The purpose of the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship Program is to assist and encourage community college graduates to transfer to a 4-year institution within the State. To be eligible for assistance under the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship Program, an applicant shall: Be a Maryland resident; Be currently enrolled at a community college in Maryland; Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale while a student at a community college in Maryland; Have earned an associate’s degree from a community college in Maryland by the end of the semester in which the applicant plans to transfer; Be accepted for admission to a degree program at a public senior higher education institution or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in Maryland; Intend to enroll in a public senior higher education institution or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in Maryland in order to complete a bachelor’s program; On or after the fall semester of 2014, enroll as a full-time, degree-seeking student in a public senior higher education institution or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in Maryland by the fall semester following completion of the associate’s degree; In the case of an individual who is required to register with the Selective Service System, have complied with the registration requirement; Timely file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form; and Have demonstrated financial need. To be considered for the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship, students shall submit the application and all documents required by the Office for Student Financial Assistance. Students applying for the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship shall provide: A completed online application form; A completed FAFSA application; A current official transcript from a community college in the State reflecting the applicant’s grade point average; Upon graduation, an official transcript from a community college in the State reflecting that an Associate’s Degree has been conferred; and Documentation the student has registered with the Selective Service System, if applicable. Students should file a FAFSA by March 1 each year for priority consideration. Applications will be accepted after the March 1 date and awards will be made with available funds Each student shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, to sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. The student’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility and the cancellation of an award. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, the annual award amount shall be $1,000. The annual award amount shall be $2,000 for a student who enrolls in a science, teaching, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or nursing program. The scholarship may be used for tuition and mandatory fees for 3 years of study or 6 semesters of study, whichever is longer. Eligible applicants shall be ranked on the basis of cumulative grade point average. Grades for credits earned as a community college student shall be used to calculate the cumulative grade point average. Awards shall be made to applicants based on cumulative grade point average ranked highest to lowest. Awards shall be issued until the total funds appropriated for the program have been depleted. Recipients shall be notified in writing of the scholarship award. A recipient shall provide written acceptance of the award to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the date specified in the award notice or the award will be forfeited. The Office of Student Financial Assistance has the authority to verify information concerning applicants and recipients for the purpose of administering this program. At the request of OSFA, schools are required to verify the following using federal standards: Taxable and nontaxable income of student and parents (if a dependent student); Enrollment status (undergraduate or graduate); Dependency status; and Transaction number of ISIR used. Schools shall provide updated and verified data to OSFA by the date established each year. Information verified by the institutions will be used to update OSFA records. Awards for students with corrections and errors shall be recalculated and adjusted as specified in Regulation .05 of this chapter or canceled accordingly. Each semester, eligible institutions shall certify on billing rosters provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance that the recipient is: A Maryland resident; Enrolled for 12 or more hours as a degree-seeking undergraduate student; and Making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. A 2+2 Transfer Scholarship may be renewed for a total of 3 years of study, or 6 semesters of study, whichever is longer, if the recipient: Remains a resident of the State of Maryland; Continues to be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate student in a degree program at a public senior higher education institution or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in Maryland; Maintains a cumulative 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale each academic year the recipient is enrolled at a public senior higher education institution or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State or provides evidence satisfactory to the administration of extenuating circumstances as specified under Regulation .09 of this chapter; and Maintains the standards of the institution attended by the recipient. Certification of Grade Point Average. Following the spring semester, the Office of Student Financial Assistance shall request the postsecondary institution to provide a certified cumulative grade point average for the academic year for the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship recipients attending that institution. The grade point average shall be computed using the procedures in use by the institution. OSFA also may ask the school to verify the recipient's grade point average by submitting an official transcript. The institution's calculation of the grade average is final. OSFA does not round any reported grade point averages. If the institution cannot compute a cumulative grade point average for the academic year, it shall submit a grade point average for each semester the student was enrolled during the academic year. If either semester average is below a 2.5, the institution shall report the number of hours attempted and the number of hours completed for the semesters in which the student is enrolled. If the reported calculation is below a 2.5 grade point average, the recipient's 2+2 Transfer Scholarship will not be renewed. A recipient whose award has been canceled may request reinstatement of the scholarship if the student’s academic performance in summer school courses taken immediately following that academic year raises the cumulative grade point average to 2.5 or above. The 2+2 Transfer Scholarship will not be renewed if the student fails to: Maintain the academic standards of the institution; Maintain Maryland residency; Maintain a cumulative 2.5 grade point average; or Enroll as a full-time degree-seeking student taking at least 12 credit hours each semester. Basis of Appeal. An appeal may be filed only on the basis of: Failure to maintain full-time enrollment; Failure to maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average; or Changed financial circumstances. Appeal Based on Full-Time Enrollment. “Full-time” means enrollment for at least 12 semester hours of courses each semester or its equivalent. To be considered full-time, the actual time spent in the classroom, lab, supervised activity, or clinic shall equal 180 clock hours or more in a regular semester. Students enrolled for at least 6 credit hours but less than 12 credits can appeal to receive the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship if they are participating in a specific course or activity (such as an internship or a practicum) that is required by the institution to complete their academic program. The student may appeal by submitting documentation, in addition to the appeal form, from the student’s department chair that describes and confirms the program requirements for that semester, along with a catalog description of the program and classes involved. The documentation shall also list the number of clock hours required for each activity. Appeal Based on Grade Point Average. If a student fails to meet the grade point average requirement, the student may appeal on the basis of: A serious illness or injury of the student; A serious illness of a member of the student’s immediate family; Serious emotional difficulties experienced by the student; The death of a member of the student’s immediate family; or Other serious personal circumstances. The student’s appeal information shall clearly demonstrate that one or more of the factors in §C(1) of this regulation prevented the student from achieving the required grade point average. The student’s appeal shall be supported by documentation from an appropriate professional, such as a treating physician, psychologist, or health professional, sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim. Appeal Based on Changed Financial Circumstances. A student may appeal if the student’s financial circumstances change, after the filing of the student’s application under Regulation .03, as a result of one of the following reasons: The student’s parent or spouse dies; The student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separate; The student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) as defined by FAFSA becomes involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year; or The student or the student’s parent(s) loses, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, AFDC, or child support. The student’s appeal shall be supported by appropriate documentation sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim, including, but not limited to, copies of: A death certificate; A divorce decree or separation agreement; A notice of job termination or layoff; Federal tax transcript or W-2; or A copy of a termination notice of unemployment benefits. If OSFA sustains a student’s appeal, OSFA shall provide the following relief: If the appeal was based on the death of the student’s parent or spouse, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the deceased; If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separation, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the affected parent or spouse; If the appeal was based on the student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) becoming involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year; or If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parent losing, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, TNAF, or child support, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year. Appeal Procedures. An appeal may only be filed by the submission of a completed appeal form to the Director of Student Financial Assistance. An appeal shall be received by OSFA within 45 days of the date the student is notified that the scholarship award has been nonrenewed. In completing the appeal form, the student shall document the conditions upon which the appeal is based as specified in §A of this regulation. Upon receipt of the appeal, the documentation shall be reviewed and a decision shall be rendered. The student shall be notified of the outcome of the appeal in writing. The funding for the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship shall be as provided in the annual State budget. All awards are contingent upon the annual appropriation of funding. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-2501—18-2507, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: December 10, 2015 (42:24 Md. R. 1505) Regulation .02J amended effective August 7, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 682) The purpose of the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (Hoffman LARP) is to attract qualified individuals to fields of employment in government and the nonprofit sector, particularly those in which there are critical manpower shortages in the State and lower salaries than in the private sector, by providing State assistance in the repayment of educational loans. To be eligible for assistance under the Hoffman LARP, an applicant: Shall possess: An undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree from a college or university located in Maryland; A law degree from any school of law; or A resident teacher certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the State Superintendent of Education; Shall have obtained employment with the State (not including employment as a judicial clerk in any court), a local government, or an organization, institution, association, society, or corporation that is tax exempt under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; May not be in default on any higher education loan; Shall have a higher education loan for undergraduate, graduate, professional, or resident teacher certificate study obtained for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses from a college, university, government, or commercial source; and Shall meet annual income requirements as established by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. In addition to the eligibility requirements in §A of this regulation, an applicant for a Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award shall have: Taught in a public school in the State for at least 2 years: In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or math; In a school in which the following percentages of the students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program: On or before June 30, 2025, at least 75 percent; and On or after July 1, 2025, at least 55 percent; or In a school that: Had Title I status during the 2018—2019 school year; Lost Title I status after the 2018—2019 school year; and Participates in the United States Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and Received the highest performance evaluation rating possible for the most recent year that is available in the county in which the teacher has taught. In addition to the eligibility requirements in §A of this regulation, an applicant employed as a licensed clinical counselor shall work in a high need geographic area of the State, as determined by the Maryland Department of Health, in one of the following fields: Licensed clinical alcohol and drug counseling; Licensed clinical marriage and family therapy counseling; or Licensed clinical professional counseling. To be considered for the Hoffman LARP, an applicant shall provide to the Office for Student Financial Assistance (OSFA): A completed application; Current repayment data on all education loans; Proof that the applicant has: Graduated from a college or university in Maryland; Graduated from a school of law; or Obtained of a resident teacher certificate; A statement from an eligible employer confirming the nature of the applicant’s job, length of employment, full-time status, and annual salary; and A copy of the applicant’s Maryland tax return for the most recent available year or, if not filed with the State, a copy of the applicant’s most recent federal return. If the applicant has not filed a tax return, they shall submit verification from the IRS confirming nonfiling status. Applications from law school students shall be received between July 1 and September 30 each year. Applicants shall be attending the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law or the University of Baltimore School of Law and be in their final year of school. Applications from individuals possessing a Resident Teacher Certificate shall be received in the individual’s second year of the program and shall meet all the requirements in §A of this regulation. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. An applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility, the cancellation of an award, and the denial of a request for the deferment or waiver of a repayment obligation. Recipients shall receive an award depending upon their level of debt for a 3-year period. Award funds are distributed in annual or monthly amounts as long as the recipient retains eligibility and continues to submit required annual employment, lender, and tax documentation. Priority for participation in the program shall be given to an individual who: Graduated from an institution of higher education in the last 3 years; Is a resident of Maryland; Is employed on a full-time basis; and As the principal part of the individual’s employment: Provides legal services to low-income residents in the State who cannot afford legal services; Provides nursing services in nursing shortage areas in the State as defined in Education Article, §18-802, Annotated Code of Maryland; Provides other services in an eligible field of employment in which there is a shortage of qualified practitioners to low-income or underserved residents or areas of the State; or Qualifies for a Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award. Priority fields of employment are: Legal services; Nursing services; Teachers who qualify for a Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award; and Other fields of employment in which there is a shortage of qualified practitioners providing services to low income or underserved residents or areas of the State as identified by the Office for Student Financial Assistance using appropriate workforce shortage data. No more than 50 percent of the awards under the Janet L. Hoffman LARP may be awarded to Nancy Grasmick Teacher Scholars. Eligible applicants employed in priority fields shall be grouped by field, and the number of awards shall be proportionally distributed among priority fields. Within priority fields, applicants shall be ranked according to graduation date, with the most recent graduation date receiving the highest priority, and then application completion date, with the earliest application completion date receiving the highest priority. If applicants have identical graduation dates and application completion dates, applicants shall be ranked according to income, with the lowest income receiving the highest priority. The top 50 percent of applicants, determined by the priority rankings, shall receive an award for 3 years, and the remaining applicants shall receive an award for 1 year but may reapply annually for 2 additional years. Except as provided in §G of this regulation, award decisions shall be announced in December of each year. Except as provided in Regulation .06 of this chapter, awards for resident teacher certificates shall only receive a one-time award regardless of the amount of their loan debt. Award decisions for law school students shall be announced in mid-January of each year. The Office of Student Financial Assistance has the authority to verify information concerning applicants and recipients for the purpose of administering this program. Awards shall be determined by an applicant’s overall reported debt at the time of application as follows: Recipients shall lock in to an award level that contains set award amounts for each year the recipient continues to remain eligible. Payments vary for each award level. One-time, 1-year only award amounts shall be equivalent to the yearly payment for the overall debt range for the applicant. A recipient shall furnish the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) with written acceptance of the award and sign a promissory note and employment obligation agreement with OSFA. The promissory note and employment obligation agreement shall include: The obligations of the recipient; The total and annual amounts of the award; Penalties for breach of the promissory note and employment obligation agreement; Circumstances under which the employment obligation may be canceled, suspended, or waived; and Any other terms the Maryland Secretary of Higher Education considers necessary. A recipient shall: Verify eligible employment and salary level initially, after 6 months, and at the end of each year in the program; Verify the current status of all education loans each year in the program; Submit a copy of their Maryland tax returns for any year during which an award is received and, if requested, a copy of their federal return; and Notify OSFA and their lending institutions of any change in employment status or salary level. Recipients of the Hoffman LARP are eligible to receive a monthly or annual payment. A recipient is eligible for the monthly loan repayment option under the following conditions: The recipient applies to a federal loan forgiveness program; The recipient notifies the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) each year in writing by the designated deadline, with accompanying documentation; OSFA verifies the recipient’s employment and lender verifications; OSFA issues a monthly check co-payable to the recipient and their lender, not to exceed 12 payments; The check shall be issued on or before the recipient’s monthly due date as assigned by their lender, if possible; The recipient’s monthly payment amount shall be a portion of the total annual award amount awarded to the student; The recipient shall pay any amount owed the lender which is not covered by the monthly payment amount; and The recipient shall notify OSFA if they receive other loan repayment assistance. A recipient who is not in a federal loan forgiveness program or a recipient that applies to a federal loan forgiveness program and declines to receive a monthly repayment option shall receive an annual loan repayment under the following conditions: OSFA shall verify the recipient’s employment and lender verification; OSFA shall issue an annual check co-payable to the recipient and their lender; and The recipient shall endorse the check and forward it to the lender. If a recipient fails to notify OSFA that they receive other loan repayment assistance, their award shall be canceled. If a recipient fails to carry out the employment obligations required under this program, the recipient shall repay the State the amount of the award plus interest. Repayment may be prorated if the recipient partially fulfills the employment obligation, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Interest on the funds advanced shall accrue at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the United States Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on the first day of July of each year. Interest shall begin accruing as of the date the funds were provided to the recipient. A recipient may request that their repayment be deferred if the recipient is: Unable to maintain employment within their current field for a period not to exceed 12 months because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; Assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal; or Married to a spouse assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation. Such documentation shall consist of the following, as appropriate: A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to maintain employment within their current field because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; or A copy of military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall review all documentation and determine if the deferment conditions have been met and, if so, determine the deferment period. A recipient need not make repayments and interest does not accrue during the period of an approved deferment. The OSFA shall, on a case-by-case basis, review appeals from individuals assigned military duty outside the State, or married to a spouse assigned military duty outside the State, that exceeds the 3-year deferral limit. Appeals shall be in writing and include a copy of the military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall waive a recipient's repayment if it determines on the basis of a death certificate or other evidence of death that is conclusive under State law that the recipient has died. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall submit an annual statement by January 1 of each year to the General Assembly on the implementation of the Hoffman LARP. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-1503, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 836) Regulation .02A, B amended effective July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 738) The purpose of the Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program (Riley Scholarship) is to encourage members of the fire-fighting, ambulance, and rescue organizations serving Maryland communities to pursue credited courses that lead to a degree in fire service technology, emergency medical technology, fire service management, or public safety administration with a minor or concentration in fire service technology or fire service management. In this regulation, actively engaged means: A career member who has worked a minimum of 1000 hours as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year; and A volunteer member: Within a county or municipality that operates a Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), who has recorded at least 50 LOSAP points as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year, and the points have been earned in at least two different categories; and Within a county or municipality that does not operate a LOSAP, who has recorded at least 50 points under the point system established by the county or municipality to identify active members as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year, and the points have been earned in at least two different categories. To be eligible for a Riley Scholarship, an individual shall be: A resident of Maryland; Actively engaged as a: Career firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member in an organized fire department or ambulance or rescue squad in the State; or Volunteer firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member in an organized fire department or ambulance or rescue squad in the State; and Accepted for admission or enrolled in a course offered at a public institution of higher education in the State or a private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State. Students applying for the Riley Scholarship shall submit the following materials to the Office for Student Financial Assistance (OSFA): A completed online application form, by March 1; Proof of official acceptance into a program of fire service technology, emergency medical technology, fire service management, or public safety administration with a minor or concentration in fire service technology or fire service management; and A notarized statement from an eligible employer confirming active employment or volunteer service. Individuals may submit applications beginning January 1. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, to sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. The applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility, the cancellation of an award, and the denial of a request for the deferment or waiver of a service obligation. The Office for Student Financial Assistance shall determine each recipient’s scholarship award in accordance with Education Article, §18-603.1(d), Annotated Code of Maryland. Eligible applicants who are renewals shall be given priority over initial applicants. Within these groups, applicants shall be ranked and awarded according to the submission date of their completed online application form. Recipients shall be notified in writing of a scholarship award. A recipient shall provide written acceptance of the award to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the date specified in the award notice or the award shall be forfeited. Applicants who are not selected shall be placed on the waitlist pending the availability of funding. Applicants not selected in an academic year may reapply for consideration in a subsequent academic year, and shall be ranked according to the submission date of their completed online application form. