physical Science Technologies Quality Control & Safety Technologies Science Technologies Systems Science and Theory October 2007