Maryland Higher Education Commission

July 2008 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: July 1, 2008
Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
Communications: (410) 260-4511

Legislation creating BRAC Higher Education Fund becomes law today
 

(Annapolis, MD) July 1, 2008 – One of the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC) top priorities officially became law today. This legislation authorizes MHEC to make expenditures from the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) for initiatives that address higher education needs related to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) relocation effort.

“I am pleased we were able to get this very important piece of legislation passed during the 2008 General Assembly Session,” Higher Education Secretary James E. Lyons, Sr., said. “The Administration’s support of these expenditures shows how important higher education is to the BRAC relocation efforts in the State.”

In fiscal year 2009, $3 million is being allocated to MHEC to help implement the BRAC HEIF to support various programmatic initiatives for BRAC-related personnel and the communities they reside in. Funds will be distributed through a competitive Request for Proposal process and may be used for initiatives in the following areas: Regional Higher Education Centers which may include technology upgrades, expansion of space and program offerings; BRAC literacy which may include workforce training and other literacy initiatives; and BRAC-related initiatives which may include projects that expand campus capabilities through the design and use of multi-media and the development of Internet-based courses, or projects that develop programs or courses directly related to BRAC educational needs.

BRAC is expected to impact many of the federal military installations in the State, resulting in an estimated 48,000 direct jobs, placing Maryland among the largest beneficiaries in the country. Most of these jobs are projected to be medical professionals, engineers, and managers. The majority of the gains are expected at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (Harford County), Ft. Meade (Anne Arundel), Andrews Air Force Base (Prince George’s) and the National Naval Medical Center (Montgomery).

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 325,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.