Maryland Higher Education Commission

December 2008 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: December 17, 2008                 Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                 Communications: (410) 260-4511

 

 

Financial assistance available for citizens moving to State because of BRAC

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 17, 2008) – Military, civilian personnel and defense contractors, as well as their families, who are relocating to Maryland because of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, may be eligible for financial assistance at Maryland’s two- and four-year public and independent colleges and universities.

Additionally, citizens relocating to the State may also qualify for in-state tuition at the University System of Maryland and Morgan State University, Higher Education Secretary James E. Lyons, Sr., said recently at the Dorchester County Economic Development Summit in Cambridge. Secretary Lyons made these remarks as a panelist discussing the impending impact of BRAC in Maryland.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) offers 22 grant and scholarship programs. Governor O’Malley budgeted nearly $110 million to fund the programs in his FY 2009 budget.

“Governor O’Malley’s commitment to making college more affordable to as many students who seek it has been extraordinary,” Secretary Lyons said. “In addition to freezing tuition at the University System of Maryland and Morgan State University the past three years and providing money for our grant and scholarship programs at MHEC, I know he also welcomed USM and Morgan’s decision to offer in-state tuition for those re-locating to Maryland because of BRAC. His overall leadership on higher education issues and BRAC has been exemplary.”

To qualify for State financial assistance, those relocating to Maryland due to BRAC will be considered Maryland residents with appropriate documentation regarding their BRAC-related move. Information on MHEC’s grants and scholarships can be found on MHEC’s website: www.mhec.state.md.us, under the section for “Students, Parents and Counselors.”

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 326,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.
 

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