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) has the authority to verify information concerning applicants and recipients for the purpose of administering this program. Each semester, eligible institutions shall certify on billing rosters provided by OSFA that each recipient is: A Maryland resident; Maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; Enrolled either full-time or part-time in an eligible academic program; Making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree; and Maintaining the standards of the institution. An award shall be automatically renewed on an annual basis, pending the annual submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, up to a maximum of 5 years of full-time study or 8 years of part-time study if sufficient funding is available and the student: Continues to meet all of the eligibility requirements set forth in Regulation .02 of this chapter; Maintains satisfactory academic progress at the institution attended; and Maintains a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. An award shall be canceled if the recipient fails to meet and maintain each eligibility requirement. A recipient who is academically ineligible shall forfeit the award and may reapply as an initial applicant in a subsequent award year if they meet and maintain each eligibility requirement. A student transferring from one institution to another may continue to receive the award if the student meets all of the scholarship eligibility requirements. An appeal of a decision of ineligibility or cancellation of an award shall be filed with the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). An appeal shall be in writing and state clearly the basis for the appeal. An appeal shall be submitted within 30 days of notice of ineligibility or cancellation of award. The Director of OSFA shall review each appeal and issue a decision no later than 60 days after receiving the appeal. All decisions of the Director of OSFA are final. A recipient shall serve for 1 year after completion of study as a volunteer or career firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member, in a full-time or part-time capacity, of an organized fire department or ambulance or rescue squad in the State. Each applicant offered an award shall sign and return a promissory note agreeing to begin fulfillment of the service obligation within 1 year of completing the degree for which they received assistance. The service obligation begins after completion of the degree program and cannot be fulfilled prior to completion. If a recipient holds a Riley Scholarship along with any other State award requiring a service obligation, the service obligations shall be served in consecutive years. If a recipient fails to carry out their service obligation, the recipient shall be in default and shall repay the State the portion of the scholarship not forgiven. Repayment may be prorated if the recipient partially fulfills the obligation, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Interest on the funds advanced shall accrue at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the United States Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on the first day of July of each year. Interest shall begin accruing as of the date of a recipient’s graduation or termination from an institution of higher education. A recipient may request that their service obligation be deferred during the time that the recipient is: Enrolled in a full-time (12 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6—11 credits per semester) undergraduate course of study; Enrolled in a full-time (9 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6—8 credits per semester) graduate course of study at an institution of higher education in a degree granting program; On a temporary leave of absence from required employment as a career or volunteer firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member approved by the employer for a period not to exceed 12 months; Temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation, for a period not to exceed 3 years; Unable to secure employment for a period not to exceed 12 months because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; Assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal; or Married to a spouse assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation. Such documentation shall consist of the following, as appropriate: Certification by the office of the registrar that the recipient has returned to a full-time or part-time course of study at an eligible institution of higher education; Certification by the employer that the recipient is on an approved temporary leave of absence; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to find employment because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; A certified statement including a list of possible eligible employers, with their addresses and telephone numbers, to which application has been made if the recipient has been unable to find full-time employment as required as a career or volunteer firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member; or A copy of military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall review all documentation and determine if the deferment conditions have been met and, if so, determine the deferment period. Before a deferment based on an inability to find employment or volunteer service is granted, OSFA shall review the recipient’s documentation and other available information and determine if the recipient has sought employment aggressively in all regions of the State in which opportunities exist. A recipient need not make scholarship repayments and interest does not accrue during the period of an approved deferment. The OSFA shall, on a case-by-case basis, review an appeal from a recipient assigned military duty outside the State, or from a recipient married to an individual assigned military duty outside the State, that exceeds the 3-year deferral limit. An appeal must be in writing and include a copy of the military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall waive a recipient's service and repayment obligations if it determines: On the basis of sworn affidavits by two qualified physicians that the recipient is physically unable to fulfill any of the possible service obligations on a full-time or part-time basis because of a permanent impairment; or On the basis of a death certificate or other evidence of death that is conclusive under State law that the recipient has died. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-603.1, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 836) Regulation .02B amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847) Regulation .03A amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 642) Regulation .04 amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847) Regulation .09A amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847) The purpose of the Senatorial Scholarship Program is for Senators in the Maryland General Assembly to provide financial assistance to full-time and part-time students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or professional education. To be eligible for a Senatorial Scholarship, a recipient shall be a Maryland resident in the Senator's legislative district at the time their application is made. A recipient shall be enrolled in: A regular undergraduate, graduate, or professional program at an eligible institution; An associate’s degree program; or A 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit in an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible institution. A recipient shall attend an eligible institution for the number of credit hours for which the award was made. Full-time enrollment is defined as 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates, and 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students. Part-time enrollment is defined as 6 to 11 credits per semester for undergraduates, and 6 to 8 hours for graduate students. A recipient shall be enrolled at least part-time. The following are eligible institutions: A Maryland college or university; A private career school approved to operate in Maryland by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; An out-of-State institution that makes special provisions for a hearing-impaired student if comparable special provisions are not available to that student at a Maryland institution; and An out-of-State institution if: The out-of-State institution offers a program that is not offered at an institution in Maryland; The applicant: Submits a written request to the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance requesting that the out-of-State institution be deemed an eligible institution; The applicant identifies their major as one not offered at an institution in the State; The applicant attaches a copy of the relevant section of the out-of-State institution’s catalog; and The applicant provides the their full name, address, Social Security number, and State legislative district; and The Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance approves the applicant’s request. The Director shall notify the applicant of a decision made under §A(4)(c) of this regulation within 45 days of receipt of the applicant’s request. Each Senator may award one or more scholarships up to the State’s annual maximum award. The State’s annual maximum award shall be equivalent to the annual tuition and fees of an undergraduate program at the 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate student, other than the University of Maryland University College and University of Maryland, Baltimore. A Senatorial Scholarship shall be issued in $100 increments, and may not be less than $400. A recipient is eligible for other scholarships offered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. A recipient may use up to 50 percent of the yearly award for summer school. An applicant shall: Complete and timely submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (students are encouraged to apply by the March 1 deadline so that they may be considered for all State scholarships; however all applications received by the federal processor by May 15 of each year may be considered for Senatorial Scholarships); Except as provided in §B of this regulation, take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) test; and Submit any other information that a Senator requests as part of the Senator’s award process. The following categories of applicants are exempt from the testing requirement in §A(2) of this regulation: Applicants who graduated from high school at least 5 years prior to filing the FAFSA; Applicants attending an eligible institution who have completed 1 year of postsecondary education in good academic standing; Applicants accepted for admission at an eligible private career school; and Applicants planning to attend or attending a Maryland community college. An applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. An applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility or the cancellation of an award. Each Maryland State Senator shall establish a selection process for the award of the Senator’s scholarships. A Senator shall consider the financial need of each applicant, of which the Senator shall be the final judge. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall provide to each Senator an application information sheet for each applicant, student labels, and an applicant roster. OSFA shall forward information received from the U.S. Department of Education concerning an applicant’s eligibility for federal student aid programs, based on the applicant’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to the applicant's Senator. OSFA shall forward an applicant roster to each Senator containing the following information for each applicant residing in the Senator’s legislative district who has filed a FASFA: Applicant name, address, telephone number, sex, and marital status; Applicant's family contribution towards college; Applicant's expected remaining financial need; College code and the cost of attending that institution; Year in college and whether the applicant is planning to live with parents or on or off campus; and Any tentative awards for the current academic year. OSFA shall send an initial applicant roster to each Senator at the end of April, listing all applicants who filed a FAFSA by March 1. OSFA shall send a supplemental applicant roster to each Senator in June, listing all applicants who filed a FASFA between March 1 and May 15. If a Senator serves a legislative district comprising more than one county, the number of scholarship units shall be divided as equally as possible among qualified applicants from each county in the legislative district. Each Senator shall select award recipients. Each Senator shall provide the following information to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) for each award: The student’s full name; The student’s address; The student’s Social Security number; The dollar amount of the award; The name of the institution that the student will attend; and Whether the award is a one-time award or is automatically renewed. Upon receipt of this information, OSFA shall notify students of the award offer. Only OSFA can offer a legally binding Senatorial Scholarship. An applicant must accept the Senatorial Scholarship online through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) within the time frame established by OSFA. Senatorial Scholarships not timely accepted shall be canceled, but may be reinstated if funds are available. Students offered a one-time only award shall accept the award with the acknowledgement that they are waiving any right to have the award renewed. A Senator may choose to utilize an outside organization in determining scholarship awards under the following provisions: The organization must adhere to all pertinent statutory and regulatory provisions; OSFA shall send all information concerning applicants and the awarding of scholarship funds directly to the Senator, who shall forward the information to the outside organization to recommend awards; The organization shall forward the names of all students recommended for an award to the Senator’s office for approval; The Senator shall forward all students selected for award to OSFA for processing; and The outside organization shall not share any student information with any party other than the Senator. At the beginning of each school term, institutions shall be asked to review billing rosters provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) and certify that the Senatorial Scholarship recipient is a Maryland resident and enrolled for the number of credits for which the award was made. Upon receipt of the institution's certification, OSFA shall disburse the respective funds directly to the institution to be credited to the student’s account. A Senatorial Scholarship award designated as renewable shall be automatically renewed on an annual basis for up to 4 years of full-time study or 8 years of part-time study if the recipient: Remains enrolled on at least a part-time basis in an eligible institution; and Continues to meet all other eligibility requirements. A Senatorial Scholarship award designated as a one-time only award shall not be automatically renewed, but a recipient may reapply to their Senator on an annual basis for additional funding. Except as provided in §§D and E of this regulation, a student may only receive an award for a maximum of 4 years of full-time study or 8 years of part-time study whether as a renewable Senatorial award, multiple one-time awards, or a combination of awards. If the recipient is attending an eligible private career school, the award may be held until the completion of the program if the student completes the program within the length of time specified by the institution and otherwise continuously meets the conditions of the scholarship. If the recipient is enrolled in a terminal certificate program, the award may be held for 2 years if the student remains enrolled full-time and otherwise continuously meets the conditions of the scholarship. A recipient shall promptly notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any changes to the student's name, address, state of residence, institution of attendance, or enrollment status. A student who receives an award for undergraduate study who becomes a graduate student must reapply to be considered for an award for graduate studies. A recipient may hold a scholarship for a fifth undergraduate year or for a semester subsequent to the end of a fourth undergraduate academic year if the recipient submits a request and: Is a full-time student; Continues to be a resident of the State; Continues to be a student at the institution and takes courses leading to a degree; and Has received the award for the maximum time frame available as provided in Regulation .09C. A Senatorial Scholarship awarded under this section may be held for up to 1 year. The Senator shall notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) of any fifth year request that has been approved. The Director of OSFA or designee shall verify the availability of the appropriation for each Senator and shall award the student should funding be available. OSFA shall notify the student of the award offer. An award shall be revoked if: The criteria in Regulations .08 and .09 of this chapter are not met; The recipient makes a change to their name, address, state of residence, institution of attendance, or enrollment status and fails promptly to inform the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing; or Funds are no longer available. Each Senator shall have an annual budget to fund renewals and new awards. A Senator shall award all funds by September 1 of each year. A Senator may re-award scholarships awarded by September 1 that are later canceled. Any scholarship funds remaining from cancellations at the end of a fiscal year shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year for the Senator to award. Any scholarship funds not awarded by September 1, except funds remaining from cancellations, shall be awarded by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) to students in the Senator's legislative district OSFA shall periodically notify each Senator of their scholarship funds balance. Education Article, §§11-105(u) and 18-204(c) and Title 18, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 836) The purpose of the Delegate Scholarship Program is for Delegates in the Maryland General Assembly to provide financial assistance to full-time and part-time students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or professional education. A recipient shall be enrolled in: A regular undergraduate, graduate, or professional program at an eligible institution; An associate’s degree program; or A certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit to an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible institution. A recipient shall attend an eligible institution for the number of credit hours for which the award was made. Full-time enrollment is defined as 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students. Part-time enrollment is defined as 6 to 11 credits per semester for undergraduate students and 6 to 8 hours for graduate students. A recipient shall be enrolled at least part-time. The following are eligible institutions: A Maryland public or private college or university; A private career school approved to operate in Maryland by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; An out-of-State institution that makes special provisions for a disabled student if comparable special provisions are not available to that student at a Maryland institution; and An out-of-State institution if: The out-of-State institution offers a program that is not offered at an institution in Maryland; The applicant: Submits a written request to the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance requesting that the out-of-State institution be deemed an eligible institution; The applicant identifies their major as one not offered at an institution in the State; The applicant attaches a copy of the relevant section of the out-of-State institution’s catalog; and The applicant provides the their full name, address, Social Security number, and State legislative district; and The Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance approves the applicant’s request. The Director shall notify the applicant of a decision made under §A(4)(c) of this regulation within 45 days of receipt of the applicant’s request. Each Delegate shall have a choice of two methods for awarding scholarships: the tuition and mandatory fees method and the set dollar method. Each Delegate shall make an irrevocable selection of either the tuition and mandatory fees method or the set dollar method on an annual basis during each 4-year term. Tuition and Mandatory Fees Method. Each Delegate may award the equivalent of four, 4-year, full-time scholarships. A Delegate Scholarship award may not exceed the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged to the recipient as follows: A Delegate Scholarship may be awarded for a period of 1, 2, 3, or 4 years. A Delegate may award two part-time scholarships for each full-time scholarship available, provided that a part-time Delegate Award may be renewed for a maximum of 8 years and that the student is enrolled for between 6 and 11 credits each semester. A full-time tuition and mandatory fees scholarship may not exceed the maximum tuition and mandatory fees at the 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate. Mid-term increases in scholarship funds will be awarded only if sufficient funds are available in the Delegate program. A summer session shall constitute a full semester for award calculation and administration purposes. A Delegate may reserve the option not chose the two methods for awarding but elect to transfer funds to other State aid programs. Set Dollar Method. Each Delegate shall have an annual budget in the amount of four times the tuition and mandatory fees for a full-time undergraduate student enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park, for the academic year commencing in that year, other than the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate. The Delegate shall determine a set dollar amount to award each recipient. The minimum award shall be $200 for the academic year and the maximum shall be 50 percent of the Delegate's budget for that academic year. Unawarded funds remaining in a Delegate’s account at the end of an award year shall carry over into the following year for awarding. As an alternative to the scholarship awards authorized in regulation .04, and subject to the provisions of §B of this regulation, during each year in office each Delegate may award scholarships in a total amount equal to 4 times the tuition and mandatory fees for a full-time undergraduate student enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park for the academic year commencing in that year. A scholarship awarded under §A of this regulation: May not be for an amount less than $200 or more than one-half of the total amount of scholarships authorized by §A of this regulation; Shall be used at an eligible institution; May be used by: A graduate, undergraduate, or professional student; or A student at a private career school within the State that is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and that is accredited by a national accrediting association that is approved by the United States Department of Education; and To the extent that it is not used by the student, shall be recredited to the Delegate’s scholarship account and may be awarded in the next 12 months by that Delegate to another student pursuant to this regulation. Each Delegate shall establish a written application and selection process. A Delegate’s written selection process may use any factors that the Delegate considers appropriate. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall refer applicant inquiries directly to the appropriate Delegate. A Delegate shall inform the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) when the Delegate has selected a recipient. OSFA shall provide the Delegate with demographic student information of students assigned in their district. The Delegate is required to notify OSFA of their method of awarding and how the awards will be administered for the year. If the Delegate requests that OSFA make awards on their behalf, student awards shall be determined based on eligibility criteria outlined in Regulation .02 of this chapter. For each recipient selected, the delegate shall provide OSFA with written notification of the student’s: Full name; Social Security number; Date of birth; Address; Award amount; Name of school attending; and Enrollment status. Upon receipt of the information in §D of this regulation, OSFA shall officially notify the student of the award offer. An award recipient shall accept the Delegate award online through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) within the time frame established by OSFA. An award that is cancelled due to the lack of a timely response shall be reinstated upon written request provided that funds are available. A Delegate may choose to utilize an outside organization in determining scholarship awards under the following provisions: The organization shall adhere to all pertinent statutory and regulatory provisions; OSFA shall send all information concerning applicants and the awarding of scholarship funds directly to the Delegate, who shall forward the information to the outside organization to recommend awards; The organization shall forward the names of all students recommended for an award to the Delegate’s office for approval; The Delegate shall forward all students selected for award to OSFA for processing; and The outside organization may not share any student information with any party other than the Delegate. At the beginning of each school term, institutions shall be asked to review billing rosters provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) to certify that the recipient is a Maryland resident, enrolled in an eligible program for the number of credits for which the award was made, and meets satisfactory academic progress. Upon receipt of the institution's certification, OSFA shall disburse the respective funds directly to the institution to be credited to the student's account. Delegate Scholarship awards are not automatically renewed on an annual basis. Recipients must reapply to their delegate annually. A recipient shall inform the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing of any change to the student’s name, address, institution of attendance, or enrollment status. An award shall be revoked if: The criteria in Regulations .08 and .09 of this chapter are not met; A recipient makes a change to their name, address, state of residence, institution of attendance, or enrollment status and fails promptly to inform the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing; or Funds are no longer available. An applicant may appeal a decision of ineligibility or of the revocation of an award. An applicant may not appeal a denial of a Delegate Scholarship made for reasons other than a determination of ineligibility. An appeal shall be filed with the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) within 30 calendar days of the date of the notice of ineligibility or revocation. An appeal shall be in writing and detail reasons or circumstances that would justify reversal of the original decision. The Director of OSFA or designee shall review each appeal in consultation with the Delegate and issue a decision no later than 60 calendar days after receiving the appeal. All decisions of the Director or designee are final. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall notify each Delegate of their scholarship funds balance. OSFA shall send an applicant roster to each Delegate at the end of April each year that lists all students who have filed a need-based application by the March 1 deadline and the award renewals. OSFA shall continue to update Delegates with applicant roster information including the names of new applicants and new awardees. OSFA may update rosters throughout the year. If a Delegate does not award all of their scholarship funds during the fiscal year, those funds shall be carried forward into the following fiscal year. Each Delegate may authorize the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) to award all or a portion of their funds to eligible recipients of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award who reside in the Delegate's legislative district. If the total number of eligible recipients of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award who reside in the Delegate's legislative district is insufficient to utilize the total amount of funds available to the Delegate for any fiscal year, OSFA may, with the consent of the Delegate, award the unused funds to other eligible recipients throughout the State. Education Article, §§11-105(u) and 18-204(c) and Title 18, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 836) The purpose of the Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Program (Tolbert Grant Program) is to provide financial assistance to full-time students attending an approved private career school in Maryland. Definitions. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Private career school” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland. To be eligible to participate in the Tolbert Grant Program, a private career school: Shall be approved by the Commission for a minimum of 2 years to operate a private career school in Maryland; May not have any outstanding Notice of Deficiencies issued to the school by the Secretary; Shall have signed a participation agreement provided by the Commission; Shall operate solely within the State; May not have a negative final report under the State Postsecondary Review Program in accordance with 34 CFR §667.5; and May not have been referred for review under the State Postsecondary Review Program as a result of its student loan default rates in accordance with 34 CFR §667.5. To be eligible to participate in the Tolbert Grant Program, a student shall: Be enrolled in a private career school; Be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 18 clock hours of instruction per week) in an approved program which is at least 100 clock hours in length; Be a resident of the State of Maryland; Demonstrate financial need and meet any other financial requirement of this program. A Tolbert Grant award shall be $500 per student per fiscal year. A Tolbert Grant award shall be used for tuition only. A recipient of a Tolbert Grant shall also be eligible to receive a Senatorial or Delegate Scholarship. At the beginning of each fiscal year, each eligible school shall be notified of the number of grant awards that may be awarded to students attending the school during the fiscal year. Each eligible school shall be allocated a minimum of six grant awards for the fiscal year, subject to the availability of funding. Any remaining grant awards shall be allocated proportionately based on student enrollment as follows: Each eligible school’s total enrollment for all eligible programs shall be divided by the total enrollment for all eligible programs offered by all eligible schools; The percent derived from the calculation in §C(1) of this regulation shall be multiplied by the total number of awards not allocated, and the result shall be the additional allocation per school; and Calculations under this section shall be based on the enrollments reported in the most recent annual reports submitted to the Commission by eligible schools for their eligible programs. A student shall apply by submitting the following documents to the private career school the student attends: An application on a form provided by the Commission; and A Student Aid Report from a processed Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A private career school shall rank all applicants according to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the applicant’s Student Aid Report (SAR). Each eligible applicant shall be ranked from lowest to highest based on the applicant’s reported EFC. Awards shall be given to applicants beginning with the applicant with the lowest EFC (e.g., $0) and proceeding through the rankings until all awards have been made. To be eligible for the grant program, a student shall demonstrate financial need. The EFC shall be at least $500 less than the cost of tuition annually. During the fiscal year, a school shall select candidates for awards up to the total number of awards which the school has been allocated. A school shall submit candidates to the Office of Student Financial Aid in accordance with the following: The school shall submit the names of candidates, a copy of their SAR, and verification of their selection to the Commission by the assigned deadline date provided by the Commission for each semester during summer, fall, and spring; A school must use at least 66 percent of its allocated awards by March 15; and The school shall verify in a form approved by the Commission that each student selected has met each requirement identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter and was selected in accordance with this regulation and Regulation .06 of this chapter. The Commission shall accept award candidates from each eligible school three times per year by the assigned deadline date provided by the Commission for each semester during summer, fall, and spring. The Commission shall transmit funds to a school in the amount of the grant awards following verification by the Commission that the candidates have been reviewed and selected by the school on the basis of the requirements of these regulations. A school shall credit an award to the student’s account within 5 business days of receiving the funds from the Commission. If a school fails to use 66 percent or more of its allocated awards by March 15 the remaining unused awards shall be redistributed to schools meeting the 66 percent requirement, on a pro-rata basis, unless the school losing the awards can show that it has eligible candidates to whom it will make the remaining awards. The Commission shall notify schools of any reallocation of awards made after March 15. A Tolbert Grant is renewable for a total of 2 years provided the recipient: Continues to meet all requirements for eligibility identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter; and Is making satisfactory progress towards a certificate of completion according to the approved academic and attendance standards of the private career school. All financial books, records, and documents pertaining to this program shall be opened to inspection, review, and audit at all reasonable times by the Commission, the State auditor, or their authorized representatives. A private career school shall retain all financial books, records, and documents relating to an award for 5 years after the close of the fiscal year in which the award was made. A private career school shall include this program in any independent audit conducted for the school on financial aid programs. