There is a program of State aid to private nonprofit institutions of higher education known as the Joseph A. Sellinger Program.

Subject to review by the Board of Public Works, the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall adopt standards and procedures, not inconsistent with this subtitle, to implement and administer the aid program provided for by this subtitle, including standards and procedures for: Submitting applications for aid; Verifying full-time equivalent student enrollment by institutions that apply for aid; Submitting reports or data on the use of this money by the institutions that receive it; and Paying the aid to the institutions during the fiscal year.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall determine which institutions are eligible for aid under this subtitle. To qualify for State aid under this subtitle, an institution of higher education shall: Be: A nonprofit private college or university that was established in the State before July 1, 1970; A nonprofit private institution of higher education that formerly received State aid as a component of a private college or university that was established in this State before July 1, 1970; or A private nonprofit institution of higher education that is established in this State and grants an associate of arts degree; Be approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; Be accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; Have awarded the associate of arts or baccalaureate degrees to at least one graduating class; Maintain one or more earned degree programs, other than seminarian or theological programs, leading to an associate of arts or baccalaureate degree; and Submit each new program and each major modification of an existing program to the Maryland Higher Education Commission for its review and recommendation as to the initiation of the new or modified program.

In this subsection, “State Funds per full–time equivalent student appropriation to the 4–year public institutions of higher education” shall be calculated in accordance with this paragraph using the General Fund and Higher Education Investment Fund actual expenditures for the second previous fiscal year. The total number of full–time equivalent students is based on credit hour production for the second previous fiscal year. The number of undergraduate full–time equivalent students shall be calculated using total undergraduate credit hour production divided by 30. Except as provided in subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, the number of graduate full–time equivalent students shall be calculated based on a methodology agreed to by the University System of Maryland Office, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, in consultation with the Commission. If a methodology is not agreed to on or before September 16, 2024, the Commission shall determine the methodology used to calculate the number of graduate full–time equivalent students. The Commission shall certify the number of full–time equivalent students for each institution on or before October 1 each year. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall compute the amount of the annual apportionment for each institution that qualifies under this subtitle by multiplying the number of full–time equivalent undergraduate students enrolled at the institution during the fall semester of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the aid apportionment is made, as determined by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, by an amount not less than 16.1% of the State Funds per full–time equivalent student appropriation to the 4–year public institutions of higher education in this State. In each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029, the annual apportionment for each institution that qualifies under this subtitle is: Capitol Technology University – $914,981; Goucher College – $3,168,940; Hood College – $3,611,811; Johns Hopkins University – $20,554,298; Loyola University of Maryland – $12,550,328; Maryland Institute College of Art – $3,745,718; McDaniel College – $5,945,264; Mount St. Mary’s University – $5,476,872; Notre Dame of Maryland University – $2,037,187; St. John’s College – $1,701,410; Stevenson University – $9,206,521; Washington Adventist University – $1,367,650; and Washington College – $3,041,744. Full–time equivalent students enrolled in seminarian or theological programs shall be excluded from the computation required by subsection (a) of this section. Full–time equivalent students enrolled in programs that are part of an agreement or contract with for–profit educational services entities shall be excluded from the computation required by subsection (a) of this section. Payments of State general funds under Subtitle 3 of this title shall be excluded from the computation required by subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this section, the State’s General Fund appropriation per full–time equivalent student to the 4–year public institutions of higher education in the State for a fiscal year shall include: Noncapital appropriations from the Higher Education Investment Fund; and Appropriations, regardless of where they are budgeted, designated for the general operation of 4–year public institutions of higher education in the State, including personnel–related appropriations.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall certify the amount of aid due each institution under this subtitle to the Governor, who shall include the total amount in the annual budget submission. If a private nonprofit institution of higher education has implemented a new or substantially modified program contrary to the recommendation of the Maryland Higher Education Commission that was based on a finding of unreasonable duplication, then the Maryland Higher Education Commission may recommend that the General Assembly reduce the appropriation by the amount of aid associated with the full–time equivalent enrollment in that program. This provision does not preclude the private nonprofit institution from going forward with implementation of the new or substantially modified program. The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall certify the amount of aid due each institution, less any reduction made by the General Assembly under subsection (b) of this section, to the State Comptroller, who shall pay it from appropriations made for this program under the normal budgetary procedures. If the General Assembly reduces program funding under subsection (b) of this section, the affected private nonprofit institution annually may reapply to the Maryland Higher Education Commission for reconsideration of the program recommendation. If the Commission determines that the unreasonable duplication no longer exists, then the Commission may recommend that there be no reduction in the institution’s amount of aid.

Subject to the initial approval of the Secretary of General Services, an institution that qualifies for aid under this subtitle may make any purchase through the Department of General Services in accordance with the rules and regulations of that Department.

An institution may not use money payable or goods purchased under this subtitle for sectarian purposes.