Maryland Higher Education Commission

October 2008

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

College access, preparation grant available for low-income students in Baltimore City, Prince George’s Counties

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 1, 2008) – The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is pleased to announce the availability of grant funds for the Maryland College Access Challenge Grant Program (MCACGP). The MCACGP is a new, federally-funded program designed to conduct outreach activities and services to improve preparation for and access to college for low-income students. This program will fund projects to provide information to students, who are at risk of not enrolling in or completing college, and their parents on postsecondary benefits, opportunities, and career planning and preparation.

“I am excited about this new initiative and MHEC’s opportunity to work with various organizations to inform middle school students and their parents of postsecondary education options and to remove some of the barriers that may prohibit college access for low-income students,” said Higher Education Secretary James E. Lyons, Sr.

The Request for Applications (RFA) can be found on MHEC’s website at http://www.mhec.state.md.us/Grants/MdCollAccessChallGrant/MdCollAccessChallGrant.asp

Grant funds will be used for project services in two areas of greatest poverty and lowest achievement in the State. Twenty four (24) middle schools in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County have been identified as eligible to receive services under the MCACGP. A list of the schools identified as eligible to participate in this program can be found in the RFA.

Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible non-profit organizations, including institutions of higher education, or partnerships of organizations to provide outreach services. To qualify for funding, nonprofit organizations must have been in existence on or before September 27, 2007, must provide activities and services related to increasing access to higher education, and must be currently registered with the Maryland Office of the Secretary of the State Charitable Organization Division.

Two technical assistance meetings will be held on October 20, 2008. One will be held at Baltimore City Community College - Liberty Campus from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and the other at Bowie State University from 2:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. At these meetings, MHEC will present an overview of the MCACGP, review the RFA, and answer any questions.

For more information, contact Cheryl V. Edwards at 410-260-4520 or cedwards@mhec.state.md.us.

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.