May 15 , 2006
Volume 2006– Issue 26

Guidance on AC and SMART Grants

Recently the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released two Dear Colleague Letters addressing some of the issues associated with the two new student aid grants enacted by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005.

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC) provides up to $750 for first year students and up to $1,300 for second year students if the student has successfully completed “. . .a rigorous secondary school program of study . . .” and meets other qualifying criteria. DCL GEN-06-08 provides additional guidance on implementation of both grant programs.

For the AC Grants, individual States establish their own rigorous program of study which also has to be recognized by the Secretary of Education. The Utah State Office of Education (USOE) is working to establish such a program. The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education is working with USOE and ED to understand the requirements and definition of a rigorous secondary education program, and to coordinate such a program in Utah. As additional information becomes available UHEAA will update financial aid personnel at partner schools.

The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) Program provides up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of study to needy students who are pursuing a four-year degree with a major in one of the physical or life sciences, computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language. DCL GEN-06-06 lists the instructional programs that qualify as eligible majors for the National SMART Grant Program.

Any questions related to this Bulletin should be directed to UHEAA Policy and Training at 801.321.7166 or by e-mail to mjohnson@utahsbr.edu.

---