The Academic Competitiveness Grant, ACG, is a federal student aid program established by Congress to pay for higher education. A student who has successfully completed a rigorous secondary school (high school) program of study and met other program criteria may be eligible to receive an award. First year students can receive up to $750 and second year students can receive up to $1,300 to help pay college costs.
The national Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, SMART, Grant is a federal student aid program established by Congress that provides qualifying third- or fourth-year students up to $4,000 per year to pay for higher education, if the student majors in mathematics, science or a critical foreign language.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant, ACG, is available for first- and second-year students within the DCCCD. To receive an AC Grant, students must meet the following criteria.
First-year students (must have completed high school after Jan. 1, 2006):
Second-year students (those who completed high school after Jan. 1, 2005 and who have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours) must meet the same criteria as the first year student and, in addition, must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
No. Federal Regulations require that you must have "completed a rigorous high school curriculum of study." Regulations specifically exclude the GED as a qualifying certificate.
No. SMART grants are awarded only to third- and fourth- year students (juniors and seniors) who are majoring in mathematics, science or a critical foreign language.
Students must self-identify their possible eligibility for the AC Grant. To self-identify, visit FAFSA on the Web and select "Making Corrections to a FAFSA" and then select "ACG ELIGIBILITY." If you meet the basic eligibility criteria, the U.S. Department of Education will notify the DCCCD of your potential qualification. The DCCCD will send instructions to provide required proof of eligibility. IMPORTANT: You must be enrolled in an active, qualifying degree program (associate degree) as well as meet all other eligibility criteria in order to receive an ACG award. If you have not declared your degree program you must go to the college Admission/Registrar's Office and designate your degree program.
First-year students may receive up to $750 for the year.
Second-year students (must have earned 30 or more credit hours) may receive up to $1,300 for the year.
The AC Grant awards are subject to the same disbursement policies and procedures as other federal financial aid awards. To find out more information see the answer to "How and When Will I Get My Money?" question on the DCCCD Get Answers page.
Yes. A student must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) in an active, qualifying program in order to receive an ACG award.
Yes. You can receive the AC Grant as a first- and second-year student. You can only receive one first-year grant and one second-year grant. In order to receive the ACG the second year a student must have minimum 3.0 Cumulative GPA.
Your "official" high school transcript will have either a place that designated the type of curriculum program you completed, or a stamp, that must say, "distinguished," "advanced," or "recommended." As an alternative qualifier, if you completed at least two AP classes, your test scores of three or higher must be listed on the transcript.
Possibly. Your parent or your home school instructor must present a transcript of your high school curriculum that lists the high school level course work you completed. That course work must be equivalent to the Texas High School Recommended Curriculum. Your college Admissions Office can provide you with a list of the courses required in that curriculum. Your home school transcript must be signed by your home school instructor and notarized.
This is a new program and some of the federal regulations are still being decided. It appears that the first awards for 2006-07 will be announced in September after your attendance in your fall classes has been verified. The first disbursements will go out about mid-September.
If your high school transcript does not prove your eligibility for the AC Grant, you will be notified at the same time the first awards are announced.
First, you must go back to the FAFSA on the Web, the same place where you filled out your original FASFA application. At FAFSA on the Web, select "Making a Correction to my FAFSA." Follow the instructions and your information will be sent to the college financial aid office. The financial aid office will contact you with further instructions about submitting your high school transcript to the college.
Yes, but you must declare a program of study in an associate degree program. AC Grant regulations require an eligible student to be enrolled in a degree program. If you are not sure what you want to study, pick out a program that you think you might like. Start by taking the basic courses (English, math, science, etc.). You can change your program later when you decide which subjects you like best. Important: You must declare a program before you can receive your financial aid awards.
You will not be eligible for an AC Grant, but you may be able to get other types of financial aid. However, you must be in an eligible program of study to receive financial aid of any type. If you have not declared a program of study, go to the Admissions/Registrar's Office at your college and tell the person at the counter that you are applying for financial aid and you have to choose a program of study.
Transfer students may be eligible for an AC Grant. You must meet all the regular criteria for the grant. In addition, you must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on the courses you are transferring in from your other school. Important: You must submit all of your college transcripts and your high school transcript to the Admissions/Registrar's office before you can be considered for an AC Grant.
If the courses you took were dual credit, you may still be eligible for the AC Grant. The regulations say that you cannot have been a regular college student enrolled in a program of study. High school students cannot be admitted as regular students while still attending high school.
No. Because you were admitted as an entering freshman into a program of study before July 1, 2006, you are not eligible for the AC Grant. However, you may be eligible for other types of aid. Talk to your financial aid office about what other aid you may be eligible to receive.
Possibly. If you have not been regularly admitted into a program of study, it is possible you can get the AC Grant. You must declare into a degree program for the fall semester before you can be considered for the grant.
