Maryland Higher Education Commission

March 2008 Press Release

 

 

 

Monthly Report of the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) February, 2008
 

FEBRUARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Secretary Lyons met with Lt. Governor Anthony Brown three times during the month to discuss Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and higher education-related issues.

• Secretary Lyons testified on House Bill 704 which cleared Appropriations. This vital piece of legislation will authorize moneys from the Higher Education Investment Fund to be used for initiatives to address higher education needs related to the Base Realignment and Closure process.

• Secretary Lyons, Assistant Secretary Andrea Mansfield, Assistant Secretary Dr. George Reid, Government Affairs Director Gareth Murray and Director of Communications Christopher Falkenhagen testified on numerous bills in the Senate and House of Delegates related directly or indirectly to higher education throughout the month.

• The Governor held a health press conference at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Secretary Lyons was invited to attend to discuss MHEC’s financial aid assistance for nurses and nursing instructors.

• Coordinated with other agencies and the Office of the Governor to hold the first meeting of the Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland.

• Convened the Associate of Science in Engineering Oversight Council to discuss progress toward establishing agreed-upon outcomes to develop this new degree.

• The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC’s) budget hearing was held in the Senate Budget and Taxation Subcommittee on Health, Education and Human Resources. Secretary Lyons and assistant secretaries Mansfield and Reid made the presentation.

• Updated MHEC website to include legislative testimony on “Press Room” and “Site Map” links.

• MHEC “Outreach” group met twice to review and update popular MDgo4it 2008-2009 calendar.

• Staff distributed copies of 2008 Data Book, which contains a statistical snapshot of Maryland postsecondary education, to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet officers, members of the General Assembly, and presidents of the colleges and universities in the State.

• The director of policy analysis and research made presentations about retention and graduation rates at Maryland public four-year colleges and universities at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and Economic Development and at a joint hearing of the Senate committees on Budget and Taxation and Education, Health and Environmental Affairs.

• Provided staff support to the statewide Teacher Shortage Task Force and the Committee on the Education of African-American males, both of which will offer recommendations by June.

• Successfully prepared for and presented information related to higher education policy and budget issues at the Higher Education Overview, Maryland Higher Education Commission, Scholarship and Aid to Community Colleges at budget hearings.

• Designated as administering agency for the new Federal College Access Challenge Grant.

• Met with Fox 45 to discuss ways to expand financial aid outreach to at-risk populations.

• Met with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to discuss an action plan to address the nursing shortage.

• Participated in a series of meetings with vendor to development functional requirements for a new financial aid management.

• Testified in opposition to legislation making changes to the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP) and the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program – Primary Care Physicians.

Workforce Development / Workforce Investment Act (WIA):

• Represented MHEC at eight workforce committee meetings.

• Prepared and presented two workforce supply-demand statistical reports, one on the construction industry and the other on the IT industry.

• Represented MHEC at two Career and Technology Education meetings.

• Completed work on the Maryland Statewide Commission on the Shortage in the Health Care Workforce.

Private Career Schools:

• Two applications for approval and one change of ownership were presented for review at the Secretary’s Advisory Council meeting.

• The Secretary approved one new private career school, one change of ownership and one new program and issued one notice of deficiency.

• Two supervisory visits were conducted at recently approved schools.

• 16 solicitor’s permits were processed and issued.

Records from Closed Institutions of Postsecondary Education:

• 17 transcripts were issued and 11 student enrollments were verified.

                     FEBRUARY GOOD NEWS ITEMS

• Secretary Lyons received the prestigious 100 Black Men of Maryland Heritage Award. 100 Black MEN advocates for education and youth development.

• Awarded Improving Teacher Quality grants to eight colleges and universities totaling $1,052,631 to improve the academic achievement of all students by providing sustained and intensive high-quality professional development to help teachers and principals be highly qualified and highly effective in their respective instructional areas.

• Revised PCS web page will provide a new Frequently Asked Questions for new school applicants.