<p>So a couple months back I've read here on this forum that for 2009-2010 the eligibility of Smart Grants changed from U.S. Citizens only to include eligible non-citizens as well. However, I tried to google for some information on it but I came up with nothing. Does anyone have any information on this? Are there any sources where I can find updated info on the Smart grant for year 2009-2010? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>It is true. Eligible non-citizens WILL be able to receive SMART grants in 2009-10. From the government training session: 2009-10 changes:</p>
<p>Eliminates the restriction to U.S. citizens (MY NOTE: this means eligible non-citizens)
Stipulates that students can be enrolled less than full-time but must be enrolled at least half-time (MY NOTE: this is new-old rules were full time only)
Proportionally reduces maximum awards the same way Pell does for part-time students
Requires grant awards and payments to be determined on the same basis as Pell
Provides that awards are based on students grade level instead of academic year (MY NOTE: this may be an issue for some students, because grade level is credit specific)</p>
<p>That's great news! Thank you very much. I just have a question on the last point, what exactly does that mean? If the UC systems for example recognizes me as a junior because I am a transfer student, does that mean the SMART grant system recognizes me as a junior as well? (I spent 3 years in junior college as opposed to 2, hope that doesn't mean I'll be seen as a senior by the SMART grant)</p>
<p>No, it has to do with progression. If you get too few credits within a year to move into your school's next level (say sophomore to junior), you will not get a grant that semester. Say you are a credit shy of senior & you already had a full year of SMART as a junior - you would not get the second year grant that semester. The class standing & progression to the next level are determined by the individual school. Transfer student eligibility requires using the old school's grades in the gpa calc & there are some other rules for transfers, too. I am not entirely clear yet - the rules are new & I haven't figured everything out yet.</p>
<p>If a student does not qualify for the SMART the 1st semester of senior year because of being short some credits but qualifies the 2nd semester senior year, can they get the remainder of the grant the next semester if the do not graduate in 4 years (and assuming they are not over the maximum credits the first semester of super senior year).</p>
<p>I'm not sure how it's going to work next year. I will have to look at the regs & figure out the answer to your question. The info I have read confuses the heck out of me. I did find this: A student may not receive more than two ACG Scheduled Awards and two National SMART Grant Scheduled Awards during the student’s undergraduate education.</p>
<p>"Scheduled award" is what we think of as 2 semesters within an academic year - so 2 scheduled awards is two one-year awards, and each award is split into 2 (or more, if nontraditional calendar).</p>
<p>Hmm - I see summer class in someone's future</p>
<p>Ah how complicated, where can I find some of this to read up on may I ask? </p>
<p>Also, applying for the FAFSA right now automatically gets me considered for the SMART grant righT? I don't have to do anything more?</p>
<p>You can search for the info on the SMART grant on the financial aid portal: studentaid.ed.gov. Search for SMART grant. Just remember that any info on it will refer to 2008-09. The 2009-10 info is still being put together - the rules are still being hashed out. I have some info, but it's more for administrators (and frankly, the year-to-year eligibility stuff might as well be written in sanskrit for all I can understand it). </p>
<p>You may be asked to provide some info to your school's financial aid department. We identify all Pell recipients who have indicated on their FAFSA that they may be eligible for SMART. From there, we screen for eligible majors & citizenship. Then we check for eligible classes within major, gpa, & full time status. Somewhere in there, the computer system is monitoring the academic progression component. It is time consuming, so sometimes SMART isn't applied to a student's account right away.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom, make sure you check with the school for summer eligibility. There are several different formulas a school can use, and there are subsets within them - not all schools do things the same, and you will need to make sure that they would award a summer SMART. I am not sure we do - but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Oh I wasn't thinking she could get the SMART in the summer. I was thinking she could get a few hours to get her up to the hours required at her school to be a senior (93). But her tuition waiver doesn't cover summer school so doing that might cost more than it is worth for the SMART.</p>
<p>She has averaged 15 hours a semester but will be 3 hours short of the 93, I don't really want her doing 18 as she has WS. She may even possibly be 6 short if she does the study abroad program she is thinking of (just counts for 12 credits or the semester). I am assuming they they still exclude any clepped hours from counting?</p>
<p>I plan on trying to figure out exactly what the heck the rules are this week. I really am confused on the whole progress issue for next year. I am sure I will be able to find something that explains it in a way I can actually understand - I just have to find it. I'll report back when I figure it out.</p>