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-1201—18-1207, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 18, 2016 (43:14 Md R. 779) There is Near Completer Grant Program administered by the Office under Education Article, §11-209(d), Annotated Code of Maryland. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to individual students who are near completers as an incentive to obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Director” means the Executive Director of the Office. “Grant” means a Near Completer Grant under this chapter. “MDCAPS” means the Maryland College Aid Processing System maintained by the Office. “Near completer” means an individual who has completed some college credits but does not have a college degree and is no longer attending an institution of higher education. “Non-loan aid” means any student financial aid scholarship or grant applied to the student’s tuition and fee charges, excluding Title IV federal work-study. “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Public senior higher education institution” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §10-101(m), Annotated Code of Maryland. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education. “Senior higher education institution” means an institution of higher education that awards baccalaureate degrees. Subject to the availability of funds in the State budget, the Office annually shall determine student eligibility to receive a grant. A near completer who previously attended a community college is eligible for a grant if the applicant: Earned at least 45 credit hours and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 while previously in college; Is enrolled at a Maryland community college in an associate’s degree program; and Is a Maryland resident or eligible for in-State tuition in accordance with Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland. A near completer who previously attended a senior higher education institution is eligible for a grant if the applicant: Earned at least 90 credit hours and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 while previously in college; Is enrolled at a Maryland public senior higher education institution in a bachelor’s degree program; and Is a Maryland resident or eligible for in-State tuition in accordance with Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland. The number of previously earned credit hours that are accepted for transfer by the community college or public senior higher education institution in which the student is enrolled may not alter a student’s eligibility for the grant. A student shall apply annually to the Office, in the form prescribed by the Office, to be eligible for a grant. An applicant shall submit an application, a copy of the applicant’s previous college or university transcript, and any other documentation required by the Office. All application materials shall be submitted to the Office by the deadline date established by the Office. Eligible applicants shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date on which all application materials are received by the Office. Awards shall be issued until the total funds appropriated for the program have been depleted. Eligible applicants who do not receive an award shall be notified that they have been placed on a waiting list and may receive an award if funds become available. All non-loan aid received by the applicant, except a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship awarded under Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall be credited to the applicant’s tuition before the calculation of the grant amount. A grant shall apply toward the student’s tuition in the lesser of: The amount of the student’s unmet tuition; or As applicable, up to one-third of: The in-county tuition charge at a community college; or The resident undergraduate tuition charge at a public senior higher education institution. If a student is not eligible for in-county tuition at a community college but is eligible for in-State tuition at a Maryland public institution of higher education, the award amount calculated under §B of this regulation shall be applied to the recipient’s out-of-county tuition charge. The grant may be used only for tuition and may not be used for fees or other charges or expenses related to attending an institution of higher education. Recipients shall be notified of an award by the Office through MDCAPS prior to the start of the fall semester. Except as set forth in §C of this regulation, a recipient shall log on to MDCAPS in order to accept an award. If the Director determines that extenuating circumstances exist, a recipient may accept an award by providing written notice to the Office. The acceptance deadline date shall be specified in the award notice and shall be no less than 4 weeks after the date the Office sent notice under §A of this regulation. An award recipient who fails to accept the award by the acceptance date specified in the award notice shall become ineligible for the award. The Office shall create a certification roster for each community college and public senior higher education institution. The certification roster shall contain the names of the applicants who have been identified by the Office as eligible for the grant. The institution shall complete the certification for each student by the date established by the Office. The institution shall: Verify the applicant’s eligibility for in-State tuition under Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland; and By the deadline date established by the Office, report: The total amount of tuition being charged; and All non-loan aid the applicant is receiving, regardless of whether the non-loan aid has been disbursed. After the institution reports all non-loan aid for each applicant, the institution shall electronically transmit the roster to the Office through MDCAPS. The Office shall make an award payment to the institution for each semester that the student is granted the award. The institution shall certify and request payment for all recipients, on a semester basis, on or before: December 15, for the fall semester; and May 15, for the spring semester. An institution that fails to certify and request payment for all recipients on a semester basis under §B may not certify recipients for the subsequent semester. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 11-209, and 18-204(c), Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 642) The purpose of the Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to full-time and part-time graduate/professional students in the fields of medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, nursing, social work, and veterinary medicine to individuals who have demonstrated financial need. To be eligible for the Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program an individual shall: Be a Maryland resident; Demonstrate financial need; and Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student, either part-time or full-time, and attend one of the schools in §B of this regulation. An applicant shall be enrolled in one of the following programs: University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, or Social Work; University of Baltimore School of Law; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Any institution in the State offering a master’s degree in nursing or social work; or Any institution in the State offering a first professional degree in pharmacy. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall allocate to each eligible institution a share of the total funds provided for the program in proportion to its share of Maryland graduate and professional students who are enrolled in the eligible programs. The allocation shall be based on the average of the enrollments for the preceding 2 years. An institution that becomes eligible to participate in the scholarship program due to a recent addition of an eligible graduate or professional program at their institution shall have its enrollments calculated using an estimated fall enrollment projection for that year. After 2 years of enrollments, the institution’s allocation shall be calculated based on the average of the enrollments for the preceding 2 years. OSFA shall notify institutions of the amount of their allocation and shall distribute funds to each institution no later than August 30. In the event the institution fails to submit all required information under Regulation .06 of this chapter, funding allocated to the institution within that year will be subject to one of the following: Reduction of subsequent years funding according to the preceding years allocated amount; or A 1-year lapse of funding in the subsequent year. The institutional financial aid office will identify students who are eligible for an award. The minimum award is $1,000 per academic year and the maximum award is $5,000 per academic year. A student may not receive an award for longer than eight semesters regardless of enrollment status. Awards shall be based on the financial need of the student. Students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each institution may determine an appropriate methodology for determining financial need; however, this methodology shall include consideration of the information provided on the FAFSA. The award may be used toward the costs of tuition and mandatory fees, room and board, and other educational expenses. To maintain eligibility for a Graduate and Professional Scholarship, the recipient must continue to demonstrate financial need for each year that the award is sought and meet all other eligibility criteria in Regulation .02 of this chapter. Each participating institution must submit to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by August 15 each year the following information: The amount of funds and number of recipients awarded a Graduate and Professional Scholarship; The allocation of awards and funds by each degree program; The total number of eligible students with financial need; and The methodology used to determine the financial need of the students receiving awards under the Program. All financial books, records, and documents pertaining to this program shall, at all reasonable times, be opened to inspection, review, and audit by the Office of Student Financial Assistance, the State Auditor, or their authorized representatives. The institution shall retain such financial books, records, and documents for 5 years after the close of a fiscal year. Institutions shall include this program in any independent audit conducted for the institution on financial aid programs. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-2601, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 18, 2016 (43:14 Md R. 780) The purpose of the Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) is to increase access to oral health services for Maryland Medical Assistance Program (MMAP) recipients by increasing the number of dentists who treat that population. The MDC-LARP is funded through Maryland general funds and provides loan repayment for Maryland licensed dentists dependent upon available annual funding. A dentist who participates in this program shall agree to provide oral health care services to a minimum of 30 percent MMAP recipients as a proportion of their total patient population, document this information, and submit confirming written reports. To be eligible for Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) repayment assistance, an individual: Shall be employed as a full-time dentist in Maryland; Shall demonstrate financial need; Shall have received a dental degree from a college or university in Maryland or from an accredited U.S. dental school; Shall have a valid unrestricted license to practice dentistry in Maryland at the time the service obligation begins; May not have breached an obligation for service to a federal, state, or local government entity; Shall have no unserved obligations for service to a federal, state, or local government, or to another entity, with the exception of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Primary Care Loans, Exceptional Financial Need Scholarships, and Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Students aid; Shall have outstanding eligible higher education loans; May not be in default on any eligible higher education loan; and Shall agree to provide services as provided in Regulation .07 of this chapter. Service obligations shall be rendered at an eligible practice site, which is any federal, state, local, or private for-profit or nonprofit dental facility (including a solo, group, or incorporated private practice) that treats all persons and agrees to the statutory requirement that a minimum of 30 percent of the patients treated each year for 3 years are in a private or clinical setting serving Maryland medical assistance program recipients. Loans eligible for repayment assistance are any loans for undergraduate or graduate dental professional study obtained for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses from a college, university, government, commercial source, or an organization, institution, association, society, or corporation that is exempt from taxation under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. An MDC-LARP recipient shall provide documentation that commercial loans were used for payment of tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses. The Maryland Department of Health, Office of Primary Care Services (MDH) shall be responsible for designating geographic dentist shortage areas in Maryland and reporting the designations annually to the Office for Student Financial Assistance according to a schedule that corresponds to the Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) award cycle. Geographic areas designated by MDH shall coincide with Maryland's federal Dental Health Professions Shortage Areas (Dental HPSAs). In addition, MDH may identify other areas based on health status indicators that MDH deems appropriate. Designated dentist shortage areas shall be provided to the review panel as described in Regulation .05 of this chapter for the purpose of reviewing applications and designating underserved areas. A dentist does not have to practice in a Dental HPSA to be considered for an MDC-LARP. An individual shall complete an application and provide any additional information required by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) and the Office of Oral Health (OOH) to be considered for Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program repayment assistance. The OOH is responsible for the development and distribution of application forms and materials. An applicant shall provide: A completed application; Proof of graduation from an accredited U.S. school of dentistry; Documentation of the amounts and the holders of the applicant's outstanding eligible higher education loans; Letters of recommendation from three individuals; Proof of a dental license issued by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners; and If entering a group practice or incorporated practice, a letter of intent from the employer stating that the other members of the practice are aware of the program and the requirements that need to be fulfilled; and If in solo practice, proof that the practice exists. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA and OOH for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. An applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility, the cancellation of an award, or the denial of a deferment, cancellation, suspension, or waiver request. The Office of Oral Health (OOH) shall appoint a Review Panel, which includes dentists who have experience treating Medicaid and low-income patients, to assist in the annual selection of Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) recipients. The Review Panel shall be responsible for reviewing the eligible applicants and recommending to OOH which applicants should receive an award. The OOH shall make the final selection of MDC-LARP recipients. The Review Panel may consider the following criteria in making its recommendations to OOH: The dental health care needs of the geographic area where the dental practice is located; The professional competence and conduct of applicants; The applicant’s willingness to serve the 3-year requirement; The applicant’s personal or professional background and whether it demonstrates an understanding of the dental needs that exist in shortage areas or in underserved populations; and Additional criteria as determined by OOH to accommodate the goals of the MDC-LARP program. The total number of awards made each year shall be determined on an annual basis by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and shall be based on the amount of funds available. The award amount for new Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) awards shall be determined on an annual basis by OSFA and MDH, and shall be based on the available annual funding, the number of selected recipients, a recipient’s total indebtedness from eligible higher education loans at the time of application, and the number of years the recipient agrees to serve in the program. An award shall be for a minimum of $10,000 per year and up to a maximum of $30,000 per year. An MDC-LARP award may not exceed the MDC-LARP recipient’s total indebtedness from eligible higher education loans. OSFA shall issue checks to selected MDC-LARP recipients within 60 days of completing their service year. A service year is the 365-day period commencing on the date of the first day the MDC-LARP recipient begins to fulfill the service obligation at an eligible practice site. Unless the MDC-LARP recipient does not fulfill the service obligation as scheduled, subsequent service years for that MDC-LARP recipient begin and end on the same dates as the first service year. The amount of the check shall equal the loan repayment amount specified for the service year in the contract between the MDC-LARP recipient and the Commission. A loan repayment check shall be made co-payable to the MDC-LARP recipient and the holder of the MDC-LARP recipient's eligible higher education loans. The MDC-LARP recipient shall endorse and forward the check to the loan holder. An MDC-LARP recipient shall notify OSFA if there is a change in the holder of a loan. An MDC-LARP recipient may receive renewal awards for up to a maximum of 3 years if the recipient continues to meet the eligibility criteria and have outstanding eligible higher education loans, depending on available funding. Individuals applying for an award renewal are neither given preference nor guaranteed renewal. The recipient of an Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) award shall furnish the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) with written acceptance of the award and sign a promissory note that stipulates the: Obligations of an MDC-LARP recipient; Number of years to which the MDC-LARP recipient commits; Total and annual amounts of the MDC-LARP award; Penalties for breaching the promissory note; Circumstances under which the obligation may be deferred, canceled, suspended, or waived; and Other terms OSFA deems necessary. A recipient of an MDC-LARP award shall: Provide dental care services to Maryland Medical Assistance Program MMAP recipients equal to at least 30 percent of their practice for 1 year for each year the individual received an award; Provide dental care services in a full-time eligible practice site (full-time practice means a minimum of 40 hours per week); Provide at least 32 hours of the required 40 hours per week during normally scheduled office hours at an eligible practice site; and Ensure that no more than 35 workdays are spent away from the practice for holidays, vacation, continuing professional education, illness, or any other reason. Absences greater than 35 workdays in any given 52-week period shall extend the service obligation end date. While in practice at an eligible practice site, an MDC-LARP recipient shall: Sign up to be a Medical Assistance provider with the Maryland Healthy Smiles Program; Accept and render services to Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients; Maintain a valid license to practice dentistry in the State of Maryland throughout the service obligation; Notify OSFA if the employment arrangement at the eligible practice site is terminated or changed; Notify OSFA if the repayment of a loan is undertaken by an entity defined in Education Article, §18-2401(b)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland; Keep timely records of services rendered to all Medicaid patients (both Network Provider Recipients and Maryland Medical Assistance Program Recipients) and provide the Department of Health Office of Oral Health with written reports of those services as allowed by federal and state confidentiality statutes and regulations; and Complete an exit interview at the end of the final service period. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall require annual verification that a Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) recipient is fulfilling their award obligations. Prior to issuing an MDC-LARP recipient's check for the first year of service, OSFA shall receive notice from the Maryland Department of Health Office of Oral Health (MDH) that confirms that the MDC-LARP recipient is providing appropriate service at that site. Prior to issuing a check for a subsequent year of service, OSFA shall receive confirmation from MDH that the MDC-LARP recipient provided services in the previous year and continues to practice at an eligible practice site. A Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) recipient breaches the recipient’s obligations if: They do not begin their service obligation at an eligible practice site within 3 months of the close of the fiscal year in which the promissory note is executed; or The MDC-LARP recipient separates from the eligible practice site prior to fulfilling the service obligation and does not move to a site that complies with the program requirements. An MDC-LARP recipient who breaches their obligation shall be subject to the total of the following financial penalties: The total amounts paid to, or on behalf of, the recipient for loan repayments for any period of obligated service not served; An amount equal to the number of months of obligated service not completed multiplied by $7,500; and Interest on the amounts in §B(1) and (2) of this regulation at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the Treasurer of the United States, from the date of breach. In addition to the penalties in §B of this regulation, the State of Maryland is entitled to recover costs, fees, and expenses associated with the collection of these penalties, including attorney’s fees, as prescribed by State law or regulation Amounts not paid within 1 year of the breach shall be subject to garnishment of wages, deductions in Medicaid payments, and other collection methods. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall report recipients who fail to pay their financial penalties within 1 year to the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners. Recipients who fail to pay their financial penalties may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Dental Examiners. An MDC-LARP recipient's financial obligation to pay damages may not be released by discharge of bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) may consider deferment, cancellation, suspension, or waiver of the obligation as provided in this regulation. OSFA may consider deferment for: Military service for a period not to exceed 3 years; Extended illness verified by a physician; Extenuating family circumstances to be decided on a case-by-case basis; and Maternity/paternity leave not to exceed 6 months. OSFA may consider cancellation, suspension, or waiver as follows: Any service or payment obligation incurred by a Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) recipient is canceled upon the MDC-LARP recipient's death; and OSFA may waive or suspend an MDC-LARP recipient's service or payment obligation if, as determined by OSFA, compliance by the MDC-LARP recipient with the terms and conditions of the contract is impossible or would involve extreme hardship. The Maryland Department of Health Office of Oral Health shall be responsible for: Promoting and recruiting the Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) program in conjunction with the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA); Certifying eligible practice sites; Selecting eligible applicants; Notifying OSFA of selected eligible applicants; Confirming that MDC-LARP recipients are fulfilling their requirements; Appointing an individual to serve on the Review Panel; and Nominating individuals to serve on the Review Panel. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-2401—18-2408, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 836) The purpose of the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educational Excellence Awards is to provide need-based financial assistance to students in accordance with Education Article, Title 18, Annotated Code of Maryland. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated. Terms Defined. “Academic year” means the fall, spring, and summer semesters and any semester shorter in length than the term of a regular semester. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Educational Assistance Grant” or “EA Grant” means the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant. “Educational Excellence Award” or “EEA” means the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educational Excellence Awards, which consists of Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grants and Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grants. “Eligible for in-State tuition” means an individual: Determined by a public institution of higher education to qualify for in-State tuition under the institution’s policies and Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland; or Determined by a nonpublic institution of higher education within the State to meet the criteria for in-State tuition under Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher education within the State. “FAFSA” means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Full-Time Student. “Full-time student” means a student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, or the equivalent of 12 credit hours, as determined by OSFA: In a regular undergraduate program leading to a degree or diploma from an eligible institution; or In a 2-year associate degree program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit to an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible institution. A semester hour or equivalent that does not lead towards a degree or diploma in a student’s educational program shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether the student is full-time. “GED” means a high school diploma by examination under Labor and Employment Article, §11-808 Annotated Code of Maryland. “Guaranteed Access Grant” or “GA Grant” means the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant. “Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)” means the financial aid application form prescribed by the Office for individuals who are eligible for in-State tuition and ineligible to complete the FAFSA. “OSFA” or “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Commission. