Baltimore, MD – (July 30, 2018) – Maryland Higher Education Commission
(MHEC) Secretary Dr. James D. Fielder announced more than $311,000 has been
awarded to six Maryland higher education institutions, supporting
near-completer college enrollment and completion.
The awards under the Complete College Maryland – One Step Away Program will
benefit near-completer students who have earned 75 percent or more of their
college credits and have postponed their education for at least 12
consecutive months. The program provides funds to support public and
nonprofit independent two-year and four-year institutions in their effort
to identify, re-engage, re-enroll, and graduate near-completer students.
This state-funded grant program is designed to help near-completers earn an
associate’s or bachelor’s degree by providing financial assistance,
tutoring, customized degree plans, and dedicated One Step Away advisors.
“Higher education institutions need to be on the cutting-edge of developing
new programs to identify specific obstacles that are responsible for
students leaving or postponing their education and develop initiatives to
address each obstacle,” Secretary Fielder said. “Efforts to identify and
target a near-completer need to be expanded and these grants will help to
achieve that goal.”
The following higher education institutions were awarded for the 2018
funding cycle:
- Bowie State University - $41,488.50
- Carroll Community College - $53,568.00
- Community College of Baltimore County – $56,267.55
- Goucher College - $51,000.00
- Harford Community College - $57,214.60
- University of Maryland University College - $51,552.60
In addition to these grants, Governor Larry Hogan signed House Bill 16
following the 2018 legislative session, creating a new program to provide
tuition support for eligible students working to complete their degree.
“We are doing everything we can to help Marylanders who have had to
postpone their college degree due to other financial obligations,” Governor
Hogan said. “This new program incentivizes Maryland residents who started a
degree but have not finished it to go back and complete it so they can
achieve their dream of a college education.”
The Near-Completer Grant, administered by MHEC, will go into effect in time
for the fall semester of 2019. This grant program encourages students to
complete their degree, which may lead to a promotion in an existing career
or offer an opportunity to begin a new career.
