Maryland Higher Education Commission

February 2009 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: February 18, 2009                                         Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                                     Communications: (410) 260-4511

 

 

Grants to Prepare GEAR-UP Students for College Success

Grants are Part of the State's College Preparation Intervention Program

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 18, 2009) – The Maryland Higher Education Commission is accepting applications for grants under a program aimed at preparing Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) students for success in college.

The grants, under the State’s College Preparation Intervention Program (CPIP), will be awarded to institutions of higher education to support eligible “Maryland GEAR UP – Focus on Math” sites. Maryland GEAR UP is a federally funded early intervention program administered by the Maryland State Department of Education.

“The GEAR UP students will enter the 11th grade in the fall. This is a significant phase in their high school career and grant projects will provide support to students to ensure they are on track to meet graduation requirements,” said Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr. “The projects will also give students a glimpse of college life at a time when they are beginning to seriously look at colleges. This is a program Governor O’Malley and I strongly support.”

Approximately $750,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicants.

Applications are due to MHEC by 4 p.m. on April 29, 2009. Notification of grant awards will be made between May 18 and May 22, 2009. The RFA and application forms are available online at http://www.mhec.state.md.us/Grants/CollegePreparationInterventionProgram/CPIP.asp. For more information about the grant, call 410-260-3207.

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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