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education for the State. Successfully Completed Course. “Successfully completed course” means a course in which a student received any grade higher than an “F” regardless of any school or program policy. “Successfully completed course” does not include a course that is retaken by a student more than once. “Title IV” means Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965. To be eligible for financial assistance under the Educational Excellence Award program, an applicant shall: Be a Maryland resident or be eligible for in-State tuition; Annually file the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1; Be accepted for admission, or enrolled as a full-time student, in a regular undergraduate program leading to a degree or diploma at an eligible institution, or be enrolled full-time in a 2-year associate degree program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit to an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible institution; Demonstrate financial need based upon the formula set forth in Regulation .06 of this chapter; Agree to provide, by the deadline established by OSFA, any supplemental information or documentation requested by OSFA or an institution for the purpose of administering or verifying eligibility for the EEA; and If requested, sign an authorization for the release of information to OSFA or an institution for the purpose of administering or verifying eligibility for the EEA. An applicant’s failure or refusal to provide to OSFA requested information, or a signed authorization for the release of information, by the deadlines established by OSFA may result in a determination of ineligibility, the cancellation of an award, or the denial of an appeal. To be eligible for a Guaranteed Access Grant, an applicant shall: Satisfy the requirements of §A of this regulation; Except as provided in §D of this regulation, have an annual total family income as reported on the FAFSA or MSFAA that is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level or, if program funding allows, that is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, for 2 years prior to the academic year for which the student is being reviewed; Begin enrollment at an eligible institution within 1 year of completing high school or within 1 year of obtaining a GED with a passing score of at least 165 per module or, if failing to do either, provide documentation satisfactory to OSFA of extenuating circumstances; Be younger than 22 years old at the time of receiving the first award, except as provided in §E of this regulation; Either: Have obtained a GED with a passing score of at least 165 per module; or Have successfully completed a college preparatory program in high school that is designed to prepare students for college level work; Either: Have obtained a GED with a passing score of at least 165 per module; or Have completed high school with an unweighted cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent at the end of the first semester of the senior year in high school and have completed high school or, failing to do so, on the recommendation of the recipient’s high school principal provide evidence satisfactory to the Commission of extenuating circumstances; Except as provided in §C(3) and (6) of this regulation, be a senior in high school at the time of initial application; Except as provided in §C(3) and (6) of this regulation, submit a completed high school certification form and a high school transcript reflecting the first semester of the applicant’s senior year; Whether applying for the first time or as a renewal recipient, submit all supplemental documentation requested by OSFA or the institution (other than the FAFSA or MSFAA, which are due on March 1) no later than the deadline established by OSFA; and Meet any other requirements adopted by the Commission. OSFA may not consider an earned income credit under §32 of the Internal Revenue Code in determining the annual family income eligibility of an applicant for a Guaranteed Access Grant. Prior to award year 2022—2023, an individual may be younger than 26 years old at the time of receiving the first GA award, but beginning in award year 2022—2023, an individual shall be younger than 22 years old at the time of receiving the first GA award. Except as provided in §G of this regulation, a student in grade 7 or grade 8 who applies and prequalifies for a Guaranteed Access Grant on the basis of financial need, as established by the Office, shall agree in writing, as a secondary and undergraduate student, to: Satisfy the attendance policy of the applicable school; Refrain from substance abuse; Provide information required by the Commission or the Maryland State Department of Education; Apply for admission to an institution of higher education during the student’s senior year of high school; Participate in the Next Generation Scholars of Maryland Program until the student graduates from high school and matriculates at an institution of higher education; Maintain an unweighted cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and Satisfy any other program requirements set by OSFA, the Commission, the Maryland State Board of Education, or the Maryland State Department of Education. A student in grade 9 or grade 10 shall prequalify for a Guaranteed Access Grant, to be used at the time of enrollment in an institution of postsecondary education, if the student: Meets the requirements set forth in §F of this regulation; and Either: Is eligible for free or reduced price meals; or Attends a school that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision and is identified by: Direct certification; or Income information provided to the local school system, by the family of the student, on an alternative form developed by the Maryland State Department of Education. Educational Excellence Award program award amounts shall be determined by OSFA in accordance with this regulation and Regulation .06 of this chapter. Educational Assistance Grant Award Amounts. Educational Assistance Grant award amounts shall range between $400 and $3,000 and be awarded in $100 increments. The amount of an Educational Assistance Grant made to a student in the student’s first 2 academic years of enrollment may not be less than $400 or more than $3,000. If the student enrolled in an eligible institution on or after August 31, 2015, and has received the EA Grant for at least 2 years, then beginning with the 2018—2019 award year, and in each academic award year thereafter, the student shall successfully complete: At least 30 credits in the prior academic year, in order for the EA award amount to not be less than $400 or more than $3,000; or At least 24 but fewer than 30 credits in the prior academic year, in order for the EA award amount to be equal to the amount the student would have otherwise received under §B(3)(a) of this regulation multiplied by the ratio of the number of credits successfully completed divided by 30. If the student’s prorated award amount under §B(3)(b) of this regulation is less than $400, the student shall not be awarded an Educational Assistance Grant. Guaranteed Access Grant Award Amounts. Guaranteed Access Grant award amounts shall range from $400 up to a maximum award not to exceed the equivalent annual expenses of a full-time resident undergraduate at the 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland Baltimore, which is calculated by OSFA to have the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate, in $100 increments. The amount of a Guaranteed Access Grant made to a student in the student's first 2 academic years of enrollment shall be equal to 100 percent of the student's adjusted financial need as determined by OSFA, subject to the requirements of §C(1) of this regulation. If the student has enrolled in an eligible institution on or after August 31, 2015, and has received the GA Grant for at least 2 years, then beginning with the 2018—2019 award year, and each academic award year thereafter, the student shall successfully complete: At least 30 credits in the prior academic year, in order for the award amount to be equal to 100 percent of the amount calculated under §C(2) of this regulation; or At least 24 but fewer than 30 credits in the prior academic year, in order for the award amount to be equal to 100 percent of the amount calculated under §C(2) of this regulation multiplied by the ratio of the number of credits successfully completed divided by 30. If the student’s prorated award amount under §C(3)(b) of this regulation would be less than $400, the student shall not be awarded a Guaranteed Access Grant. Except as provided in §E of this regulation, if the student fails to complete at least 24 credits at the end of the student’s second academic year of receiving the grant, the student shall not be awarded either the Guaranteed Access Grant or the Educational Assistance Grant. A student described in §D of this regulation may be awarded the grant if, subsequent to the second year of receiving the grant: The student completes 24 credits within an academic year; and Reapplies for and qualifies for the grant the following year. The award recipient shall continue to meet the criteria established by this chapter for the duration of the award. Students may hold other State scholarships or grants in addition to an EEA, but shall meet all conditions for all awards, and may not receive an amount combined from all State programs that exceeds the maximum amount established by OSFA. A student who has been approved through an appeal under Regulation .15 of this chapter to receive an EEA while taking fewer than 12 credits in a term may not receive a part-time grant from OSFA during that same term. A Guaranteed Access Grant or Educational Assistance Grant may be used at an institution of higher education in another state or the District of Columbia only if: The following conditions are met: The attendance is pursuant to a reciprocal agreement for applicants that are deaf or hearing impaired at an institution of higher education that makes special provisions for deaf and hearing impaired students; Comparable special provisions are not available at an in-State institution of higher education; and The institution is accredited by accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or The attendance is pursuant to a reciprocal agreement under Education Article, §§18-305(b) and 18-308, Annotated Code of Maryland. OSFA may not award more than 10 percent of the funds available for each of the types of grant awarded through the Guaranteed Access Grant program and Educational Assistance Grant program to students attending schools located in another state or the District of Columbia. Determination of Financial Need. The Office shall calculate an applicant’s adjusted financial need using the following formula: The Expected Family Contribution shall be determined using the same methodology used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine expected family contribution for purposes of federal student aid. The Regional Cost of Living Adjustment shall be determined annually by the Secretary. Cost of Attendance shall be calculated as follows: For a student living with parents, tuition and mandatory fees plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $3,200; For a student living off-campus, tuition and mandatory fees plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $5,100; and For a student living on-campus, tuition and mandatory fees, room and board, plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $900. Determination of EEA Award Amounts. Amounts of EEA program awards shall be calculated using data from the FAFSA or the MSFAA. EA Grant Formulas. Subject to the requirements of Regulation .04 of this chapter: An EA award for a student attending a 4-year institution shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 40% = Educational Assistance Grant; and An award for a student attending a community college shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 60% = Educational Assistance Grant. GA Grant Formulas. Subject to the requirements of Regulation .04 of this chapter, Guaranteed Access Grants shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 100% = Guaranteed Access Grant. Award amounts shall be calculated on an annual basis and rounded to the nearest $100. Awards that are made for the fall and spring semesters in the academic year are evenly split between the two semesters. If a student’s award amount is determined to be below $400, the student shall not receive the award. Errors on a FAFSA or MSFAA that are corrected by a student after the deadline may be considered by OSFA. Changes in award amounts as a result of a correction shall be handled as follows: For EA Grants and GA Grants, if a correction results in a decrease in an award amount, the award shall be adjusted and the student notified of the change. If a correction results in an increase in an award, the increase shall be funded only if OSFA determines that funds are available. For GA Grants only, if a correction in family income or family size results in the student no longer being eligible for a GA Grant, the student's GA award shall be canceled and, if funding is available in OSFA’s determination, the student may be awarded as an EA Grant. On an annual basis, the Secretary shall establish awarding priorities for making awards under the Educational Excellence Awards Program. The awarding priorities shall be based upon projections using the estimated funding level for the program, and shall take into consideration funds necessary to award Guaranteed Access Grants at 100 percent of need, with the remainder of the funds being awarded as Educational Assistance Grants. As its first awarding priority, and subject to the requirements of Education Article, §§18-304 and 18-307, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Office shall strive to award recipients at the percent of need and maximum award established for the prior award year, adjusting for tuition and fee increases. As its second awarding priority, and subject to the requirements of Education Article, §§18-304 and 18-307, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Office shall strive to maintain the overall number of awards in the EEA program. An applicant for the GA Grant who files the FAFSA or MSFAA after March 1 may not be considered for an award. A renewal applicant for the GA Grant shall meet all the requirements set forth in Regulation .10 of this chapter to be considered for a renewal award. GA Grant applicants who have completed the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 shall be selected for the award in the following priority: Renewal applicants who submit all supplemental information or documentation requested by OSFA or an institution by April 1; Initial applicants who submit all supplemental information requested by OSFA or an institution by April 1; and Renewal and initial applicants and initial applicants who submit all supplemental information requested by OSFA or an institution after April 1 but no later than May 15. All applicants for the EA Grant shall be selected and awards made based upon a Statewide ranking of each student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and need, with the lowest EFC and greatest need awarded first, in the following priority: Renewal applicants for EA Grants shall be awarded first provided that the requirements of Regulation .10 of this chapter are met; and Remaining funds shall be awarded to all other eligible applicants until all funds are depleted. Recipients shall be notified by OSFA through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) of the awards. An initial EA or GA Grant recipient shall log on to MDCAPS in order to accept an award, except that, in extenuating circumstances as determined by the Director of OSFA, a student may accept an award by providing written acceptance to the Office. An Educational Assistance Grant may be renewed if the recipient: Files a FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1; Demonstrates financial need; Is enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible institution or community college; At the end of the student’s second academic year and thereafter of receiving the grant, completed at least 24 credits in the prior academic year; Is making satisfactory progress according to institutional standards in compliance with federal Title IV program regulations; and Is a resident of the State or eligible for in-State tuition, as verified by the institution. A Guaranteed Access Grant may be renewed if the recipient: Files a FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 and, if requested by OSFA or the institution, submits all required verification documentation by the deadline established by OSFA; Has an annual total family income as reported on the FAFSA or MSFAA which is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; Is enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible institution or community college; At the end of the student’s second academic year and thereafter of receiving the grant, completed at least 24 credits in the prior academic year; Is making satisfactory progress according to institutional standards in compliance with federal Title IV program regulations; and Is a resident of the State or eligible for in-State tuition, as verified by the institution. A renewal applicant for a GA Grant who does not meet the requirements of §B of this regulation shall be considered for an EA Grant, if the recipient satisfies the requirements of §A of this regulation, meets the EFC requirements based upon the Statewide ranking of greatest need, and Regulation .03 of this chapter. An award shall be canceled if: A recipient of an EA Grant or GA Grant fails to accept the award within the time specified in the award notification to the recipient; A recipient of an EA Grant or GA Grant fails to satisfy all verification requirements; A recipient of a GA Grant fails to submit all requested supplemental information or documentation to OSFA or an institution by the deadline established by OSFA; An institution reports on the billing roster that the recipient is: Not enrolled at that institution in a regular program; Not enrolled as a full-time student; Not meeting the required number of successfully completed credits under Regulation .04 of this chapter; Not making satisfactory academic progress; Not a resident of the State or not eligible for in-State tuition; or In default of a Title IV loan or owes a refund of Title IV assistance; or An institution reports on the credit roster that the recipient is not meeting the required number of successfully completed credits under Regulation .04 of this chapter. An award shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulation .04 of this chapter if an institution reports on the billing roster that a recipient who received the grant for 2 prior years has completed a minimum of 24 credits but fewer than 30 credits. OSFA shall make an award payment to the institution for each semester that the eligible recipient is granted the award. The institution shall certify to OSFA all recipients, on a semester basis, on or before: December 15, for the fall semester; and May 15, for the spring semester. An institution who fails to certify all recipients on a semester basis by the prescribed deadline will not be able to certify recipients for subsequent semester. At the beginning of each semester, institutions shall review billing rosters provided by OSFA to certify, by a deadline determined by OSFA, that the recipients meet the requirements described in this chapter. In order for funds to be disbursed to the institution, the institution at which the student is enrolled shall maintain the student’s FAFSA information on file. OSFA will maintain the applications for students who complete the MSFAA. Institutions shall be responsible for disbursing the funds on behalf of awarded students in a timely fashion. In-House Verification by OSFA. OSFA annually shall verify a percentage of all new Educational Excellence Award applications to determine if they contain accurate information. OSFA shall verify Educational Excellence Award applications for recipients identified by OSFA, or by institutions, based upon: Whether the information contained in the application has discrepancies from the information contained in the FAFSA or MSFAA; or Whether the applicant misreported dependency status, State residency status, or status related to eligibility for in-State tuition. OSFA may randomly select applications for verification. An applicant who filed a MSFAA and is selected for verification may only be verified by OSFA. Selected recipients are required to provide documentation of financial data and to verify dependency and State residency or eligibility for in-State tuition. OSFA annually shall verify the eligibility status of at least 25 percent of GA Grant award recipients. Initial GA Grant applicants shall submit a high school transcript or documentation of GED scores. Initial and renewal GA Grant recipients shall provide documentation of financial data to verify eligibility as requested by OSFA. OSFA shall notify a student who has been selected for verification in writing, and shall advise the student that the student is required to provide the following documents within the time specified in the notification: A Maryland Office of Student Financial Assistance Dependent or Independent Verification Form to verify: Number of individuals in the household who will attend or are enrolled in college; Household size; and Other untaxed income; As applicable, the Maryland State tax return, IRS tax transcript, federal tax return, or IRS data retrieved through the FAFSA, W-2 forms, 1099, or Schedule C of the student, student’s parents, and student’s spouse, to verify: Adjusted gross income; Income taxes paid; Untaxed portions of IRA distributions; Untaxed portions of pensions; Tax exempt interest income; Education credits; and State residency or eligibility for in-State tuition; and If deemed necessary by OSFA, a Non Tax Filer Statement for the student, student’s parents, or student’s spouse. Awards may not be issued for students who fail to provide the requested information by the deadline established by OSFA. Students who provide the requested documentation shall be verified in accordance with the procedures established by OSFA. Awards for students with errors shall be recalculated and adjusted or canceled in accordance with this chapter. OSFA annually shall perform an independent review for a select percentage of GA Grant recipients that were verified in-house. This process shall occur between July 1 and December 1. If a discrepancy is found during the review process, OSFA reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to a student’s award and shall notify the student in writing. Institutional Verification. The institutions annually shall verify application information for a percentage of all new Educational Excellence Award recipients to determine if students are submitting accurate financial data. OSFA shall select a minimum of 25 percent of all students who have received an EA Grant and were flagged for federal verification. Lists of the selected students shall be submitted to the institutions the students are attending. After students are selected for EA Grant verification under §B(2) of this regulation, each applicable institution shall use the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IV financial aid rules and regulations to verify the: Taxable and non-taxable income of the student and, if a dependent student, the student’s parents; Household size; Number of individuals in the household that will attend or are enrolled in college; Enrollment status (undergraduate or graduate); Housing status; Dependency status; Expected Family Contribution; and Transaction number of Institutional Student Information Report used. Institutions shall provide updated and verified data to OSFA by the date established by OSFA annually. Information verified by the institutions shall be used to update OSFA records. Awards for students with corrections and errors shall be recalculated and adjusted or canceled as specified in this chapter. A public institution of higher education in the State or a private nonprofit institution of higher education that is eligible for State aid under Education Article, §17-103, Annotated Code of Maryland, may, in accordance with §§B(8)—(18) of this regulation, verify the eligibility of a GA Grant applicant who: Filed a FAFSA; and Is an admitted student at or has applied for admission to the institution for the next academic year. An institution that may verify the eligibility of a GA grant applicant under §B(7) of this regulation shall elect to do so by notifying OSFA each year by the deadline established by OSFA. Portability of Institutional Verification. An applicant who has been verified by an institution that elects to verify GA Grant eligibility is not obligated to attend the institution performing the verification. A verification obtained by an applicant under this regulation may be used at any institution at which a GA Grant may be used under Education Article, §18-305, Annotated Code of Maryland. The amount of the GA Grant awarded to an applicant may be adjusted in accordance with the cost of attendance at the institution at which the applicant uses the award. An institution that elects to verify GA Grant eligibility shall: Verify that an applicant qualifies for a GA grant under this chapter; Evaluate the applicant’s income eligibility criteria, as established by the Office, using the V1 standard Title IV financial aid verification process; For all applicants verified, regardless of their enrollment status at the institution, maintain all verification records for a period of 5 years after the end date of the award year associated with the applicant’s last award; As part of and in accordance with the regulations for the institution’s annual EEA Program audit submitted under COMAR 13B.08.19, provide the Commission with an audit of the institution’s verification process, to assess: Accuracy of award eligibility determination performed by the institution; Compliance with the requirements of the V1 standard Title IV financial aid verification process; Accuracy of reporting by the institution to the Office in the Institutional Student Information Record; and Compliance with §§B(7)—(18) of this regulation; and Meet any other requirements established by the Office. Annually between October 1 and March 1 prior to the award year, OSFA will provide a list to participating institutions that identifies applicants who must submit supplemental documentation in the following categories: Initial applicants who must verify that their high school GPA or GED scores meet the threshold in Regulation .03 of this chapter; Initial applicants who must verify that their high school GPA or GED scores meet the threshold in Regulation .03 of this chapter and who have been selected for verification of income eligibility; and Renewal applicants who have been selected for verification of income eligibility. An institution shall verify, as applicable: For all applicants, FAFSA completion date; For applicants who have obtained their GED, GED scores; For applicants in high school: That the applicant is in their senior year; and The applicant’s unweighted cumulative high school GPA at the end of their first semester of senior year; and For applicants selected for income verification: Number of people in applicant’s household; and All criteria required by the federal VI standard financial aid verification. A participating institution shall establish a communication process to notify, in writing, applicants who are required to submit supplemental information or documentation for verification. An institution may use their own institutional forms to collect supplemental information or documentation required for verification. After verification and as applicable, an institution shall report to OSFA, by the deadline established by OSFA: An applicant’s unweighted GPA or GED scores; and The Institutional Student Information Record the institution used to complete an applicant’s federal V1 verification. An institution’s failure to timely report an applicant’s information as required under §B(15) of this regulation may cause the applicant to become ineligible for the GA Grant. In the event that an applicant is verified by more than one institution, the information most recently reported under §B(15) of this regulation, at the time awards are made, shall be used by OSFA to select applicants. In the event that an applicant is verified by both an institution and OSFA, the information obtained by OSFA shall be used by OSFA to select applicants. OSFA shall consider students for late GA and EA Grants if funds become available after initial awards have been made. