The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) was signed into law by President Bush on
February 8, 2006 . This Act created two new federal grant programs, the Academic Competitiveness
Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant Program,
to be awarded to eligible students beginning in the 2006-2007 award year.
Award Amount
- The maximum 1st year ACG is $750.
- The maximum 2nd year ACG is $1,300 per.
Qualifications for the ACG
- To qualify, the student must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a U. S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
- Be enrolled at least half-time (i.e., 6 units or more) in a degree program.
- Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his/her program of study (academic years are defined at CSUB for this grant as: 1st year = 0 to 36 cumulative college units, 2nd year = 37 to 72 cumulative college units).
- Have completed an approved "rigorous high school program of study." Students who graduated from a high school in California , and met the CSU minimum standards for admission, are considered to have completed a "rigorous" approved program of study. All other students, including graduates of high schools in other states, must meet one of the other sets of requirements described in detail at the U.S. Department of Education Web site at [ http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.html ]http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.html
- To qualify for 1st year ACG, students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 , and not have been previously enrolled as a regular college student in an undergraduate degree program.
- To qualify for 2nd year ACG, students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 , and have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater their freshman year in college.
- Meet standard eligibility criteria for all Federal Title IV financial aid (e.g., complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA, not be in default on a student loan, demonstrate financial need, maintain satisfactory academic progress, etc.).
Determining Student's Eligibility for the ACG
- The U. S. Department of Education (USDE) uses the information collected on the FAFSA to identify potentially eligible students and notifies the university. The CSUB Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships (OFA&S) will work with the CSUB Office of Admissions to confirm that the student completed a rigorous high school program.
- Students do not need to contact the Office of Admissions or the OFA&S.
- Confirmation of eligibility will be performed automatically.
- The CSUB OFA&S will then utilize information provided by the Office of the Records, and the Office of Admissions to determine if a student meets the requirements for either a 1st Year ACG or 2nd Year ACG.
Estimated Time of ACG Award
ACG award eligibility will be verified after Census Day for each term. Disbursement requires the student to be enrolled full-time (12 or more units).
Awarding of ACG
- ACG-eligible students who have already received their financial aid for the term will have their aid packages adjusted to reflect their eligibility for this new federal grant.
- The law states that the ACG, in combination with the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC), financial aid, and other resources, cannot exceed the student's Cost of Education. Therefore, in some cases, the ACG may replace other financial aid , especially student and parent loan eligibility. Students will be notified of the new award and any adjustment to other aid by CSUB RunnerMail.
For additional information about the Academic Competitiveness Grant, go to the U.S. Department of Education website at http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.html