National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants (84.376)

Program

84.376 National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Student Financial Assistance Programs

Authorization

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended., Executive Order Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1, Section 401A.

Program Number

84.376

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide eligible third- and fourth-year full-time undergraduates who major in certain designated technical fields or foreign languages with need-based grant assistance to help meet educational expenses.

Types of Assistance

DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE

Uses and Use Restrictions

The student must be a U.S. citizen who has been accepted for enrollment in, and is making satisfactory progress at an eligible institution of higher education. Eligible schools may be public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education (such as colleges, universities, vocational technical schools, hospital schools of nursing), and for-profit institutions (proprietary). Eligible males who are at least 18 years or older and born after December 31, 1959, can receive aid only if they have registered with the Selective Service. Graduate students and students who have already earned a bachelor's degree are not eligible for assistance. Recipients must demonstrate need according to Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and must be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Undergraduate students enrolled as full-time regular students in an eligible program at an eligible institution of higher education and making satisfactory academic progress. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a high school diploma, a GED, or demonstrate the ability to benefit from the program of study offered.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Third- and fourth-year undergraduate students who are U.S citizens and are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Students must be full-time regular students in an eligible program at an eligible institution of higher education and making satisfactory academic progress. Students are required to pursue a major in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language, and obtain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the coursework required for the major being pursued. In addition, students must sign a statement of educational purpose, not owe a refund on a Title IV grant, and not be in default on a Title IV loan. Eligible males that are at least 18 years old and born after December 31, 1959, can receive aid only if they have registered with the Selective Service.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Student completes a "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" and submits it to the agency specified on the form. Students may apply using a paper application, an electronic application, or via the Internet. The Department of Education calculates the student's eligibility for assistance and the agency to which the student sent the application returns a notification to the student of his or her eligibility for assistance. The student submits this notification to the institution of his or her choice in order to have his or her award calculated.

Award Procedure

Institutions act as disbursing agents for the Department of Education. The institution that the student attends calculates and disburses the SMART Grants, using a payment schedule developed by the Department of Education that determines the amount of the award based on the amount of available funding and the estimated number of recipients.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

Appeals

An institution, on the basis of supplemental documentation, may rule that an applicant is self-supporting, even though under the standard criteria, the applicant would normally be considered financially dependent on his or her parents. An institution may adjust on a case-by-case basis a student's data elements used to calculate his or her EFC and cost of attendance due to unusual circumstances documented by the institution.

Renewals

Students who have applied in the previous award year may be eligible to complete a paper or electronic renewal application that contains preprinted student data and requires students only to update certain information.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Students are limited to one SMART Grant during any award year (July 1 through June 30). Funds for these grants are usually disbursed at least twice during an award year. Students may only receive a SMART Grant until they have received a bachelor's degree. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Institutions will be required to furnish reports, periodically, on the disbursement of funds, as well as furnish any other reports the Department requires. No reports are required of students. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Annual audits will be made.

Records

All records pertaining to the eligibility of each SMART Grant recipient and all fiscal management records must be maintained by the institution for a period of 3 years or until an acceptable audit has been completed, whichever is later. Selected students will have the information on their applications verified.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The Department of Education estimates that awards will support 78,000 students. Fiscal Year 2009: Estimated $127,000. Fiscal Year 2010: Estimated $131,000.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0205-0-1-502.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $221,000,000; FY 09 est $331,000,000; FY 10 est $337,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants are up to $4,000 for third- and fourth-year students. In combination with other Federal student aid, awrds may not exceed a students cost of education. For FY 08 the estimated aerage grant is $2,833.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Contact the program office for more information.

Related Programs

84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants; 84.032 Federal Family Education Loans; 84.033 Federal Work-Study Program; 84.037 Perkins Loan Cancellations; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program_Federal Capital Contributions; 84.042 TRIO_Student Support Services; 84.044 TRIO_Talent Search; 84.047 TRIO_Upward Bound; 84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program; 84.066 TRIO_Educational Opportunity Centers; 84.069 Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership; 84.375 Academic Competitiveness Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Federal Student Aid Information Center. Telephone: (1-800) 433-3243. Regional Director, Federal Student Aid, the Director of Financial Aid at the institution the student wishes to attend, high school guidance counselors, or directors of State agencies.

Headquarters Office

Federal Student Aid Information Center Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., , Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Phone: 800-433-3243

Web Site Address

http://www.ifap.ed.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.