On July 3, 2006, the United States Department of Education released final regulations concerning two new grant programs for Pell Grant recipients that are effective beginning fall 2006.
ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT
The Academic Competitiveness Grant is for first and second-year students who meet the following criteria:
- Completed an academically rigorous course of study in high school. For Louisiana high school graduates, completion of the Board of Regents core curriculum is evidence of a rigorous course of study.
- United States citizen.
- Must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant.
- Enrolling as a full-time student (12 or more hours).
- First-year students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006.
- Second-year students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005, have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and have earned at least 24 college hours but not more than 48.
Award Amounts:
- First-year students - $750.00 split equally between fall and spring.
- Second-year students - $1,300.00 split equally between fall and spring.
- No awards for summer.
Renewal Criteria:
- First-year students - Before the award for the spring is paid, the student must have earned 12 hours during the fall semester.
- Second-year students – Before the award for the spring is paid, the student must have earned 12 hours during the fall semester and have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average.
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS ACCESS TO RETAIN TALENT GRANT PROGRAM (SMART)
SMART Grants are available to third and fourth-year students who are majoring in certain areas of study and who meet the following criteria:
- United States citizen.
- Must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant.
- Enrolling as a full-time student (12 or more hours).
- Third-year student who has earned at least 48 college hours but not more than 72 college hours with a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
- Fourth-year student who has earned at least 72 college hours with a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
Majoring in the following degree programs:
- Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Science
- Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemical Science
- Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry
- Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics
- Bachelor’s of Science in Physics
Award amounts are $4,000.00 annually, split equally between the fall and spring semesters. Awards are not available for summer school.
Renewal Criteria:
- Third and fourth-year students – Before the award for the spring is paid, the student must have earned 12 hours during the fall semester and have a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
- To continue the award from the third to fourth-year, the student must have earned 24 hours the previous academic year (fall and spring semesters) and have a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
NOTE: No separate application is required for these programs. Please review your awards on COMPASS and when you receive your award letter carefully and if you believe that you are eligible for one of these awards and it is not on COMPASS and your award letter, please contact the Financial Aid Office. The phone number is (318) 797-5363.
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