Catalog 2010-2011 - South Texas College

What are the requirements under the FederalWork Study Program?4Student must be registered for at least 6 credithours4Student must have unmet need4Student must have his/her Financial Aid Filecomplete4Student must be meeting Financial AidSatisfactory Academic ProgressFEDERAL ACADEMICCOMPETITIVENESS GRANTWhat is an Academic Competitiveness GrantACG?An ACG grant is an additional source of FederalStudent Aid that is awarded to students receivingthe Federal Pell Grant who meet the followingadditional requirements:4Are U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens4Are a 2005 or later graduate from high school(2006 or later for ACG1 and 2005 for ACG2)4Graduated from a rigorous high schoolprogram (in Texas: Academic Achievement/Recommend)4Have completed less than 60 college credithours (less than 30 for ACG1 and 30-59 forACG2)4Are enrolled at least half time (6 hours or more)4Have declared a valid 1 year certificate or higher(two year or four year degree)4Have met GPA requirements (2.0 for ACG1and 3.0 at completion of first 30 hours forACG2)How much will I get?The award amount received depends on whichACG grant you are eligible for. If you are a 2006or later graduate and meet all the requirements ofthe Pell Grant and the ACG, and have completedless than 30 college credit hours you will be eligiblefor ACG1. The ACG1 Grant award is up to $375.00per semester depending on need.If you are a 2005 graduate and meet all therequirements for a Federal Pell Grant and the ACG,and have completed 30-59 college credit hours youmay be eligible for ACG2. The ACG2 grant awardis up to $650.00 per semester depending on need.ACG grants are awarded only to students whohave met all previously mentioned requirementsand who meet the 3.0 GPA requirement uponcompletion of the first 30 college credit hours.Do I have to pay the ACG grant back?No, however it follows the same attendancerequirements as the Federal Pell Grant. The ACGgrant will be disburse in accordance with yourenrollment status.How will I get paid?South Texas College will credit ACG Grant fundsto your school account to pay for tuition, fees andother school related costs which appear on yourstudent account (institutional charges).If you are eligible for any funds after tuition fees,and other school related costs have been paidand you meet all the requirements, STC will payyou the difference directly, usually via the Jagcard,60check or direct deposit into an account that youdesignate.Students' confirmation of attendance for any ACGgrant takes time. STC Office of Financial Aid mustconfirm through an enrollment verification process,that all students have attended all of the coursesthat they have enrolled in before awarding theACG grant. Enrollment verification takes placeafter census date of each semester, and may takeup to three weeks.More information on this process and how it affectsthe timing of the release of funds is located on thefinancial aid award letter and on STC’s FinancialAid office website.How will I be notified that I am eligible?The Office of Financial Aid will automaticallyidentify most eligible students with informationfound in our school records. However, studentswho self identified themselves as potentialrecipients on their FAFSA will be identified andcontacted by the Financial Aid office with moreinstructions on what steps to take to determinetheir eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, anaward letter will be mailed; it will list all awardsand will give students the opportunity to read theterms and conditions for each of them.Note: No action will need to be taken if studentsagree to these terms, but if students disagreewith receiving any of the aid offered, they havethe opportunity to use the award letter to indicatethe rejection of any or all of the award(s). Studentsmay also reject any or all awards on their JagNetaccount.FEDERAL NATIONAL SCIENCE ANDMATHEMATICS ACCESS TO RETAINTALENT GRANTWhat is a National Science and MathematicsAccess to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)?A SMART Grant is an additional source of FederalStudent Aid that is awarded to students receivinga Federal Pell Grant who meet the followingadditional requirements:4Are U.S. Citizens, or eligible non-citizens4Have completed more than 60 college credithours and are classified as a Junior or Senior4Are enrolled at least half time (6 hours or more)4Have declared a valid eligible four year degree(at STC, the Bachelor of Applied Technology inComputer and Information Technologies)4Have met GPA requirement of a 3.0 or higherHow much will I get?If you have completed more than 60 college credithours you may be eligible for up to $2,000.00per semester depending on need. The NationalSMART Grant is awarded only to students whomeet all previously mentioned requirements andwho have a 3.0 GPA upon completion of theirfirst 60 credit hours. Recipients of this grant mustmaintain a 3.0 GPA until completion of major.Do I have to pay the SMART grant back?No, however it follows the same attendance