Maryland Higher Education Commission

May 2007 Press Release

 

 

 

STATE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS PURSUING
CAREERS IN TEACHING, NURSING AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES

 

 

Annapolis, MD (May 23, 2007) – To better address workforce needs of the State and to provide an incentive for students to become employed in these fields, MHEC has implemented a new Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG). This program provides scholarships to students who major in specific critical shortage areas in the State. For academic year 2007-2008, the following occupations are eligible:

• Teachers

• Nurses

• Human Services Fields

• Physical and Occupational Therapists and Assistants

• Child Care Providers

• Public Service

Students must major in a program that leads to employment in one of these fields and agree to work in one of the above-specified fields for at least one year for each year the scholarship was received.

Applicants must be Maryland residents enrolled as full- or part- degree seeking undergraduate or graduate students at an eligible Maryland institution. Detailed eligible majors and employment fields can be found on the MHEC website www.mhec.state.md.us.

Award amounts range from $1,000 to $4,000 per academic year based on type of institution and enrollment status. Awards are subject to the availability of funds. Applicants will be selected for awards based on merit and need-based criteria. Applications and all required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) by June 1, 2007 to be considered for awards beginning in September 2007.

In December 2006, the Advisory Council on Workforce Shortage identified workforce fields in the State and recommended to the Commission priority workforce shortage fields to be included in the grant program and those that should be removed.

The Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Commission every two years in September on the occupations to be included or removed from the grant program. The recommendations will include a list of priority demand occupations that shall take into consideration whether the occupation provides a public good or benefit to the citizens of Maryland. Recommendations will be submitted to the Commission for approval and will then be included in the program guidelines.

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.