Maryland Higher Education Commission

June 2006 Press Release

 

 

MARYLAND STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 
GUIDELINES REVISED

Higher Education Commission Approves Changes

 

 

Annapolis, MD (June 15, 2006) – The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has approved guideline changes to several of its student financial assistance programs. These guidelines follow Governor Ehrlich’s FY 2007 investments in higher education that capped tuition rates and increased funding for need-based aid, providing a 28% increase in assistance for students seeking aid making Maryland a better home for students and families.

The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program has expanded its eligibility criteria to include the children of a member of the armed forces who suffers a service connected 100% disability, veterans who suffer from a service connected disability of 25% or greater, and the children and surviving spouses of a State or local public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100% disabled. It also removes the residency requirement that the veteran must have been a Maryland resident at the time the injury or death occurred. MHEC is now accepting applications for this program with a deadline of July 15, 2006.

The Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Program increases its award amount to $500 and establishes a minimum number of grant awards to each school. These grants are awarded through State colleges and universities.

The Janet L. Hoffman Loan and Assistance Repayment Program expands the eligibility criteria to include individuals who receive a resident teacher certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education. It also establishes new application and awarding procedures to implement an enhanced program to provide greater incentives for individuals to work in critical shortage areas in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Complete descriptions of all of the programs along with applications are available at the MHEC website www.mhec.state.md.us. 

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is Maryland's higher education coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and for private career schools.