The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant are federal programs available to students who are:

• Pell eligible or received the Pell grant in the previous year.
• U.S. citizens (Permanent residents and other non-citizens are not eligible.)
• Enrolled full time - 12 hours or more (The grant is cancelled for eligible students enrolled less than full-time. It cannot be prorated like other types of aid.)

Additional program-specific requirements are below.

In addition to the general requirements above, the ACG is available to students who:

• Are in their first or second year of study**.
• Are recent high school graduates.
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.
  • UCA Awards the ACG to Arkansas residents who completed the College Core high school plans, met requirements for the Arkansas Academic Challenge, completed a specific core curriculum determined by the US Department of Education, or specific completed AP/IB courses.  For more specific details please contact Larry Burns at the e-mail or phone number below.
  • To identify rigorous programs in other states, for the 2006-2007 academic year, students can Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA, choose the ACG option, and the system will pre-determine if you are eligible to answer the ACG questions. The U.S. Department of Education will automatically send the information to UCA.
• Have a 3.0 cumulative GPA for renewal in the second year**.
• Award amount is up to $750 per year for first year students and up to $1300 per year for 2nd year students.

In addition to the general requirements above, the SMART Grant is available to students who:

• Are in their third or fourth year of study**. One year is defined as 24 hours. The fourth year is the exception.  Students with between 72 and 120 hours are eligible for the 4th year SMART grant.  You may however receive only one (1) fourth year grant.
• Are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The following majors are the only majors that UCA offers that meet these requirements.  Please contact Larry Burns if you have specific questions about Pre-Med, Pre-Dentistry and other similar majors.
  • 400810 -- Biological Physics (BS)
  • 260101 -- Biology (BS)
  • 400501 -- Chemistry (BS)
  • 400502 -- Chemistry-ACS Certified (BS)
  • 110101 -- Computer Science (BS)
  • 270101 -- Mathematics (BA & BS)
  • 400101 -- Physical Science (BS)
  • 400801 -- Physics (BS)
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA in coursework required for the major.
• Award amount is up to $4000 a year for 3rd and 4th year students.

** Academic years for these grants are not the same as academic grade-level progression.  An academic year is defined as 24 hours.  Anyone with 1 to 23 hours is considered to be in their first year.  Students with 24 to 47 academic hours are second year students.  If a student has 48 to 71 hours she is a 3rd year student.  Finally, a student with 72 to 120 completed hours is a 4th year student.  This distinction can influence your eligibility for funds, especially in the 3rd and 4th year.  A chemistry major who has taken 15 hours a semester may only receive one-half of their 3rd year grant but will receive a full fourth year grant.

If you have questions about applying for or becoming eligible for the ACG or SMART Grants please call, e-mail, or visit Larry Burns.  You can also ask any question using the form below.  Larry can be reached by calling 501-450-5245 or e-mailing lburns@uca.edu. You can also drop by his office at Harrin 210.