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, consideration for a late award shall be given in the following descending order to students who: Were previously awarded and have requested reinstatement of a canceled award; Applied on time and filed an appeal based on changes in financial circumstances; Applied on time and were eligible for an award but were not funded; Were late in applying, appealed for consideration, and were placed on the waiting list; and Applied after the deadline. Selection of Recipients. If funds are available to make late awards, OSFA shall fund GA and EA Grant applicants as specified in §B of this regulation, and shall notify recipients and institutions. If funds become available after commencement of the fall semester and are sufficient to issue late awards, OSFA shall require the institution to verify the eligibility of applicants before making awards. An EA or GA Grant applicant or recipient may appeal an award eligibility decision, and OSFA may grant or deny an appeal of eligibility, pursuant to this regulation. Appeals of Full-time Status. The applicant or recipient may appeal a determination that the applicant or recipient is not enrolled full-time. To be considered full-time, the actual time spent in the classroom, lab, supervised activity, or clinic shall equal at least 180 clock hours in a regular semester. An applicant or recipient enrolled for at least 6 credit hours, but fewer than 12 credit hours, may appeal on the basis that the individual is participating in a specific course or activity (such as an internship or a practicum) that is required by the institution to complete the academic program. Appeals to Receive Fifth or Third Year Awards. A student may appeal to hold an award for an additional year on the basis that: In the case of baccalaureate programs, the institution confirms that the student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 5 years to complete; or The student provides to OSFA evidence of extenuating financial, academic, or other circumstances that prevent the student from completing the academic program in 4 years for a baccalaureate program, or 2 years for an associate degree program. Appeals Based Upon Special Financial Circumstances. Subject to the availability of funds, OSFA shall make adjustments, as follows, based upon adequate documentation, that the student has experienced special financial circumstances that directly reduce the family contribution: If the student's parent or spouse dies on or after January 1 of the of the corresponding award year, OSFA shall adjust the FAFSA income information to exclude the income of the parent(s) or spouse affected; If the student or the student's parents divorce or separate on or after January 1 of the corresponding award year, OSFA shall adjust the FAFSA income information to exclude the income of the parent or spouse affected; If the student, student's parent, if dependent, or student's spouse, if the student is married and independent, becomes completely or involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the prior or current year, OSFA shall calculate the student's family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year; and If the student or the student's parent loses, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, TANF, or child support, OSFA shall calculate the student's family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year. Appeals of GA Grant Eligibility. A GA applicant or recipient may appeal an eligibility determination, in addition to the other grounds set forth in this regulation, on the grounds that the applicant or recipient: Did not complete high school or did not attain an unweighted grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent at the end of the first semester of the senior year in high school due to evidence of extenuating circumstances satisfactory to the Office; Did not begin college within 1 year of high school graduation or GED attainment due to extenuating circumstances, if demonstrated by evidence satisfactory to the Office; Is a renewal student who no longer is eligible for the GA Grant program because the applicant’s annual family income rises above the 150 percent poverty level; or Did not complete the FAFSA or MSFAA by the March 1 deadline due to extenuating circumstances, if demonstrated by evidence satisfactory to the Office. Appeals of Credit Completion Requirement. A student who has received an EEA grant for at least 2 academic years and fails to complete at least 24 credits in the prior academic year may appeal an eligibility decision on the basis that: The student completed at least 18 credit hours in the prior academic year and participated in a specific course or activity, such as an internship, practicum, or study abroad program, that is required by the institution to complete the student’s academic program and that, when combined with the 18 credit hours, is the equivalent of 24 credit hours in OSFA’s determination; or The student is an individual with disabilities who completed fewer than 24 credit hours due to a disability. Appeal Procedures. An individual shall file an appeal under this regulation by submitting to OSFA a completed appeal form prescribed by OSFA. In addition to the appeal form, the individual shall submit to OSFA the following documentation: If the appeal is of an ineligibility decision due to the student’s lack of full-time status, documentation from the student’s department chair describing: The program requirements for that semester; The catalog summary of the program and classes; and The number of clock hours required for the student’s activity; If the appeal is based upon requiring a fifth year to complete a baccalaureate program, or a third year to complete an associate degree program, documentation, as applicable, consisting of a death certificate, or statement from an attending physician, psychologist, mental health professional, guidance counselor, social worker, or the Dean of Students or other officer at the student's institution confirming the: Serious illness or injury of the student; Serious illness of a member of the student's immediate family; Serious emotional difficulties of the student; Death of a member of the student's immediate family; Existence of other serious personal circumstances; or The institution’s confirmation that the student’s baccalaureate program requires a fifth year to complete; If the appeal is based upon special financial circumstances, copies, as applicable, of a death certificate, separation agreement or divorce decree, notice of job termination or layoff, federal tax returns and W-2 forms, termination notices, or unemployment benefits from relevant agencies; If the appeal is based upon the student not meeting the required GPA in his or her senior year of high school: A letter from the student explaining the extenuating circumstances that caused the student not to obtain the required GPA; An unofficial transcript to verify the student’s GPA; Supporting documentation describing the circumstances that prohibited the student from obtaining the required GPA; and A letter of recommendation from the student’s high school principal; If the appeal is from an applicant who was deemed ineligible for not beginning college within 1 year of high school graduation or GED attainment: A letter from the student explaining the extenuating circumstances that caused the student to not begin college within 1 year of high school graduation or GED attainment; and A letter of reference from an employer, teacher, or organization that the applicant is affiliated with describing the applicant’s commitment to attending college and earning a degree; If the appeal is from a student who was found to be no longer eligible for the GA program because the student’s annual family income rises above 150 percent of the poverty level, supporting documentation identifying the change in income level that resulted in the family income exceeding the 150 percent poverty threshold and extenuating circumstances demonstrating why the income should be omitted from the award calculation; If the appeal is from a student who did not file the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 due to extenuating circumstances, a letter from the student explaining the extenuating circumstances that caused the student to miss the deadline; If the appeal is of a determination that the student failed to complete 24 credit hours in the prior academic year: A letter from the student’s department chair that describes and confirms the program requirements for the applicable semester and describes the number of clock hours required for each activity, along with a catalog description of the program and classes involved; or Documentation from the student’s medical doctor that confirms that the student is an individual with disabilities, and that the student completed fewer than 24 credits due to disability; and If the individual appeals a determination that an individual failed to complete high school: A letter to OSFA documenting the extenuating circumstance that prevented the student from graduating high school; A copy of the student’s high school transcript; If applicable, a copy of the student’s GED; and A letter of recommendation from the recipient’s high school principal. Adjustment of Awards. Subject to the availability of funds, the following adjustment of awards shall be made for appeals that are granted: If an appeal is granted prior to awards being made for the upcoming year, the student's amount of an award shall be based upon the information provided in connection with the appeal; If the student has not been awarded an award and submits the appeal after awards has been made for the upcoming year and the appeal is granted, the student shall be placed on the waiting list for an award; If the student already has been awarded an award and submits an appeal and the appeal is granted, the student shall be placed on a waiting list for any additional funds for which the student may be eligible; and If a student’s appeal based upon 12-credit-hour equivalency is granted, the student shall receive 75 percent of the original award if enrolled in 9 to 11 credits, and 50 percent of the original award if enrolled for 6 to 9 credits. Upon receipt of a completed appeal, the documentation shall be reviewed and a decision rendered by OSFA within 45 days, and the student shall be notified in writing of the outcome. OSFA’s grant or denial of an appeal under this regulation is final and not subject to further administrative or judicial review. An institution that overrides a dependency determination for an EA applicant shall submit to OSFA for final award determination: Updated Institutional Student Information Record data for the student; and A Certification of Independent Status Form for the student. An institution that overrides a dependency determination for a GA applicant who is selected for verification by OSFA shall submit to OSFA for final award determination: A Certification of Independent Status Form for the student; and All supporting documentation used by the institution to complete the override for the student. The Commission shall allocate funds to institutions of higher education to make awards to students who applied for Educational Excellence Awards after the March 1 deadline or who have other extenuating circumstances. Funds shall be awarded to institutions based upon the proportion of full-time Pell Grant eligible Maryland residents enrolled at the institution. Funds shall be awarded by institutions to students who meet the eligibility criteria for EA Grant awards in Regulation .03A of this chapter but who did not apply by the March 1 deadline or who have other extenuating circumstances. These students may be eligible for a Pell Grant. Awards shall be made in the amounts and the manner described in this chapter, including the same minimum amount ($400), maximum amount (established annually), required percent of need (established annually), and requirement of rounding awards to the nearest $100 increment. The amount of a Campus Based Educational Assistance Grant shall be determined in accordance with this chapter, including but not limited to Regulation .04 of this chapter. An institution may not award a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Campus-Based Educational Assistance Grant to a recipient of a Guaranteed Access or Educational Assistance Grant awarded by OSFA. Each institution of higher education that participates in the Campus-based Educational Assistance Grant program shall submit to OSFA: By October 15, a report of all initial awards for the academic year that includes for each award the: Student’s name; Student’s Social Security number, if required by the office; Institutional cost of attendance; Expected Family Contribution; Amount of Pell Grant disbursed; Amount of Campus-based EA Grant awarded; Pell I.D. and transaction number from the Institutional Student Information Report used for awarding; and Number of credits the student successfully completed for students enrolled in their second academic year and thereafter; By January 15, a report of subsequent awards for the academic year that includes for each award the: Student’s name; Student’s Social Security number, if applicable; Institutional cost of attendance; Expected Family Contribution; Amount of Pell Grant disbursed; Amount of Campus-based EA grant awarded; and Number of credits the student successfully completed for students enrolled in their second academic year and thereafter; and By June 15, a final end-of-year report that provides: A final cumulative list of recipients that includes for each award the: Student’s name; Student’s Social Security number, if applicable; and Award amount; The total number of students receiving an award; The total number of students eligible for an award; The total number of credits successfully completed for student enrolled in their second academic year and thereafter; and The following demographic information provided in the aggregate: The distribution of awards by class year; The distribution of awards by income; The distribution of awards by age; The distribution of awards by gender; The distribution of awards by independent vs. dependent status; and The number of recipients registering for the following year or transferring to a 4-year institution. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-301 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: March 25, 2019 (46:6 Md. R. 346) Regulation .02B amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .03A, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .03F amended effective July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 738) Regulation .03G adopted effective July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 738) Regulation .06B, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .08 amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .10A, B amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .11A amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .12D amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .13 amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .14A, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .15E, G amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) There is a Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship Program, which is administered by the Office pursuant to Education Article, §18-605, Annotated Code of Maryland. A purpose of the program is to further the State’s compelling interests in educating diverse student bodies and in achieving diversity in ROTC programs. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Director” means the Executive Director of the Office. “Education expenses” means: Tuition; Mandatory fees; and Costs of room and board. “Eligible institution” means Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, or University of Maryland Eastern Shore. “Full-time” means enrollment at an eligible institution in: At least 12 credits per semester in a certificate or undergraduate degree program; or At least 9 credits per semester in a graduate certificate, graduate degree, or doctoral degree program. “Minority student or a student who is a member of another group historically underrepresented in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs”: Means a student designated by the institution, based upon the institution’s holistic review of the applicant, as a student who contributes to diversity within ROTC programs; and May include a student of any race, ethnicity, disability, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or geographic representation. “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Part-time” means enrollment at an eligible institution in: At least 6 credits but fewer than 12 credits per semester in a certificate or undergraduate degree program; or At least 6 credits but fewer than 9 credits per semester in a graduate certificate, graduate degree, or doctoral degree program. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education. “Scholarship” means a Richard W. Collins III Scholarship under this chapter. Subject to the State budget, the Office annually shall determine a student’s eligibility to receive a scholarship. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the applicant: Is enrolled full-time or part-time at an eligible institution; Is a member of a ROTC program; Has been identified by the institution as a minority student or a student who is a member of another group historically underrepresented in Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) programs; Has been determined to be eligible for in-State tuition by the institution; and Timely files an application and any required supporting documentation with the Office. A student shall apply annually to the Office to be eligible for a scholarship. Form of Application. An applicant shall apply and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 15. If the applicant is ineligible to submit a FAFSA, but qualifies for in-State tuition under Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland, the applicant shall submit a Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) in lieu of the FAFSA. A student shall submit documentation to the Office confirming that the student is a member of a ROTC program. A student shall submit to the Office an institutional certification form, completed by the applicant’s institution, by a deadline established by the Office, confirming that the applicant is a minority student or a student who is a member of another group historically underrepresented in ROTC programs. An application and FAFSA or MSFAA received by the Office after June 15 may not be considered for an award. If the Office requests additional information from the applicant in order to determine the applicant’s eligibility: The Office shall notify the applicant of the deadline to submit such information; The applicant shall submit the information by the deadline established by the Office; and Information received by the Office after the deadline may not be considered. Subject to Regulation .06 of this chapter, an applicant shall be eligible to renew a scholarship for a subsequent year if the applicant: Timely submits an application under Regulation .04 of this chapter; Continues to meet the requirements of Regulation .03 of this chapter; and Continues to maintain satisfactory academic progress standards as defined by the institution. A recipient may receive a scholarship for a maximum of 4 years. An annual scholarship award shall be in the amount prescribed by the Director, which may not exceed the recipient’s education expenses. The minimum scholarship award amount may not be less than $500 per semester and $1,000 for the academic year. Priority of Scholarship Awards. The Office shall: Give priority to awarding scholarships to applicants with the greatest financial need; Award at least 25 percent of its total annual scholarship budget to students at Bowie State University; and Award the remaining amount of its total annual scholarship budget to students at other eligible institutions. An applicant’s financial need shall be based upon the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as reported on the FAFSA or MSFAA. An applicant’s ranking shall be based on greatest financial need starting with the lowest EFC. Priority for scholarships in the subsequent years shall be given to prior year recipients who remain eligible under this chapter. Recipients shall be notified by the Office through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) of the awards. A recipient shall log on to MDCAPS in order to accept an award, except that, in extenuating circumstances as determined by the Director, a student may accept an award by providing written acceptance to the Office. The Office shall make an award payment to the institution for each semester that the eligible recipient is granted the award. The institution shall certify to the Office, and request payment for all recipients, on a semester basis, on or before: December 15, for the fall semester; and May 15, for the spring semester. An institution that fails to certify and request payment for all recipients on a semester basis under §B of this regulation may not certify recipients for the subsequent semester. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-605(e), Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: November 18, 2019 (46:23 Md. R. 1066) Regulation .02B amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 642); April 19, 2021 (48:8 Md. R. 310) Regulation .03B amended effective April 19, 2021 (48:8 Md. R. 310) Regulation .04 amended effective October 18, 2021 (48:21 Md. R. 890) Regulation .04B, E amended effective April 19, 2021 (48:8 Md. R. 310) Regulation .07A amended effective October 18, 2021 (48:21 Md. R. 890) There is a Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program, which is administered by the Office pursuant to Education Article, §18-604, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Program may be referred to as the Senator Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to attend a Maryland institution of higher education for United States armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and their families. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Director” means the Director of the Office. “Educational expenses” means: Tuition and mandatory fees; and Costs of room and board. “Eligible institution” means: A community college in the State; A public senior higher education institution in the State; or A private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State that: Is approved to operate by the Commission under Education Article, §11-202, Annotated Code of Maryland; or May operate without a Certificate of Approval from the Commission under Education Article, §11-202.1(a), Annotated Code of Maryland. Extenuating Circumstances. “Extenuating circumstances” means the occurrence of an extraordinary event or condition that prevents a recipient from fulfilling a scholarship requirement. “Extenuating circumstances” may include, but is not limited to: Disability or serious illness or injury of the student; Pregnancy or adoption of a child; Fulfillment of military service; Extreme financial hardship of the student or the student’s immediate family; or Serious illness or injury or death of an immediate family member. “Family member” means son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse. “Full-time” means enrollment at an eligible institution in at least 12 credits per semester in an undergraduate program. “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Part-time” means enrollment at an eligible institution in at least 6, but fewer than 12, credits per semester in an undergraduate degree program. “Scholarship” means a Senator Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship under this chapter. “Veteran” has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §9-901, Annotated Code of Maryland. A scholarship may be used for educational expenses at any eligible institution. The annual award may not exceed the amount of 50 percent of the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees and room and board of a resident undergraduate at a 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland Global Campus and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate. If a recipient of a scholarship receives federal education benefits for which the recipient qualifies as a result of the individual’s military service, status as a dependent of a member of the armed forces, or status as a veteran of the armed forces, the amount of the federal education benefits received for the purposes of educational expenses shall be credited against the recipient’s educational expenses before the calculation of the scholarship award amount. Subject to the State budget, the Office annually shall determine individuals’ initial eligibility to receive a scholarship. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the applicant is: A resident of Maryland; Accepted for admission or enrolled in an eligible institution in: An undergraduate degree program; or A 2-year lower division certificate program in which the coursework is acceptable for transfer credit toward a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution; and One of the following: A veteran or active duty member of the United States armed forces who served in: Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal military regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal military regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; A member of a reserve component of the United States armed forces or the Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the United States military conflict in: Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal military regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal military regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or The son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse of an individual described in §B(3)(a) or (b) of this regulation.. To be considered for an initial scholarship award, an individual shall submit to the Office, no later than March 1: A complete Senator Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship application form; All applicable documentation of military service and family relationship described in §§B and C of this regulation; and Any other documents requested by the Office. Documentation of Military Service in Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts. An active duty member of the United States armed forces or a family member of an active duty member of the United States armed forces shall submit a copy of the member’s official military orders. A veteran of the United States armed forces, a family member of a veteran of the United States armed forces, a member of a reserve component of the United States armed services or the Maryland National Guard, or a family member of a member of a reserve component of the United States armed services or the Maryland National Guard shall submit a copy of the veteran’s or member’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Documentation of Family Relationship. The son or daughter or an individual described in Regulation .04B(3)(a) or (b) of this chapter shall submit a copy of their birth certificate or proof of adoption. The spouse of an individual described in Regulation .04B(3)(a) or (b) of this chapter shall submit a copy of their marriage certificate. The stepson or stepdaughter of an individual described in Regulation .04B(3)(a) or (b) of this chapter shall submit: A copy of the marriage certificate of their parent and stepparent; and A copy of their birth certificate or proof of adoption. An application form or any required documentation under §§B and C of this regulation that is received after March 1 may not be considered in the determination of award eligibility. Additional Information or Documentation. The Office may request additional information or documentation, or a signed authorization for the release of information or documentation from a third party, before determining eligibility for the award. Any requested information, documentation, or signed authorization submitted after any deadline established by the Office will not be considered in the determination of award eligibility. An initial scholarship award under this chapter may be renewed annually for a maximum of: Four renewal awards, if the student is enrolled full-time; or Eight renewal awards, if the student is enrolled part-time. A student shall be eligible for a renewal award if the student: Continues to meet the requirements in Regulation .04B(1) and (2) of this chapter; and Except as set forth in §C of this regulation, has achieved and maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Waiver of GPA Requirement Based on Extenuating Circumstances. A student who has not achieved or maintained the required cumulative GPA shall be eligible to receive a renewal award if the student provides the Office with documentation of extenuating circumstances and the Office determines that the documentation provides sufficient evidence of the extenuating circumstances. No later than 30 days after receiving notice of ineligibility for a renewal award, a student requesting a waiver of the GPA requirement shall submit to the Office: A letter explaining the extenuating circumstances and why they prevented the student from achieving the required GPA; Any documentation of the occurrence of the extenuating circumstances; Any other relevant supporting information; and Any other documents requested by the Office. Waiver determinations made by the Office are final and not subject to additional review or appeal.. If the number of eligible applicants for awards exceeds the amount of funds available, eligible applicants will be selected pursuant to §§B—D of this regulation. Renewal Awards. Priority shall be given to applicants who are renewing an award under Regulation .06 of this chapter. Veterans, Active Duty Military, and Reserve and National Guard Members. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §B of this regulation, priority shall be given to initial applicants who are eligible for a scholarship under Regulation .04B(3)(a) or (b) of this chapter. If the number of applicants under this section exceeds the amount of funds available, applicants shall be ranked by application completion date. Family Members. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §§B and C of this regulation, awards shall be made to initial applicants who are eligible for a scholarship under Regulation .04B(3)(c) of this chapter. If the number of applicants under this section exceeds the amount of funds available, applicants shall be ranked by application completion date. An eligible applicant who does not receive an award shall be notified and placed on a waiting list. Notification and Acceptance of Award. Applicants who are selected for a scholarship shall be notified of an award offer in writing, which may include electronic mail. A recipient of an award offer who wishes to accept the award shall provide written notification to the Office, in the form prescribed by the Office, by the deadline established by the Office Annual awards shall be disbursed in two installments, one per semester. Before disbursing an award, the Office may require an institution to certify, in the form and manner requested by the Office, that a recipient has met certain eligibility requirements for the award. In addition to any certification required under §B of this regulation, before disbursement of a renewal award, an institution shall certify, in the form and manner requested by the Office, that a recipient maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. An award will not be disbursed by the Office until all required certification is received. An institution shall provide certification to the Office and request payment for all recipients on a semester basis, no later than: December 15, for the fall semester; and May 15, for the spring semester. An institution that fails to timely certify and request payment for all recipients under §D of this regulation may not certify recipients for the subsequent semester until all prior semester awards have been certified and disbursed. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-604, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 21, 2023 (50:16 Md. R. 727) The purpose of the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program is to provide student financial assistance to certain individuals due to their eligible military or public safety service or due to their eligible family or marital relationship to such an individual. The purpose of the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program is to provide student financial assistance to eligible children and surviving spouses of school employees who, as a victim in an act of violence occurring in the line of duty, either died or sustained an injury that rendered the school employee 100 percent disabled. