The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships: University of Oregon

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

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Update: The Academic Competitive Grant (ACG) will not be funded beyond the 2010-11 academic year and will not be offered to any students in 2011-12.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - Freshman

Freshmen (0-44 credits) are eligible to receive up to three terms of the grant at $250 per term as long as they meet the following criteria:

  • Completed a rigorous curriculum in high school (as defined by US Dept of Education*);
  • Graduated from high school after January 1, 2006;
  • Receive a Pell grant during same academic year;
  • Are enrolled in a minimum of six credits;
  • Are a Freshman at the beginning of term (0-44 credits)**;
  • The amount of the ACG in combination with other financial aid does not exceed the demonstrated need.

    **Once a student becomes a sophomore (45 or more credits) they are no longer eligible for the freshman ACG even if they haven't received it for three terms.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - Sophomore

Sophomores (45-89 credits) are eligible to receive up to three terms of the grant at $433 per term as long as they meet the following criteria:

  • Completed a rigorous curriculum in high school (as defined by US Dept of Education*);
  • Graduated from high school after January 1, 2005;
  • Receive a Pell grant during same academic year;
  • Are enrolled in a minimum of six credits;
  • Completed Freshman year with at least a 3.0 cumulative UO GPA;
  • Are a Sophomore at the beginning of term (45-89 credits)**.
  • The amount of ACG in combination with other financial aid does not exceed demonstrated need.

    **Once a student becomes a junior (90 or more credits) they are no longer eligible for the Sophomore ACG even if they haven't received it for three terms.

* US Department of Education defines a rigorous curriculum as meeting one of the following conditions:

  • The student completed one of his or her state's designated secondary school programs of study, as noted on the web site; or
  • The student has taken the tests for at least two Advanced Placement (AP)(scoring a '3' or better) or International Baccalaureate (IB)(scoring a '4' or better) courses; or
  • The student has completed a high school course of study with at least-
    • Four years of high school English;
    • Three years of high school math, including Algebra I and another higher level math course;
    • Three years of high school science, which must include two years of biology, chemistry or physics;
    • Three years of high school social studies; and
    • One year of high school foreign language.

 

SMART Grant

Update: The national Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART) will not be funded beyond the 2010-11 academic year and will not be offered to any students in 2011-12.

Below are the federally prescribed criteria that must be met in order to qualify for these grants as implemented by the University of Oregon. Students who have declared and are actively pursuing (as demonstrated by pattern of coursework) one of the following majors are potentially eligible for these grants:

  • BI            Biology
  • BIC         Biochemistry
  • CH          Chemistry
  • CHN       Chinese
  • CIS         Computer Information Science
  • GEOL     Geological Sciences
  • GS          General Science
  • GSB        General Science-Bend
  • HPHY     Human Physiology
  • JPN        Japanese
  • MACS     Mathematics and Computer Science
  • MARB     Marine Biology
  • MATH     Mathematics
  • MTHB     Math-Bend
  • PEN        pre-engineering
  • PHYS     Physics
  • RUSS     Russian

SMART Grants

Juniors and 4th year seniors enrolled in an eligible major may receive up to $1333 per term as long as they meet the following criteria:

  • Receive a Pell grant during same academic year;
  • Are enrolled in a minimum of  six credits;
  • Have a cumulative UO GPA of 3.0 or greater before each term.
  • The amount of SMART in combination with other financial aid does not exceed demonstrated need.
  • Juniors (90-134 credits) are eligible to receive up to three terms* of this grant.
    *Once a student becomes a senior (135 or more credits) they are no longer eligible for the Junior SMART grant even if they haven't received it for three terms.
  • Fourth year Seniors (135+ credits) are eligible to receive up to three terms of this grant. 

ACG/SMART Grant FAQ’s

Q: Why doesn't my ACG/SMART grant appear on my bill? When should I expect to receive it?

A: Typically, these grants will not be disbursed until the second week of the term. The provisions covering these grants are very strict and continued eligibility must be confirmed prior to each disbursement each term.

Q: What happens if my GPA is too low or I change grade levels and am found to be ineligible?

A: Students who were originally offered the grant and are found ineligible will receive a revised offer of assistance soon after the term begins.

Q: The 3.0 GPA requirement for the second year ACG grant states, “Completed Freshmen year with a least a 3.0 cumulative UO GPA”. Can give a little more explanation of exactly what this means?

A: To qualify for a second year ACG a students GPA must be 3.0 at the end of the term they attain 45 credits. If it is less than that you will never be eligible for the second year ACG. Getting your GPA up to 3.0 in a subsequent term will not make you ACG eligible. By the same token, if you ended your freshmen year with a 3.0, you won’t lose your ACG grant if your GPA then slips below 3.0.

Q: How are incompletes counted?

A: For purposes of these grants, the GPA is calculated as if the incomplete were an ‘F’. In cases where that treatment results in a GPA of less than 3.0 the grant will not be disbursed for the next term. Students have until the end of that term to make up the incomplete and get their GPA above 3.0 in order to receive that term’s grant.

Q: To be SMART grant eligible, students must have declared and actively pursuing designated majors. What do you mean by ‘actively pursuing’?

A: ‘Actively pursuing’ means showing a pattern of coursework consistent with other students in that major. For example, biology majors usually take biology, chemistry, and math courses in order to pursue that degree. 

Q: I’ve looked at the eligibility criteria and think I’m eligible for one of these grants, but never been offered one. What do I do?

A: Contact the office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships via:
Email: fawww@uoregon.edu
Phone: 1-800-760-6953 or 1-541-346-3221
In person: Office hours 8-5 M-Th, 9-5 F at 260 Oregon Hall