2006-2007 Academic Year

GRANT PROGRAMS

New! Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. The program will be available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program (award is cancelled for enrollment less than 12 credit hours and, cannot be prorated like other grant awards);
• Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of the program of study
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study
• UT Tyler will award to Texas residents who completed the Recommended or Distinguished high school diploma plan.
• If a first-year student, must not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and
• If a second-year student, must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the first academic year.

New! National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART) Grant

The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the National Smart Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. Awards will be up to $4000 for each academic year. The amount of the ACG or SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant award, may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance.

*Note:  For additional information on the ACG & SMART grant programs, please visit:

www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart.html

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Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are gift aid sources that are available to undergraduate students taking undergraduate courses and whose Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is less than $3850. Federal Pell Grant amounts for the 2006-07 academic year ranged from $400 to $4050, based on the student’s semester credit hours and EFC.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal SEOG awards are limited gift resources available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. To qualify for consideration, undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 undergraduate credit hours per semester. Annual award amounts range from $400 to $1000 and are based on the availability of funds.

Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)
The TPEG program provides limited state funds for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. To qualify for consideration, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. Annual award amounts range from $400 to $1000 and are based on the availability of funds.

Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP/SLEAP)
LEAP/SLEAP provides limited state and federal funding to assist undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. To qualify for consideration, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 undergraduate credit hours per semester. Annual award amounts range from $400 to $1000 and are based on the availability of funds.

Education Affordability Grant (Ed Aff)
UT Tyler provides limited, need-based grant funding of up to $1000 per semester to assist undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. To qualify for consideration, undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at UT Tyler and graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours at UT Tyler. Priority is given to students who do not qualify for TEXAS Grant or the B-On-Time Loan Program.

TEXAS Grant Program
The TEXAS Grant program provides limited funding to undergraduate students who completed the recommended or distinguished high school curriculum or its equivalent no earlier than 1998, are Texas residents, have financial need, and are currently enrolled at least3/4 time (9 credit hours). Awards must be made no later than 16 months after the month of high school graduation. Students who meet program requirements can receive a continuation of this award for up to 150 semester credit hours, a maximum of six years or until they complete a Baccalaureate Degree, depending on their first award year. At the end of the initial year of the award, students must meet the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy to receive the award for the second year. In subsequent years, students MUST complete at least 24 credit hours, with a 75% completion rate AND with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. The 2005-06 award amount for public universities was $2090 per semester.

TEXAS Grants for Associate Degree recipients are also available, provided the first Associate Degree is earned in May 2001 or later. The program requires that the student be a Texas resident, have financial need, and be currently enrolled at least 3/4 time (9 credit hours). Awards must be made no later than 12 months after the Associate Degree is received. Students who meet program requirements may receive awards for up to 90 semester credit hours, a maximum of four years or until they complete a Baccalaureate Degree, whichever comes first. For continuation of this award, students MUST complete at least 24 semester credit hours, with a 75% completion rate AND with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. The 2005-06 maximum award for students attending a public university was $2090 per semester.
Students transferring TEXAS Grant renewal eligibility from a previous college/university MUST notify the Financial Aid office by the deadlines listed below:
Fall: October 1

Spring: February 15.