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated. “Child” means a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter. “Conroy-Cryor scholarship” means the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program and the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program administered under this chapter. “Disabled public safety employee” means a State or local public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that: Precludes the individual from continuing to serve or be employed as a State or local public safety employee; and In the case of a volunteer member of a fire department, ambulance, or rescue squad or company, precludes the member from continuing to be employed in the nonpublic safety occupation in which the member was engaged at the time of injury. “OSFA” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “School employee” includes an employee of a public or nonpublic school in the State. “Service connected” means with respect to disability or death, that such disability was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability incurred or aggravated, in the line of duty in the active military. “State or local public safety employee” means a person who is a: Career or volunteer member of a fire department, ambulance, or rescue squad or company; Law enforcement officer; Correctional officer; or Member of the Maryland National Guard who was a resident of this State at the time of death. “Surviving spouse” means a person who has not remarried. “Victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks” means a Maryland resident who was killed as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the attack on the Pentagon in Virginia, or the crash of United Airlines flight #93 in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. To be eligible for a Conroy-Cryor scholarship, an individual shall: Be a resident of Maryland at the time of the application or have been a resident of Maryland when an event described in §C of this regulation occurred; Be accepted for admission or enrolled in: The regular undergraduate, graduate, or professional program at a Maryland postsecondary institution; A 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program in an eligible institution; or A private career school; and Qualify under at least one of the following conditions: Be at least 16 years old and the child of a member of the armed forces who: Died as a result of military service after December 7, 1941; Suffered a service connected 100 percent permanent disability after December 7, 1942; or Was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, if that occurred on or after January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict, and if the child was born prior to or while the parent was a prisoner of war or missing in action; Be a prisoner of war or missing in action, if that occurred on or after January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict, and a resident of this State at the time the person was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; Be either: At least 16 years old and the child of any State or local public safety employee killed in the line of duty; or The surviving spouse of any State or local public safety employee killed in the line of duty; Be either: A disabled public safety employee; At least 16 years old and the child of a disabled public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100 percent disabled; or The surviving spouse of a disabled public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100 percent disabled; Be a veteran, as defined under State Government Article, §9901, Annotated Code of Maryland, who: Suffers a service connected disability of 25 percent or greater; and Has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans educational benefits; Be the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces who suffered a service connected 100 percent permanent disability; Be at least 16 years old and the child of or the surviving spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; Be at least 16 years old and the child of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence: Died in the line of duty; or Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100 percent disabled; or Be the surviving spouse of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence: Died in the line of duty; or Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100 percent disabled. The annual Conroy-Cryor award may not exceed the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate at a 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate. An annual Conroy-Cryor award may not be less than the lesser of: $3,000; or The equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident of the institution attended by the recipient. Awards to a child or spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks may not exceed the amount specified in §A of this regulation when combined with any other scholarship received by the student based on the student’s status as a child or spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A Conroy-Cryor award may be used for tuition and mandatory fees at any eligible institution. An interested individual may apply for a Conroy-Cryor scholarship by submitting an application to their institution of interest containing: A completed Conroy-Cryor scholarship application form; If the applicant is a son or daughter, a birth certificate showing the names of both parents; If the applicant is a stepson or stepdaughter: A birth certificate showing the names of both parents; and A marriage certificate showing the name of applicant’s parent and spouse; If the applicant is a spouse, a marriage certificate; and Official verification from: If the applicant’s parent or spouse was killed, or suffered a service connected 100 percent permanent disability as a result of military service or is a prisoner of war or missing in action, the United States Veterans Administration; If the applicant is a veteran who suffers a service connected disability of 25 percent or greater, and who has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veteran’s educational benefits, the United States Veterans Administration; If the applicant’s spouse or parent was killed in the line of duty, the applicable State or local public safety personnel office; If the applicant or applicant’s spouse or parent is a disabled public safety employee who sustained an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100 percent disabled the applicable State or local public safety personnel office; If the disability was a result of service while the applicant was a volunteer member of a fire department, ambulance, or rescue squad or company, the nonpublic safety employer and the local public safety personnel office; A physician, in the form of a death certificate identifying the deceased and certifying the date, location and cause of death to have been as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, or the crash of United Airlines Flight #93 on September 11, 2001; or For the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship, a physician, in the form of: A copy of a death certificate identifying the deceased and certifying the date, location, and cause of death to have occurred in the line of duty; or A statement certifying that the parent or spouse of the applicant, as applicable, has a 100 percent disability as a result of an injury sustained in the line of duty. Eligible institutions shall make Conroy-Cryor scholarship forms available to interested individuals at their financial aid offices. Institutions shall promote the Conroy-Cryor program. Institutions shall accept all Conroy-Cryor scholarship applicants and determine the eligibility of applicants. The Conroy-Cryor scholarship application deadline for new applicants is July 15. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. The applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility or the revocation of an award. Applicants who are awarded a Conroy-Cryor scholarship shall be notified of the award in writing by the institution’s financial aid office. A Conroy-Cryor scholarship recipient shall provide the institution’s financial aid office with a written acceptance of the award by the date specified by the institution. No more than 15 Conroy-Cryor scholarships may be awarded annually to Veterans who suffer from a service connected disability of 25 percent or greater. Institutions shall make the initial award disbursement on the eligible student’s behalf. The institution’s financial aid office shall report to OSFA each October and February information as required by OSFA regarding eligible Conroy-Cryor scholarship recipients. Upon receipt and acceptance of the institution’s information, OSFA shall authorize Conroy-Cryor scholarship reimbursements to the institutions. If sufficient funds are not appropriated for that award year to pay institutions for all eligible Conroy-Cryor scholarship recipients, funds from the following years’ appropriations will be used first to satisfy unpaid scholarship balances from the prior year. OSFA shall renew all eligible Conroy-Cryor scholarship recipients who were initially awarded prior to FY 2011 and shall continue to renew them until they complete their program of study or are otherwise no longer eligible for the award. Institutions of higher education shall make Conroy-Cryor scholarship renewal awards to students who received their first award during FY 2011 or later. A Conroy-Cryor scholarship may be renewed on an annual basis for up to 5 years of full-time study or 8 years of part-time study if the recipient: Is enrolled on at least a part-time basis in an eligible Maryland postsecondary institution; and Continues to meet all other eligibility requirements. A Conroy-Cryor scholarship award shall be revoked if: The criteria in Regulation .07 or .08 of this chapter are not met; The recipient makes any changes to name, address, or any other information pertinent to the Conroy-Cryor scholarship and fails to inform the financial aid office at their institution or other office designated by their institution to administer the program; or The recipient otherwise fails to satisfy the eligibility criteria. Each eligible institution shall establish and publicize its appeal process for the Conroy-Cryor scholarship program. An institution’s appeal decision may not be appealed to OSFA in the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-601, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: April 24, 2017 (44:8 Md. R. 406) Regulation .03B amended effective August 7, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 683) The purpose of the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program is to help meet the State’s need for well-trained and highly skilled workers in shortage areas. Students who perform well academically and agree to use their training in eligible programs may qualify for scholarship assistance. A recipient of assistance under this program shall: Be a Maryland resident (if the recipient is a dependent student, the parent claiming the student as dependent shall be a Maryland resident as well); Have achieved: If the applicant has completed 12 or more college credits, a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; or If the applicant has completed less than 12 college credits: A cumulative, unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; or A GED with a passing score of at least 165 per module. Enroll in an eligible major as specified in regulation .08 of this chapter; After completing studies in an eligible program, perform the service obligation as specified for each field in which there is a critical shortage; and Sign a letter of intent to enroll in at least 6 credits per semester at an institution of higher education in Maryland as a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student. Audited courses may not be used to reach the minimum credit hours for full-time or part-time status under §A(5) of this regulation. Grants shall be awarded in accordance with the minimum and maximum award ranges specified in this regulation. In this regulation, “cost of attendance (COA)” means the annual expenses of a full-time resident undergraduate at the 4-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland with the highest annual expense for a full-time resident undergraduate as determined by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, other than the University of Maryland University College and University of Maryland, Baltimore. The minimum and maximum award ranges are: The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall establish the award amount annually when program funding and the number of demand occupations to be incorporated into the program are known. If a student takes courses over a summer session to meet the minimum number of credit hours for full-time or part-time status, the award amount shall be divided equally between the fall, spring, and summer sessions, as appropriate. A student who is enrolled in an academic program that includes mandatory summer sessions as part of the approved curriculum may receive an additional award not to exceed $1,000 per calendar year, if funds are available. A student shall apply for summer funding in writing by April 1 of that academic year. The grant award may be used at any eligible institution for educational expenses as defined by OSFA, including tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board. The Secretary of Higher Education shall appoint an Advisory Council on Workforce Shortage (Advisory Council) to identify and recommend workforce shortage fields to be included in the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program. The Advisory Council shall meet as necessary to make recommendations on occupations to be included in the program. At a minimum, the Advisory Council shall make recommendations every 2 years on occupations to be included in the program. Public Good or Benefit In this section, “public good or benefit” means service to low-income or underserved residents or areas of the State in an occupation in the public sector or service in an organization, institution, association, society, or corporation that is exempt from taxation under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In establishing recommendations, the Advisory Council shall take into consideration whether the occupation provides a public good or benefit to the citizens of Maryland. The Advisory Council’s recommendations shall be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) for approval. The Maryland Department of Labor shall provide data and analysis on demand occupations and supply to be used by the Advisory Council. OSFA shall allocate funds for each specific demand occupation within the program, based on the level of critical need. Renewals shall also be considered when determining allocations. Majors and occupational areas associated with the scholarship and tuition assistance programs listed below are included in the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program: Hattie N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship; Ida G. and Leonard Ruben Scholarship; Ruth M. Kirk Social Work Scholarship; Physical and Occupational Therapists and Assistants Scholarship; Sharon Christa McAuliffe Memorial Teacher Education Award; Nursing Scholarship and Living Expenses Grant; William Donald Schaefer Scholarship; and Parren J. Mitchell Public Service Scholarship. A specified amount of funds shall be allocated each year to each eligible occupational areas based on critical need as determined by the Advisory Council on Workforce Shortage. These funds shall be used to make awards to students majoring in specific programs leading to employment in these occupational areas. As funding permits, the intent of the program is to incrementally address waiting lists for those occupations already incorporated into the grant program while new occupations are being included. In addition, a balanced approach shall be implemented to ensure the programs address demand in all occupations, including those currently in the program as well as new public good and economic development occupations. As the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program expands, the determination of occupation allocations should consider the: Gap analysis resulting from the workforce model; Number of applications; Number of awards made in each eligible occupation; and Number of students on a waiting list. To be considered for the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program, an applicant shall, no later than July 1: Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); Submit a completed application; If the applicant has completed 12 or more college credits, submit an official transcript from the current or more recent institution of postsecondary education the applicant is attending or has attended; If the applicant has earned less than 12 college level credits, submit: An official high school transcript; or A copy of their GED examination; If applying as a nursing major, submit proof of acceptance into a nursing program at the institution; and Submit any additional documentation that may be required by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) based on the applicant’s major. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. An applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed release may result in a determination of ineligibility, revocation of an award, denial of service credit, imposition of repayment obligations, or denial of a deferment or waiver request. Priority for awards shall be given to prior year recipients who remain eligible for the award under Regulation .10 of this chapter. Initial applicants shall be selected for awards based on greatest financial need, as demonstrated on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Advisory Council on Workforce Shortage shall identify eligible majors and occupational fields biennially based on Statewide workforce shortages. Eligible majors are grouped by service areas that correspond with the service areas in Regulation .11 of this chapter. Eligible Majors by Service Area. Service Area A, the Hattie M. Harrison Scholarship. Child development; and Early childhood education. Service Area B, the Ida G. and Leonard Ruben Scholarship. Human services degree programs, including: Aging services; Counseling; Disability services; Mental health; Nursing; Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Psychology; Rehabilitation; Special education; Supported employment; and Vocational rehabilitation; and Any other concentration in the healing arts or in programs providing support services to individuals with special needs, including: Child welfare and juvenile justice; and The alcohol and drug workforce. Service Area C, the Sharon Christa McAuliffe Scholarship. Approved teacher education programs leading to certification in a critical shortage field, including: Chemistry (grades 7—12); Computer science (grades 7—12); Dance; Earth/space science (grades 7—12); English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) (Pre-K—12); Health occupations (grades 7—12); Latin (grades 7—12); Mathematics (grades 7—12); Physical science (grades 7—12); Physics (grades 7—12); Reading specialist; Spanish (grades 7—12); Special education, generic: infant/primary (birth—grade 3); Special education, generic: elementary/middle (grades 1—8); Special education, generic: secondary/adult (grades 6—adult); Special education — hearing impaired; Special education — severely and profoundly disabled; Special education — visually impaired; Speech language pathology (educational service area); and Technology education (grades 7—12). Elementary education is not a critical shortage field. Service Area D. Physical therapy; Physical therapy assistant; Occupational therapy; and Occupational therapy assistant. Service Area E, the William Donald Schaefer Scholarship — Law — Designed to prepare individuals to provide legal services to low-income residents in the State. Service Area F, the Ruth M. Kirk Public Social Work Scholarship — Social Workers. Service Area G, the Parren J. Mitchell Public Service Scholarship — Nursing and Other. Recipients shall be graduates of nursing programs and other majors designed to prepare individuals for careers in public service. Recipients shall be employed in a public or nonprofit sector under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in service areas where there is a shortage of qualified practitioners for low-income or underserved residents or areas of the State. Each semester, eligible institutions shall certify on billing rosters provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance that the recipient is: A Maryland resident; Enrolled for the required number of credits; Enrolled in an eligible academic program; Making satisfactory academic progress towards a degree; and Maintaining the standards of the institution. The award shall be automatically renewed on an annual basis up to a maximum of 5 years if the student continues to meet all of the eligibility requirements and meet the satisfactory academic progress standards of the institution. The award may not be renewed if the original award was canceled because the recipient took an ineligible number of credits per semester or because of the student’s failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress. A recipient who is academically ineligible shall forfeit the award for 1 academic year. The award may be reinstated, if funds are available, for the following academic year upon proof of meeting the standards of the institution. A student transferring from one institution to another may continue to receive an award as long as the student meets all of the eligibility requirements. A renewal student wishing to continue receiving the award for an advanced degree shall contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance in order to determine if they are eligible for the award. A grant recipient in a workforce shortage field that is removed from the grant program may continue to receive renewal awards under the program. Applicants offered an award shall sign and return a promissory note agreeing to begin fulfillment of the service obligation in the area/field for which the award was received within 1 year of completing the degree for which they received assistance. The service obligation begins after completion of the degree program and may not be fulfilled prior to completion. If a recipient holds a Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant with any other State award requiring a service obligation, the obligations shall be served in consecutive years. If a recipient works full-time, the service obligation shall be fulfilled at a rate of 1 year for each year that the award was received, even if the student was enrolled on a part-time basis for some semesters. If a recipient works part-time, the obligation shall be fulfilled at a rate of 2 years for each year the scholarship was received, even if the student was enrolled on a part-time basis. Full-time employment is at least 35 hours per week, and part-time employment is at least 20 hours per week. If a student receives a degree in a major that falls into more than one specified service area, the student may fulfill the service obligation in either area. Eligible Employment by Service Area. Service Area A. The recipient shall be employed in the State of Maryland as a director or senior staff member in a licensed Maryland childcare center or as a licensed family day care provider in Maryland. The recipient may not work as an elementary school teacher to fulfill this obligation. Service Area B. The recipient shall be employed in a Maryland community-based program that is: Licensed by the Developmental Disabilities Administration; Approved by the Mental Hygiene Administration; or Certified by the Office of Health Care Quality; The recipient shall be employed in a residential program that is licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice; The recipient shall be a direct service employee or provide first-line supervision of employees who provide habilitation, rehabilitation, residential, or related community support services to individuals: With developmental disabilities; With mental health disorders; or Who are dependent on alcohol or drugs; The recipient shall be a direct service employee or provide first-line supervision of employees who serve children in: The custody of a local department of social services; or Any residential childcare program licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice; The recipient shall be employed by a State or local government entity in Maryland as a direct care service employee or provide first-line supervision of employees who provide habilitation, rehabilitation, residential, or related community support services to individuals: With developmental disabilities; With mental health disorders; or Who are dependent on alcohol or drugs; or The recipient shall be employed by a State or local government entity in Maryland as a direct care service employee or provide first-line supervision of employees who serve children in the custody of a local residential childcare program. Service Area C. The recipient shall become a certified teacher in Maryland: In the certification area applied for and awarded, and be employed in a Maryland public or private elementary or secondary school as a teacher in that area; or In any teaching field if the individual commits to working in a Title I school or a school designated for improvement. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall forgive a teacher recipient of a Workforce Shortage Student Assistant Grant for their service obligation for up to 2 years if the recipient has failed the teacher certification examination, approved by the Maryland State Board of Education, in 2 consecutive years and the recipient fails to pass the teacher certification examination within the time period specified by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Service Area D. The recipient shall be employed as a therapist or therapy assistant to children with disabilities in a public school in Maryland; The recipient shall be employed as a therapist or therapy assistant to children with disabilities placed in an approved nonpublic education program; or The recipient shall be employed as a therapist or therapy assistant to provide physical or occupational therapy in a State therapeutic hospital determined by the Secretary of Health to have a severe shortage of physical or occupational therapists. Service Area E. The recipient shall be engaged in eligible employment in Maryland in public service to assist in providing legal services to low-income residents in the State. Eligible employment is defined as employment in government at any level, public interest organization, public school, or nonprofit organization under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Service Area F. The recipient shall be employed as a social worker in the public or nonprofit sectors under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in which there is a shortage of qualified practitioners for low-income or underserved residents or areas of the State. Service Area G. The recipient shall be employed as: A nurse in a Maryland licensed hospital, adult day care center, nursing home, public health agency, home health agency, an eligible institution of postsecondary education that awards nursing degrees or diplomas, or another organization authorized by the Secretary of Health; or A nurse in the public or nonprofit sectors under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in which there is a shortage of qualified practitioners to low-income or underserved residents or areas of the State. If a recipient fails to meet the required obligations under the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program, the recipient shall repay the State the portion of the scholarship not forgiven. Interest on the funds advanced shall be charged at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the United States Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on the first day of July of each year. Interest may not accrue prior to notification to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) of a recipient’s graduation or termination from an institution of higher education. Repayment may be prorated if the recipient partially fulfills their obligation. OSFA shall waive the repayment of a grant award at a rate of: 1 year for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation on a full-time basis; or 6 months for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation on a part-time basis. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, repayment shall be made to the State within 6 years after the repayment period begins and shall follow a repayment schedule established by OSFA. Recipients shall seek eligible employment aggressively within a 60-mile radius of their residence. A recipient may request that their service obligation be deferred during the time the recipient is: Enrolled in a full-time (12 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6—11 credits per semester) undergraduate course of study, or a full-time (9 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6—8 credits per semester) graduate course of study at an institution of higher education in a degree-granting program; On a temporary leave of absence approved by the employer in the required employment field for a period not to exceed 12 months; Temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation, for a period not to exceed 3 years; Unable to maintain employment for a period not to exceed 12 months because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; Assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal; Married to a spouse assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 3 years without filing an appeal; or Aggressively seeking and unable to secure employment, as required in §A of this regulation, for a single period not to exceed 12 months. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation, consisting of the following, as appropriate: Certification by the office of the registrar that the recipient has returned to a full-time or part-time course of study at an eligible institution of higher education; Certification by the employer that the recipient is on a temporary approved leave of absence; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to maintain employment because they must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; A notarized statement including a list of possible eligible employers, including their addresses and telephone numbers, to which application has been made if the recipient has been unable to find full-time employment as required; or A copy of military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall review all documentation and determine if the deferment conditions have been met and, if so, determine the deferment period. Before a deferment based on an inability to find employment is granted, OSFA shall review the recipient’s documentation and other available information and determine if the recipient has sought employment aggressively in all required areas of the State. During the period of an approved deferment, a recipient need not make scholarship repayments and interest does not accrue. OSFA shall, on a case-by-case basis, review appeals from individuals assigned military duty outside the State, and from the spouse of an individual assigned military duty outside the State, that exceed the 3-year deferral limit. Appeals shall be in writing and include a copy of the military orders. