As members of the community that assists students and families with the application process for the 2007-08 academic year, NASFAA would like to take the opportunity to remind members of how students self-identify themselves as being potentially eligible to for an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG).

Students who apply using FAFSA on the Web, or FOTW, may be prompted to answer questions to help determine their eligibility for an ACG when they receive confirmation that their FAFSA was submitted. FOTW will prompt students who have a Pell eligible estimated expected family contribution (EFC) and who appear to meet citizenship, age, and high school completion date criteria to provide information about their secondary school program of study.

Students who file their FAFSA using the paper form self-identify through a different process. Students whose EFCs indicate that they should be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant and who appear to met the citizenship, age, and high school completion date criteria will receive a comment on page 3 of their Student Aid Report (SAR). The comment will tell students that they may be eligible to receive an ACG, and instructs them to either call 1.800.4FEDAID or to contact the financial aid office at their institution to determine if they are indeed eligible for an award.

Regardless of the process students use to self-identify themselves as potential ACG recipients, institutions must determine the eligibility of all students who self-identify themselves as being eligible. Please keep in mind that each state submits their definition of a rigorous program of secondary study to the Department, so students and families need to carefully follow self-identification instructions.

By Jennifer Martin
NASFAA Assistant Director for Professional Assessment, Training, and Regulatory Assistance

Posted 02/08/07 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.