1. ACG / SMART Grants: Best Practices

2. KASFAA Fall Conference Heather Boutell Bellarmine University Cynthia Connor University of Louisville Kathy Hodges Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

3. Rules and Regulations Interim Final Regulations published July 3, 2006 – These regulations govern 2006-07 awards Final regulations published November 1, 2006 governing 2007-08 and beyond – Optional early implementation for 2006-07 Negotiated Rulemaking underway; regulations produced will make changes for 2008-2009 and beyond

4. Identification of Eligible Students Identify Students through your own means rather than rely solely on self identification Queries – ECTC has a query designed by their IT department to identify possible ACG students – Bellarmine runs a query monthly that identifies Pell eligible freshmen and sophomores who are then reviewed individually to determine ACG eligibility and also runs a similar query to identify SMART eligible students – UofL uses the query functionality of PeopleSoft to identify potentially eligible ACG and SMART students using multiple queries and cross referencing them

5. Grade Level Progression 24 credit hours versus 30 credit hours ECTC - 24 credit hours works well for the population UofL and Bellarmine - 30 credit hours to coincide with grade level progression for loans (had to change loan proration formula)

6. Grade Level Progression Screen students based on academic year progression individually rather than rely on the system that counts AP/high school courses Actual versus assumed when determining weeks of instruction

7. Working with Others on Campus Admissions Office may identify: Rigorous HS component for ACG HS grad date for ACG Final HS transcript on file for ACG Citizenship for ACG or SMART

8. Working with Others on Campus Registrar’s Office may identify : Enrollment as of census date for ACG or SMART GPA as of the term the student became a sophomore for 2 nd Year ACG GPA as of most recent term for SMART Declared majors for SMART Incomplete grades during previous term for 2 nd Year ACG or SMART At UofL the Registrar’s Office places a hold on all SMART grant recipients requiring that the student meets with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student is taking classes required for the SMART eligible major before the award will disburse

9. Transfer Students and NSLDS NSLDS to check if received previous awards If student has received ACG at a previous institution final HS transcript is not required to be on file at your institution

10. Changes to ACG/SMART The NPRM on ACG/SMART should become final of November 1 Significant changes have been proposed for upcoming years

11. Questions? Thanks for joining us!