Baltimore, MD – (August 1, 2018) – Maryland Higher Education Commission
Secretary Dr. James D. Fielder announced today that the Maryland Higher
Education Commission (MHEC) awarded more than $800,000 to six Maryland
higher education institutions that are helping disadvantaged youth plan for
college.
“This is just one example of how we are planning our work and working our
plan,” Secretary Fielder said. “This money supports Maryland’s college
access and completion goals as defined in the *2017-2021 Maryland State
Plan for Postsecondary Education*. The State Plan outlines the priorities
of access, success, and innovation to support Maryland’s goal of student
success with less debt.”
In conjunction with the federally funded Maryland Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP), the College Preparation
Intervention Program (CPIP) awards benefit low-income communities by
raising the level of academic preparedness of those disadvantaged students
to enable them to attend, persist, and succeed in college. This state
grant program fosters collaboration between Maryland’s local education
agencies and its higher education institutions by funding activities
that encourage
students to aim higher, study harder, and take the courses required for
college admission and success. CPIP award recipients are exposed to various
academic disciplines, career fields and learning opportunities. The grants
provide student support services, comprehensive mentoring, and financial
aid counseling to help pay for college.
The Maryland GEAR UP program instills knowledge and delivers services to
ensure that low income and underrepresented students are college and career
ready. It is a rigorous academic program of studies to develop the
instrumental skills needed to apply/enroll in college, obtain financial
aid, and complete a postsecondary education. The program focuses on two
core academic areas: English/Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. GEAR UP
districts include Baltimore City, Dorchester, and Wicomico counties.
All Maryland two-and four-year institutions were eligible to apply and
partner with Local Education Authorities (LEAs) for the grant.
The CPIP review panel met and reviewed nine applications. The following
six institutions were awarded for the 2018 funding cycle:
- Community College of Baltimore County -$139,534
- Johns Hopkins University - $138,095
- Morgan State University - $148,000
- Salisbury University -$142,895
- University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing -$125,000
- University of Maryland, College Park -$126,000