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) shall waive a recipient's service and repayment obligations if it determines: On the basis of a sworn affidavit of two qualified physicians, that the recipient is physically unable to fulfill any of the possible service obligations on a full-time or part-time basis because of a permanent impairment; or On the basis of a death certificate or other evidence of death that is conclusive under State law that the recipient has died. OSFA shall forgive a recipient of a Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant, Service Area C, for up to 2 years of an award if: The recipient has taken the teacher certification examination, approved by the Maryland State Board of Education, in 2 consecutive years; and The recipient fails to pass the teacher certification examination within the time period specified by OSFA. A student may appeal if the student’s financial circumstances change, after the filing of the student’s application, as a result of one of the following: The student’s parent or spouse dies; The student or the student’s parents divorce or separate; The student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) as defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year; or The student or the student’s parent loses, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or child support. The student’s appeal shall be supported by appropriate documentation sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim including, but not limited to, a copy of a: Death certificate; Divorce decree or separation agreement; Notice of job termination or layoff; Federal tax transcript or W-2; or Termination notice of unemployment benefits. If the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) sustains a student’s appeal, OSFA shall provide the following relief: If the appeal was based on the death of the student’s parent or spouse, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the deceased; If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separation, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the affected parent or spouse; If the appeal was based on the student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) becoming involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year; and If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parent losing, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, TANF, or child support, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204 (c), and 18-708, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 837) Regulation .02 amended effective August 7, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 683) Regulation .06 amended effective August 7, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 683) Regulation .07 amended effective August 7, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 683) The purpose of the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit is to assist students who have incurred a certain amount of undergraduate loan debt, graduate loan debt, or both, by providing a tax credit on their Maryland State income tax pursuant to Tax-General Article, §10-740, Annotated Code of Maryland. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Comptroller” means the Comptroller of Maryland. “Debt burden” means the amount a qualified taxpayer is currently obligated to pay for a student loan debt. Lender. “Lender” means an entity, institution, or government that lends funds to a student, or on behalf of a student, to pay for charges for tuition or fees. “Lender” includes: A bank, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union that is subject to examination and supervision in its capacity as a lender by an agency of the United States or of the state in which its principal place of operation is located; A pension fund that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or a state; An insurance company that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or a state; In any state, a single agency of the state or a single private nonprofit agency designated by the state to lend funds to a student or manage student loan debt; For purposes of purchasing and holding loans made by other lenders, a student loan marketing association or an agency of any state or the federal government functioning as a secondary market; and The United States Department of Education, federal Department of Veterans Affairs, federal Department of Defense, and any other federal agency. “Secretary” means the Maryland Secretary of Higher Education. “Student loan debt” means an individual’s obligation to repay a lender for monies borrowed by the individual to pursue an undergraduate or graduate education at an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. “Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit” means the tax credit authorized under Tax-General Article, §10-740, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Qualified taxpayer” means an individual who has: Incurred at least $20,000 in student loan debt; and At least $5,000 in outstanding student loan debt as of the submission date of an application under Regulation .04 of this chapter. Subject to the provisions of Tax-General Article, §10-740, Annotated Code of Maryland, and the provisions of this chapter, a qualified taxpayer may claim a credit against the State income tax for the taxable year in which the Commission certifies a tax credit under this chapter. The Commission shall certify a tax credit to a qualified taxpayer as provided in this Chapter. A qualified taxpayer that receives a certification of a tax credit from the Commission shall be responsible for timely and appropriately incorporating the Commission’s certification into the taxpayer’s tax filings with the Comptroller’s office. A qualified taxpayer shall attach a copy of the Commission’s certification of the approved credit amount to the taxpayer’s income tax return. The total amount of a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit claimed under a qualified taxpayer’s income tax return and approved by the Comptroller pursuant to §F of this regulation shall be recaptured if the qualified taxpayer does not use an approved credit for the repayment of the qualified taxpayer’s student loan debt within 3 years from the close of the taxable year in which the credit is awarded. The qualified taxpayer who claimed the approved tax credit shall pay the total amount of the credit claimed as taxes payable to the State of Maryland for the taxable year in which the event requiring recapture of the credit occurs. If a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit claimed under a qualified taxpayer’s income tax return and approved by the Comptroller pursuant to §F of this regulation in any taxable year exceeds the total tax otherwise payable by the qualified taxpayer for that taxable year, the qualified taxpayer may claim a refund in the amount of the excess. The Comptroller shall make the final determination on a qualified taxpayer’s eligibility for a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit pursuant to Tax-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. A qualified taxpayer requesting that the Commission certify a tax credit shall apply to the Commission as provided in this regulation. A qualified taxpayer shall submit a signed application, on a form prepared by the Commission in accordance with §C of this regulation, for a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit by September 15 of the tax year in which the taxpayer seeks to apply a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit to the taxpayer’s income tax return. The Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit application shall require a qualified taxpayer to submit, in a form prescribed by the Secretary, information required by the Secretary to determine the taxpayer’s eligibility for certification, including but not limited to: The qualified taxpayer’s full legal name, date of birth, residency address, email address, phone number, and social security number; The name of the institution or institutions attended, date the qualified taxpayer’s degree or degrees were awarded, and dates of attendance attributable to the qualified taxpayer’s student loan debt; A statement attesting that the qualified taxpayer has: Incurred at least $20,000 in student loan debt; and At least $5,000 in outstanding student loan debt at the time the application is submitted; For each student loan debt that contributes to the amount of student loan debt attested to pursuant to §C(3) of this regulation the: Name, address, and phone number of the entity that provided the student loan debt; Account numbers associated with the student loan debt; Full names of all persons legally responsible for repaying the student loan debt; Original amount of the student loan debt disbursed to the qualified taxpayer; and; Total amount of the student loan debt currently outstanding at the time the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit application is submitted; Information that the Secretary deems necessary in order to allow the Commission to determine the qualified taxpayer's debt burden; Information that the Secretary deems necessary in order to allow the Commission to determine the qualified taxpayer's adjusted gross income; A signed statement by the qualified taxpayer under penalty of perjury attesting that the information submitted in the application is true and correct to the knowledge and belief of the qualified taxpayer; A signed statement by the qualified taxpayer authorizing a lender or educational institution to release personal academic or financial information as may be requested by the Commission in processing the qualified taxpayer’s application; and A signed statement of assurance by the qualified taxpayer that the individual shall use any credit approved by the Commission and accepted by the Comptroller for the repayment of the individual’s student loan debt as soon as practicable and not later than 3 years after the taxable year in which the credit is claimed. By December 15 of the year in which a qualified taxpayer has submitted an application under §B of this regulation, the Commission shall certify to the individual the amount of any tax credit approved by the Commission as provided in Regulation .05 of this chapter. Upon the filing of a timely and complete application for the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit by a qualified taxpayer, the Commission shall review the application and certify to the individual the amount of any tax credit approved by the Commission. The Commission’s certification under §A of this regulation shall be issued by December 15 of the year in which the qualified taxpayer submitted an application. The amount of the tax credit approved by the Commission: May not exceed $5,000; and May be $0.00. The Commission shall prioritize tax credit recipients and amounts credited to each recipient in the following order: Qualified taxpayers who are State employees and graduated from institutions of higher education in the State where at least 40 percent of the attendees are eligible to receive federal Pell Grants; Qualified taxpayers who are State employees and are not described under §D(1) of this regulation; Qualified taxpayers who are not State employees and graduated from institutions of higher education in the State where at least 40 percent of the attendees are eligible to receive federal Pell Grants; and All other qualified taxpayers, who may be prioritized based on one or more of the following categories: Those who did not receive a tax credit in the prior year; Those who graduated from an institution of higher education located in the State; Those who were eligible for in-State tuition; and Those who have higher debt-burden-to-income ratios. For any taxable year, the Commission may not certify tax credits in an amount more than the maximum permitted under Tax-General Article, §10-740, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Commission delegates to the Secretary the responsibility and authority to act on its behalf in administering the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit program, including the authority to certify or deny a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit application. Education Article, §11-105(u); Tax-General Article, §10-740; Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 28, 2017 (44:17 Md. R. 837) Regulation .01 amended effective November 19, 2018 (45:23 Md. R. 1071) Regulation .02 amended effective November 19, 2018 (45:23 Md. R. 1071); November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) Regulation .03D amended effective November 19, 2018 (45:23 Md. R. 1071); November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) Regulation .04A, C amended effective November 19, 2018 (45:23 Md. R. 1071) Regulation .04C amended effective November 18, 2019 (46:23 Md. R. 1067); November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) Regulation .05 amended effective November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) Regulation .05F amended effective November 19, 2018 (45:23 Md. R. 1071); November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) The purpose of the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Foster Care Recipients is to provide State assistance in the repayment of educational loans owed by foster care recipients who are employed by the State, or by a county or municipality of the State, and who received a graduate or undergraduate degree from an institution of higher education in the State. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Foster care recipient” means an individual who was placed in an out-of-home placement by a state or unit of a state government’s department of social services for 3 years or more “Higher education loan” means any loan for undergraduate or graduate study that is obtained by a foster care recipient for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses from: An institution of higher education, government, or commercial entity; or An entity that is exempt from taxation under §501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. “MLARP Foster Care” means the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Foster Care Recipients. “OSFA” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education for the State. To be eligible for assistance under MLARP Foster Care, an applicant: Shall have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution of higher education located within the State; Shall be employed at least 20 hours per week by the State, or by a county or municipality of the State; May not be in default on any higher education loan; and Shall be a foster care recipient, as defined under Regulation .02 of this chapter. To be considered for assistance under MLARP Foster Care, an applicant shall provide to OSFA: A completed application, in the form prescribed by OSFA; A copy of the applicant’s State tax return for the most recent available year or, if the applicant did not file a tax return with the State, a copy of the applicant’s most recent federal tax return or Letter 1077 from the IRS confirming nonfiling status; Proof of graduation from an institution of higher education within the State; Verification of being a foster care recipient, as defined under Regulation .02 of this chapter; A statement from an eligible employer confirming the nature of the job, length of employment, and at least part-time employment status; and Documentation of current repayment data on all educational loans. An applicant for assistance in the repayment of a commercial loan shall demonstrate to OSFA that the commercial loan was used for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses for undergraduate or graduate study. Applications shall be received between October 1 and December 15 of each year. An application postmarked later than December 15 will not be considered. Each applicant shall agree to provide any information or documentation requested by OSFA for the purpose of administering this program and, if requested, shall sign an authorization for the release of information to OFSA for the purpose of administering this program. The applicant’s failure or refusal to provide requested information or a signed authorization may result in a determination of ineligibility, the cancellation of an award, and the denial of a request for the deferment or waiver of a service obligation. An award amount shall be determined by the Secretary, acting through OSFA, based upon a recipient’s verified overall reported educational debt at the time of application. Award funds are distributed in annual amounts, for up to 3 years, provided that the recipient remains eligible and continues to submit required annual employment, lender, and tax documentation. An award amount shall be equal to the lesser of 10 percent of the applicant’s total educational loan debt, or $5,000, for each year the individual qualifies. Eligible applicants shall be ranked and awarded in the order of the submission dates of their completed applications. Applicants who are not selected shall be placed on a waitlist pending the availability of funding. Applicants not selected in an award year must reapply for consideration in a subsequent award year, and will be ranked according to the submission dates of their completed applications in the year the award is granted. OSFA may verify information concerning applicants and recipients for the purpose of administering this program. A recipient shall furnish to OSFA written acceptance of the award and a signed promissory note and employment obligation agreement. The promissory note and service obligation agreement shall include: The obligations of the recipient; The total and annual amounts of the award; Penalties for breach of contract; Circumstances under which the obligation may be canceled, suspended, or waived; and Any other terms the Secretary considers necessary. A recipient shall: Verify eligible employment initially, after 6 months, and at the end of each year in the program; Verify the current status of all educational loans each year in the program; Verify, at the time of the initial application only, being a foster care recipient as defined in Regulation .02 of this chapter; Submit a copy of the recipient’s State tax returns for any year during which an award is received, and federal returns if requested; and Notify OSFA of any change in employment status. OSFA shall require annual verification that the recipient is fulfilling the recipient's obligation under the service obligation agreement. Prior to issuing checks for subsequent years of service, OSFA shall receive confirmation from the eligible employer that the recipient, in accordance with the service obligation agreement, remains employed. Recipients of the MLARP Foster Care shall receive an annual loan repayment under the following conditions: OSFA shall verify the recipient’s employment and lender information; OSFA shall issue an annual check co-payable to the recipient and the lender; and The recipient shall endorse the check and forward it to the lender. If a recipient fails to notify OSFA that the recipient receives other loan repayment assistance, the recipient’s MLARP Foster Care award shall be canceled. If a recipient is employed for at least 20 hours per week at an eligible employer, the employment obligation shall be fulfilled at a rate of 1 year for each year that the award was received. Those recipients not completing the required employment obligation shall be responsible for repaying the award in full or in part, proportionally to that part of the year for which eligible employment was not completed. A recipient shall be deemed to be in breach of the promissory note and employment obligation agreement if, among other reasons specified in the note and agreement, the recipient does not maintain eligible employment in fulfillment of the employment obligation. If a recipient fails to carry out the obligations required under this chapter, the recipient shall repay the State the amount of the award provided plus interest. Repayment may be prorated if the recipient partially fulfills the employment obligation, as determined under Regulation .10 of this chapter. If repayment is required, interest on the funds provided to the recipient shall accrue at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the U.S. Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on the first day of July of each year. Interest shall begin accruing as of the date the funds are provided to the student. A recipient may request that repayment required under Regulation .12 of this chapter be deferred: For up to 1 year, if the recipient is unable to maintain employment within the recipient’s current field because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; and For up to 3 years, or longer as provided for under §E of this regulation, if the recipient or the recipient’s spouse is assigned to military duty outside of the State. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation. Such documentation shall consist of the following, as applicable: A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to maintain employment within their current field because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; or A copy of military orders. OSFA shall review all documentation and determine if the deferment conditions have been met and, if so, determine the deferment period. OSFA’s determinations regarding whether to grant deferment and the length of deferment are final. During a deferment approved by OSFA, a recipient need not make repayments, and interest does not accrue. OSFA may under extenuating circumstances grant the request of a recipient who is assigned, or whose spouse is assigned, military duty outside of the State, to extend the deferment of repayment beyond 3 years. The recipient’s request shall be in writing and shall include a copy of the military orders. Any employment or payment obligation incurred by a recipient is canceled upon the recipient’s death, upon provision to OSFA of a death certificate, or other evidence of death that is conclusive under State law. OSFA may waive or temporarily suspend a recipient's employment obligation: If, in the determination of the Director of OSFA, compliance by the recipient with the terms and conditions of the employment obligation agreement is impossible or would involve extreme hardship; Due to an extended illness of the recipient verified by a physician; or Due to extenuating family circumstances as determined by the Director of OSFA. OSFA may suspend a recipient’s employment obligation: For up to 3 years, if the recipient or recipient’s spouse is assigned military duty outside of the State; or For up to 6 months, if the recipient is on parental leave. Education Article, §§11-105(u) and 18-3206, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 727) In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Auditor” means an independent certified public accountant. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “EEA Program” means the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards Program under Education Article, §§18-301 — 18-310, Annotated Code of Maryland. “OSFA” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Commission. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education for the State of Maryland. This chapter applies to financial aid awards under the EEA Program. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the independent audit of awards made under the EEA Program. Beginning in fiscal year 2019, each institution of higher education that enrolls students who participate in the EEA Program shall procure annually an independent audit of the institution’s implementation of the EEA Program. The institution shall submit each audit to the Commission in accordance with Regulation .04 of this chapter. The audit required by Regulation .03 of this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and in compliance with generally accepted auditing standards. The audit shall determine whether and to what extent the institution has complied with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the EEA Program during the fiscal year. In determining EEA Program compliance under §B of this regulation, the audit shall assess the following factors as they relate to the EEA Program: Compliance with federal regulations of institutional policies and procedures regarding satisfactory academic progress (SAP), housing, and Title IV financial aid verification requirements; Compliance with State residency requirements; Compliance with the institution’s enrollment and credit completion requirements; Accuracy of award eligibility determination performed by the institution; Adequacy of reporting by the institution to the Office in the Institutional Student Information Record; Estimation of State awards disbursed by the institution; Verification of completed and signed Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) Individual User Agreements; and For institutions that elect to verify GA applicant eligibility under Education Article, §18-303.3, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 13B.08.10.13B, compliance with: The requirements of the VI standard Title IV financial aid verification process; and COMAR 13B.08.10.13B(7)—(18). The audit report shall provide: Detail of discrepancies and the nature of noncompliant student records identified during review; Recommendations provided to the institution to resolve findings; and The total amount of award payments that were made improperly by the institution. The auditor shall issue a management letter to the institution, which shall contain a listing of all material weaknesses in the institution’s system of internal controls. By June 1 of each year, a copy of the audit, the management letter, and the institution’s response to each item in the management letter shall be filed with the Commission. The Commission may request additional information from the auditor or from the institution. Noncompliance with the auditor’s recommendations shall be noted in future management letters and may result in payment remittance required of the institution as determined by the Commission. A written request for an extension of time to file the required reports and the management letter shall be received by the Commission no later than 30 days before the original due date as noted in Regulation .04 of this chapter. A request for a reasonable extension of time may be granted by the Secretary if: Detailed reasons are stated that indicate why the reporting deadline cannot be met; The request indicates the estimated date the audit will be completed and the report filed; and The request is signed by the president of the college. Except as set forth in §B of this regulation, the Commission shall require an institution to return to the Commission any overpayments of EEA Program funds that were not awarded and paid consistent with statute and regulation. For institutions that elect to verify GA applicant eligibility under Education Article, §18-303.3, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 13B.08.10.13B, overpayments of EEA Program funds arising from a verification made under this election shall be paid by the institution that made the verification, regardless of what school the student attends. Except as provided in §D of this regulation, the institution may elect to remit payment to the Commission in one of the following ways: A check payable to the Maryland Higher Education Commission; Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT); or Deduction from the initial payment from the Commission to the institution in the subsequent award year. If the return of funds relates to the Campus Based EEA Program, then the institution shall return the funds to the Commission by check. The Commission may discontinue an institution’s eligibility to participate in the EEA Program if the institution fails to return funds pursuant to §A of this regulation within the time frame specified by the Commission. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-307, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 727) Regulation .04C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) Regulation .06 amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509) There is a Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program, which is administered by the Office pursuant to Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 35, Annotated Code of Maryland. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Cybersecurity program” means a credit-bearing degree or certificate program that: Is approved by the Commission under Education Article, §11-206, Annotated Code of Maryland; and Has been identified by the Secretary as directly relevant to cybersecurity and published on the Commission website. “Director” means the Executive Director of the Office. “Education expenses” mean: Tuition and mandatory fees; Costs of room and board. “Eligible institution” means: A community college in the State; A public senior higher education institution in the State; or A private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State that: Is approved to operate by the Commission under Education Article §11-202, Annotated Code of Maryland; or May operate without a Certificate of Approval from the Commission under §11-202.1 (a), Annotated Code of Maryland. “Extenuating circumstances” mean a documented disability, including pregnancy, or a documented extended illness, that prevents a recipient from fulfilling a scholarship requirement. “Full-time” means: Enrollment at an eligible institution at least 12 credits per semester in a certificate or undergraduate degree program; at the time of certification of the Scholarship; or Classification by an eligible institution as a full-time student in a graduate certificate, graduate degree, or doctoral degree program at the time of certification of the Scholarship. “Local Educational Agency” has the meaning stated in 20 U.S.C. §1401 (19). “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Part-time” means: Enrollment at an eligible institution in at least 6 credits, but fewer than 12 credits, per semester in an undergraduate certificate or degree program at the time of certification of the Scholarship; or Classification by an eligible institution as a part-time student in a graduate certificate or degree program at the time of certification of the Scholarship: “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education. “Scholarship” means a Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship under this chapter. Subject to the State budget, the Office annually shall determine a student’s eligibility to receive a scholarship. