On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed the Higher Edcuation Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) that created a new federal grant program entitled the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) Program. The National SMART Grant Program will provide $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of study to Pell Grant recipients who are U.S. citizens, and majoring in physical, life, computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- Be a federal Pell Grant recipient;
- Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program;
- Be enrolled in a four-year degree granting institution;
- Maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student's major;
- Pursue 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;
Please note: As per Federal regulations set forth by the Department of Education a student who is taking general education courses or electives that satisfy general degree requirements for the student's National SMART Grant-eligible program, but who is not taking at least one course specific to and required for the National SMART Grant-eligible major, is not eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for that payment period. For example, the biology student described above may be taking courses during a semester in the humanities, the arts, and physical education in order to fulfill the general education requirements of the degree program or major. However, to be eligible for a National SMART Grant the student must also be enrolled in at least one course required for the student's National SMART Grant major. If the student were enrolled only in courses that satisfy the general education requirements of the National SMART Grant-eligible program, but not in any courses that are specific to the major, he or she would not be eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for the semester. The Financial Aid Office will review students eligibility using the criteria listed above. A student will automatically be awarded the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant and will be notified via an award letter if they filed a FAFSA and fit the criteria listed above.For more information regarding this new grant please visit the Federal Student Aid website at
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/ students/english/NewPrograms.jsp