Anne Arundel Community College is committed to enhancing programs and services for students to help them meet their academic goals. The Student Achievement and Success Program is designed for students who are the first in their families to attend college, who need to build a foundation for success in college-level classes, who are low income, or are an ethnic minority. One of SASP’s objectives is to enhance student success by identifying SASP students who meet the eligibility requirements and award them an incentive scholarship. First Year Experience is a cohort of SASP members who are first-time college students with two or more developmental course requirements, minority or low income.

Purpose

The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage FYE participants — FYE Bridge, FYE Extended and other identified First Year SASP students — by providing a scholarship of AACC’s in-county rate for three credits of developmental course work and/or a scholarship incentive of up to $300 each spring. By rewarding students’ persistence, achievement and success in this way, AACC hopes to uplift and motivate First Year students to successfully complete their academic goals.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive an FYE Scholarship and/or maintain the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in an Anne Arundel Community College certificate or degree-seeking program.
• Be enrolled in six or more credit hours for the term the scholarship is being awarded.
• Participants enrolled in fewer than six credits may be eligible based on the recommendation of the SASP director. That decision may be based on credit limitations imposed due to Satisfactory Academic Progress restrictions or the director’s approval for fewer credits based on extenuating circumstances.
• A minimum 2.0 adjusted GPA during the first and second terms.
• Participants without a GPA in their first term at AACC are eligible to receive the scholarship provided all other requirements are met.
• Participants who took developmental/ESL coursework (no GPA) are eligible provided they receive a grade high enough to allow them to proceed to the next course in the sequence.
• During the fall demonstrate participation in at least 30 SASP/college services, activities, or a modified number of contacts based on extenuating circumstances determined by the director or her designee.
• Students who register for spring classes prior to winter break and enroll in a required developmental course are eligible to receive FYE tuition scholarship waiver (FYE-T).
• Meet once during the fall term with SASP representative to assess their FYE scholarship/academic status/progress.
• Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status each term (including OK and probationary status).
• Second year students with OK/probationary SAP may be eligible for a SASP Scholarship.
• Be enrolled in “Student Success” (ACA 100), successfully completed ACA 100, or meets one of the alternative options:
  -  Have completed at least 15 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
  -  Completed over 23 credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
  -  Transferred in an equivalent ACA 100 course.
  -  Transferred 12 credits.
  -  SASP director exemption based on documented extenuating circumstances.
  -  Black Male Institute (BMI) requirement of 15 hours of academic support/
      supplemental instruction (includes ACA 100 or BMI retreat, SASP/FYE/DEV
      Lab, Pathway workshops).

 Students ineligible to receive the SASP Scholarship:

• Students who are dependents or the spouse of regular college faculty or staff who are receiving (or eligible to receive) a tuition waiver.
• Students who have not filed taxes for the year used to determine eligibility for Title IV financial aid.
• Students who are not current with selective service.
• Students who have Department of Homeland Security (DHLS) holds.
• Students who have outstanding SASP-loaned textbooks, calculators or laptops.
• Students with an earned first associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Students who have exceeded the maximum award amount ($2,000).
• Students not meeting any of the eligibility requirements may be considered in subsequent enrolled term(s) if eligibility criteria are attained.

For more information about this program, please contact SASP at 410-777-2530 or sasp@aacc.edu.