The Federal Pell Grant, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) programs are student financial assistance programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). These programs provide grant assistance to an eligible student attending an institution of higher education. The institution determines the student's award and disburses program funds on behalf of the Department of Education (ED).
However, with the completion of the 2010-2011 award year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011) the funding for the ACG and National SMART Grant programs was no longer included in the budget for the title IV federal student aid programs and the awarding of grants ceased. Because there is no funding for either the ACG or National SMART Grant programs, we are removing the corresponding burden from this information collection package.
The Pell Grant program is still fully funded and the burden for the reporting of the disbursements for that by institutions of higher education is included in this information collection. Institutions are still required to report student Pell Grant payment information to ED electronically. Electronic reporting is conducted through the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system. The COD system is used by institutions to request, report, and reconcile grant funds received from the Pell Grant program.
The revised number of respondents represents the current number of institutions participating in the Pell Grant program as of the end of the 2010-2011 award year, which accounts for the difference of 143 respondents. While there is a decrease in the number of institutions that are required to respond, there is a marked increase in the number of eligible Pell Grant recipients from the previous information collection, accounting for the net increases in the responses and burden hours.
$25,935,000
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Beth Grebeldinger 202 708-8242
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
1845 0039 v6 Supporting Statement 30 day comment period 06 26 2012 (2).docx
COD System Private Institutions