There is an Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Commission.

The head of the Office is the Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary. Subject to the general policies of the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the general supervision of the Secretary, the Executive Director exercises the powers and performs the duties under this title.

The Office may employ the additional staff necessary to carry out its functions as provided in the State budget. Each employee of the Office is entitled to the compensation provided in the State budget. In conducting their operations, the Commission and Office shall share resources and coordinate their activities in order to enhance the efficient utilization of resources in the performance of their functions.

In addition to any other powers granted and duties imposed by this title, the Office has the powers and duties set forth in this section. Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Office shall: Administer student financial assistance programs; Issue and disseminate public information about student financial assistance; Regulate the form and submission of applications for student financial assistance under this title; and Conduct conferences and interviews with applicants to evaluate their eligibility. The Office may adopt any rule or regulation necessary to carry out its powers and duties. The rules and regulations adopted by the Office under paragraph (1) of this subsection may include provisions for: The performance of a service obligation for a program that as a condition of award requires a recipient of student financial assistance to perform a service obligation; The repayment of student financial assistance funds received should a recipient fail to perform a service obligation; and Waiver and deferment of a service obligation or repayment in circumstances determined by the Commission. The Office: Shall administer any federal program of scholarships or grants to students or institutions except for the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship which shall be administered by the Maryland State Department of Education; and May do anything necessary to comply with any federal law relating to these scholarships or grants. The Office shall: Arrange for the competitive examination required of applicants for certain scholarships; and Send the results of the examination to the appropriate institutions and to the person who awards the scholarship. The Office shall: Analyze under uniform standards the financial need of each applicant for a scholarship for which financial need is a consideration; and Send its analysis to the appropriate institution and the person who awards the scholarship.

Subject to rules and regulations adopted by the Commission, the Office shall grant a deferment from the service obligation component of student financial assistance awarded under this title to: An active service member who has been assigned duty outside of the State; or The spouse of an active service member who has been assigned duty outside of the State.

For each award of a scholarship under this title, the Office shall inform the recipient of the scholarship of the availability of the income tax credit under § 10–740(c)(4) of the Tax – General Article for State employees.