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the applicant: Is enrolled full-time or part-time at an eligible institution in a cybersecurity program; Has earned a minimum of 25 percent of the credits required to complete the cybersecurity program; Has maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; Has not received a federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service, regardless of whether the applicant has applied for a federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service; Either: Attends a public eligible institution, and has been determined eligible for in-State tuition by the institution; or Attends a private nonprofit eligible institution, and would qualify for in-State tuition under the provisions of Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland; and Timely files an application and any required supporting documentation with the Office. A student shall apply annually to the Office to be eligible for a scholarship in the form prescribed by the Office. Time of Submission. An application and required documentation received by the Office after July1 is untimely and shall not be considered. An applicant shall submit the following required documentation: Copy of the applicant’s official college or university transcript; Proof from the eligible institution that the applicant is enrolled full-time and is within 3 years from graduation in a cybersecurity program, or is enrolled part-time and is within 6 years from graduation in a cybersecurity program; and Certification from the institution that the applicant has not received or applied for a Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service. Subject to Regulation .06 of this chapter, a scholarship shall be renewed for a subsequent year if the applicant continues to meet the requirements of Regulation .03 of this chapter. A recipient enrolled full-time may receive a scholarship for a maximum of 3 years. A recipient enrolled part-time may receive a scholarship for a maximum of 6 years. An annual scholarship for a full-time student shall be in the amount prescribed by the Director, and shall be appropriately prorated by the Director for the part-time status of the recipient. The amount of an annual scholarship may not exceed the recipient’s education expenses. Renewal Awards. Priority of scholarships shall be given to prior year recipients who remain eligible under Regulation .05 of this chapter. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §A of this regulation, eligible applicants shall be ranked on the basis of cumulative grade point average. Grades for credits earned for an applicant attending a public or private nonprofit institution 3 years prior to graduation shall be used to calculate the cumulative grade point average. Awards shall be made to applicants based on cumulative grade point average ranked highest to lowest. Awards shall be issued until the total funds appropriated for the program have been depleted. Recipients shall be notified through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) of the scholarship awards. A recipient shall accept the award online through MDCAPS by the date specified in the award notice, or the award shall be forfeited. Eligible applicants who do not receive an award shall be notified and placed on a waiting list and considered if funds become available. Verification. The Office shall verify that the applicant: Meets the grade point average requirement; Is: Enrolled full-time and is within 3 years from graduating in a cybersecurity program,or Enrolled part-time and is within 6 years from graduating in a cybersecurity program; and Is not a recipient of a Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service award. Payment. Eligible institutions shall certify on billing rosters provided by the Office that the recipient is: Eligible for in-State tuition; Maintaining a grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; Enrolled full-time or part-time in a cybersecurity program; Maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree; and Maintaining the standards of the institution. Full-Time Employment. For purposes of this regulation, “full-time employment” means employment for at least 35 hours per week. Use of Scholarship. A scholarship shall be used solely for education expenses to attend an eligible institution. As a precondition of receiving a scholarship, a recipient shall provide a promissory note and shall enter into a written agreement with the Commission, in the form and manner prescribed by the Office, requiring the recipient to: Earn credit as a full-time or part-time student; Complete the cybersecurity program for which the recipient received the scholarship; and Perform the service obligation described in §D of this regulation. Service Obligation. For each semester that the recipient receives a scholarship, the recipient shall, for the time period specified in this section: Maintain full-time employment in the State in the cybersecurity field for a: Local educational agency; Public high school; Community college; or A unit of State, county, city or municipal government; or Teach full-time in the State in an education program that is directly relevant to cybersecurity in a: Public high school; or Community college. A full-time student shall perform the service obligation for 6 months for each semester the student received the scholarship. A part-time student shall perform the service obligation for 3 months for each semester the student received the scholarship. Regardless of whether a recipient was enrolled as a full-time student or part-time student, the work obligation for the recipient shall not exceed 3 years for full-time employment. Except as provided in §C of this regulation, if the recipient breaches the terms or conditions of the agreement or note under Regulation .09 of this chapter, including the failure to perform the service obligation, the scholarship shall convert to a student loan payable to the State. Interest on the loan shall be charged at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the United States Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on the first day of July of each year. Interest may not accrue prior to notification to the Office of a recipient’s graduation or termination from an institution of higher education. Repayment may be prorated if the recipient partially fulfills the service obligation. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, repayment shall be made to the State within 6 years after the repayment period begins, and shall follow a repayment schedule established by the Office. Recipients shall seek eligible employment aggressively within the State. A recipient may request that the service obligation be deferred during the time the recipient is: Enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate course of study that would further their career in cybersecurity, at any institution of higher education in the State; On a temporary leave of absence, approved by the employer in the required employment field, for a period not to exceed 12 months; Temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation, for a period not to exceed 3 years; Unable to maintain employment, for a period not to exceed 12 months, because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; Assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 4 years; or Married to a spouse assigned military duty outside of the State, not to exceed 4 years. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation, consisting of the following, as appropriate: Certification by the institution that the recipient has returned to a full-time or part-time course of study at an institution of post-secondary education in the State; Certification by the employer that the recipient is on a temporary approved leave of absence; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to maintain employment because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; or A copy of military orders. The Office shall review all documentation, determine if the deferment conditions have been met and, if so, determine the deferment period. During the period of an approved deferment, a recipient need not make scholarship repayments and interest does not accrue. The Office shall waive a recipient's service and repayment obligations if it determines: On the basis of a sworn affidavit of 2 qualified physicians, that the recipient is permanently unable to fulfill the service obligation, on a full-time or part-time basis, because of a permanent impairment; or On the basis of a death certificate or other evidence of death that is conclusive under State law, that the recipient has died. Decisions of the Office under this chapter regarding award eligibility, recipient selection, and deferment or waiver of the service obligation are final and not subject to additional review. Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), 18-3503, and 18-3506, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: March 25, 2019 (46:6 Md. R. 347) Regulation .02B amended effective November 18, 2019 (46:23 Md. R. 1067); January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .03B amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .04C, D amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .05 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .06 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .07 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .08 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .09C, D amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .10 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .11B amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .11F repealed effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) Regulation .13 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 24) The purpose of the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program is to provide tuition assistance to students enrolling part-time or full-time in a community college who are seeking: An associate’s degree; A lower division certificate; A noncredit vocational certificate or completion of a noncredit vocational program; Completion of a sequence of credit or noncredit courses leading to licensure or certification; or Completion of a Registered Apprenticeship in the State. The purpose of these regulations is to set forth policies and procedures for the administration of the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program under Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Annual adjusted gross income” means the total of the combined adjusted gross income, as reported on the federal or State income tax return for the most recent tax year, of: The applicant, if the applicant is independent; The applicant and the applicant’s parents, if the applicant is a dependent; or The applicant and the applicant’s spouse, if the applicant is married. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “County” means a county of the State or Baltimore City. Extenuating Circumstances. “Extenuating circumstances” mean a documented, extraordinary event or condition that prevents a recipient from fulfilling a Scholarship requirement. “Extenuating circumstances” includes, but is not limited to, the following events or conditions, to the extent that the event or condition prevents the recipient from fulfilling a Scholarship requirement: Disability; Serious illness of the student; Pregnancy or adoption; Extreme financial hardship of the student or student’s immediate family; Fulfillment of military service; or Serious illness or death of an immediate family member. “FAFSA” means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. “Federal verification” means the process prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education to verify that information provided on the FAFSA is accurate. “GPA” means cumulative grade point average. “Institutional Student Information Report” or “ISIR” means an electronic record produced by the Central Processing System of the U.S. Department of Education that provides institutions with processed application and correction information. “MDCAPS” means the Maryland College Aid Processing System maintained by the Commission. “Most recent tax year” means the tax year 2 years prior to the beginning of the State fiscal year in which the award will be made. “Non-loan aid” means any student financial aid scholarships or grants applied to the student’s tuition and fee charges, excluding Title IV federal work-study. “Registered apprenticeship” means an apprenticeship program meeting the standards of and registered with the Maryland Department of Labor. “Satisfactory academic progress” means the academic standards established by the community college to determine whether a student may continue to receive student financial aid. “Tuition” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §18-3601, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Scholarship Program shall be jointly administered by the Commission and each community college in the State. Responsibilities of Commission. The Commission shall: Annually allocate funding for the Scholarship Program to each community college in the State in accordance with Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter; Identify students who are potentially eligible for the Scholarship based on information from the FAFSA or MHEC OneApp and provide a list of potentially eligible students to the community colleges through MDCAPS; Review audit reports to ensure that each community college has verified eligibility and awarded funds as set forth in Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter; Collect payments from community colleges that have made awards in error and transfer the collected funds to the Need-based Student Financial Assistance Fund under Education Article, §18-107, Annotated Code of Maryland; Annually reconcile allocated funds, collect unused funds from community colleges, and transfer the collected funds to the Need-based Student Financial Assistance Fund under Education Article, §18-107, Annotated Code of Maryland; Publicize the Scholarship Program throughout Maryland, including, but not limited to, posting information about the Scholarship on the Commission website and providing information to high school counselors; and Annually report information regarding the Scholarship to the General Assembly as set forth in Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland. Responsibilities of Community Colleges. Each community college in the State shall: Publicize the Scholarship Program in a readily accessible location on the community college’s website; Create, prominently post, and provide to initial and renewal applicants a clear and easily understandable step-by-step application process, including all required forms and documentation; Verify eligibility of initial applicants as set forth in Education Article, §18-3603(b)—(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter; Select and award eligible initial applicants using the priority criteria in Education Article, §18-3604(b), Annotated Code of Maryland; Maintain a wait list of eligible initial applicants that are not offered an award; Verify eligibility of renewal applicants under the criteria in Education Article, §18-3604(c) and award eligible renewal applicants; Timely notify initial and renewal applicants of their award status in writing; Calculate award amounts as set forth in Education Article, §18-3604(a)—(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, and disburse awards to student accounts from the community college’s allocated funds; Work with the Commission to annually reconcile the allocated funds; Return to the Commission any unused funds and any funds for awards that were erroneously awarded; Maintain student records received or created for the Scholarship for a period of at least 5 years after the student’s final award date; Make all financial books, records, and documents pertaining to the Scholarship Program available for inspection by the Commission, or an authorized representative of the Commission, at any time; Annually obtain and submit to the Commission an independent audit of the community college’s administration of the Program in accordance with this chapter; and Provide reports and information to the Commission as set forth in this chapter and at the request of the Commission. To be eligible for the Scholarship, an applicant shall be enrolled in or plan to enroll at the community college serving the county in which the applicant lives or a community college in the State that has an on-campus residential facility for students. Applicants Enrolling in Credit-Bearing Courses or Programs. An applicant enrolling in credit-bearing courses is eligible for a Scholarship if the applicant: Is eligible for in-State tuition, as determined by the community college in accordance with Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland; Has graduated from a high school or successfully completed a GED in the State; Has not previously earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree; Is enrolled in or plans to enroll in a community college in: An associate’s degree program; A lower division certificate program; or A sequence of credit-bearing courses that leads to licensure or certification in a particular occupation; If the applicant graduated from high school in the State less than 5 years before the date of application and is not currently enrolled in a community college in the State, or if the applicant will graduate from a high school in the State prior to enrolling in the community college, earned an unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; If the applicant has already enrolled in a community college in the State, earned a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; If enrolled or enrolling in an associate’s degree program or a lower division certification program, enrolls in at least 6 credits per semester at the community college while receiving the Scholarship; If required by the institution, timely submits an institutional application form and supporting documentation; If eligible to submit a FAFSA, timely submits a FAFSA and any other applications for State or federal non-loan aid for which the applicant may qualify; If ineligible to submit a FAFSA, timely submits the MHEC OneApp; For the most recent tax year, had an annual adjusted gross income of not more than: $100,000 if the applicant is single or resides in a single-parent household; or $150,000 if the applicant is married or resides in a two-parent household; and Has not been awarded other non-loan aid that, in total, covers the applicant’s full cost of attendance at the community college. Applicants Enrolling in Noncredit Courses or Participating in Registered Apprenticeships. An applicant enrolling in noncredit courses or courses required to complete a Registered Apprenticeship in the State is eligible for a Scholarship if the applicant: Is eligible for in-State tuition, as determined by the community college in accordance with Education Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland; If required by the program in which the student plans to enroll, has graduated from a high school or successfully completed a GED in the State; Has not previously earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree; Plans to enroll in a community college in: A noncredit vocational certificate program; A sequence of noncredit courses that leads to licensure or certification in a particular occupation; or Credit or noncredit courses required for the completion of a Registered Apprenticeship in the State. If required by the community college, submits an institutional application form and supporting documentation; If enrolling in a noncredit program for which a federal Pell Grant may be used and is eligible to submit a FAFSA, timely submits a FAFSA; For the most recent tax year, had an annual adjusted gross income of not more than: $100,000 if the applicant is single or resides in a single-parent household; or $150,000 if the applicant is married or resides in a two-parent household; and Has not been awarded other non-loan aid that, in total, covers the applicant’s full cost of attendance at the community college. Subject to the State budget and a community college’s annual allocation for the Scholarship Program, an applicant shall be eligible to renew a Scholarship for a subsequent year if the applicant: If required by the community college, completes any institutional application form and supporting documentation; Timely submits a FAFSA or MHEC OneApp, as applicable, and any other applications for State and federal non-loan aid, if the applicant was required to submit them with their initial application; Continues to meet the income requirements for the Scholarship Program under Education Article, §18-3603, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter; If applicable under Regulation .04 of this chapter, continues to enroll and complete at least 6 credits per semester; If enrolled in credit-bearing courses, maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent for the award period, unless, upon submission of satisfactory evidence, the community college finds that extenuating circumstances, as defined in this chapter, exist; Makes satisfactory progress, as determined by the community college, toward the student’s eligible program of study under Regulation .04 of this chapter; and Continues to be eligible for in-State tuition. A recipient may receive a Scholarship only for the shorter of: A total of 3 years, unless the community college, upon submission of satisfactory evidence, finds that extenuating circumstances, as defined in this chapter, exist that justify an interruption of study and prevent the recipient from continuous enrollment; or The date that the individual is awarded an associate degree. A community college shall verify the eligibility of each applicant for a Scholarship in accordance with Education Article, §§18-3603 and 18-3603.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, and Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter. Income eligibility of applications shall be verified as described in this regulation. Applicants Eligible for Federal Aid. A community college shall verify the income eligibility of an applicant federally selected for verification under the standards set by the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission will identify all Scholarship recipients who are federally selected for verification under the V1 and V5 verification groups and transmit the information to the community colleges on a roster through MDCAPS. The federal verification performed by the community for a student who has filed a federal tax return shall include verification of: Adjusted gross income; Federal income tax paid; Untaxed portions of IRA distributions; Untaxed portions of pensions; IRA deductions and payments; Tax-exempt interest income; Education credits; Number of household members; Number of household members enrolled in an institution of higher education; and Transaction number of the Institutional Student Information Report used. The federal verification performed by the community college for a student who has not filed a federal income tax return, but who has filed a FAFSA, shall include verification of: Income earned from work; Number of household members; and Number of household members enrolled in an institution of higher education. The community colleges shall promptly update recipient records in MDCAPS using information verified under this section. Applicants Ineligible for Federal Aid. A community college shall select and verify the adjusted gross income levels and demonstrated need of a representative sample of applicants who: Are ineligible to receive federal aid; Submitted the MHEC OneApp; and Filed a State or federal tax return for the appropriate year. For an applicant selected by the community college for verification under §D(1) of this regulation, the community college shall verify the following: Adjusted gross income; Income tax paid; Untaxed portions of IRA distributions; IRA deductions and payments; Tax-exempt interest income; Education credits; Number of household members; and Number of household members enrolled in an institution of higher education. At the beginning of each State fiscal year, and no later than August 15, the Commission shall notify each community college of the total dollar amount of funds allocated to the institution for initial and renewal awards. The Commission shall annually allocate the funds appropriated for the Scholarship Program in the State budget based on a community college’s pro rata share of the total number of students who attended community colleges in the State who were eligible for the federal Pell Grant during the State fiscal year 2 years prior to the fiscal year in which the funds are being allocated. Except as set forth in §E of this regulation, on a date established by the Commission, each community college shall be initially disbursed half of the amount of the annual allocation. Except as set forth in §E of this regulation, the amount of total funds remaining after the initial disbursement shall be disbursed as follows. A community college that has awarded at least 66 percent of their initial disbursement by December 31 shall receive the remaining half of the amount calculated under §B of this regulation in a second disbursement on a date established by the Commission. A community college that has awarded 95 percent of their initial disbursement prior to December 31 shall notify the Commission and the Commission may, at its discretion, provide the second disbursement to the community college at an earlier date. If a community college has awarded less than 66 percent of their initial disbursement by December 31, the community college shall consult with the Commission. If the community college determines, after consultation with the Commission, that the community college is unlikely to need the entirety of the remaining 50 percent of the amount calculated under §B of this regulation, the community college may authorize the Commission to retain all or part of the remaining 50 percent of their annual allocation for reallocation to community colleges that have awarded a higher percent of their initial disbursement. The Commission shall calculate the reallocation of the funds retained under §D(3) of this regulation to community colleges based on a community college’s pro rata share of the amount of funds from the initial disbursement awarded to students by each community college by December 31. The Commission shall notify the community colleges of the amount of any reallocated funds they will receive no later than January 21. If all 16 community colleges in the State enter into an agreement with the Commission to receive disbursements from their total allocation via an alternate method set forth in the agreement, the Commission shall substitute the disbursement procedures in §§C and D of this regulation with those in the agreement. The Commission and the community colleges shall annually reconcile the allocated funds in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission. All Scholarship Program funds that were not awarded by a community college by the end of the State fiscal year shall be returned to the Commission by a date established by the Commission. A community college shall annually provide to the Commission by June 1 an independent audit of their administration of the Scholarship Program during the prior State fiscal year. The audit: Shall be conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in compliance with generally accepted auditing standards; Shall determine whether and to what extent the institution has complied with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Scholarship Program; Shall assess: Accuracy of award eligibility determination performed by the institution for both initial and renewal awards; Compliance with federal regulations and guidelines relating to income verification; Adequacy of reporting by the institution to the Commission in the ISIR; and Accuracy of award amount calculations and disbursements to student accounts; and Shall include a management letter from the auditor to the institution containing a list of all material weaknesses in the institution’s system of internal controls and the institution’s response to each item set forth in the management letter. An institution’s independent auditor may include results of multiple State financial assistance program audits in one report. If the Commission finds, through the audit or another method, that the community college made an award to an ineligible student or the award amount was calculated incorrectly, the community college shall remit the amount of that award to the Commission, and may not require repayment of the amount from the student or from any third party on behalf of the student. If a community college does not timely return or remit funds as required by this regulation or fails to comply with an auditor’s recommendations prior to the next audit, the Commission may: Delay a subsequent year’s disbursement until the unreturned or unremitted funds have been paid to the Commission; or Suspend participation by the institution in the Scholarship Program until the funds have been remitted or the institution has come into compliance, as applicable. Each community college shall annually submit the following information to the Commission by the date identified. No later than December 15, a community college shall submit a completed Promise Certification and Repayment Roster form provided by the Commission that identifies all awardees who received awards for the fall semester. No later than June 15, a community college shall submit a completed Promise Certification and Repayment Roster form provided by the Commission that identifies all awardees who received awards for the spring semester. By October 15, a community college shall submit a final, end-of-year report that identifies all awardees who received awards during the prior State fiscal year. Education Article, §§11-105 and 18-204 and Title 18, Subtitle 36, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: March 25, 2019 (46:6 Md. R. 347) Regulation .05A, B amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 977) Regulation .08C amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 977) Regulation .09A amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 977) Regulation .12 amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 977) Regulation .17B amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 977) Regulations .01—.22 repealed under Maryland Community College Promise Scholarships and Regulations .01— .09 adopted under Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program effective November 25, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037) There is a Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship Program, which is administered by the Office pursuant to Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 22, Annotated Code of Maryland. The purpose of the Program is to provide scholarships to students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in the State. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Director” means the Executive Director of the Office. Eligible Institution. “Eligible institution” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §18-2201, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Eligible institution” does not include a private nonprofit institution of higher education that has not timely submitted a Participation Agreement to the Office under this chapter. Extenuating Circumstances. “Extenuating circumstances” means the occurrence of an extraordinary event or condition that prevents a recipient from fulfilling a scholarship requirement. “Extenuating circumstances” may include, but are not limited to: Disability; Serious illness of the student; Pregnancy or adoption; Extreme financial hardship of the students or student’s immediate family; Fulfillment of military service; or Serious illness or death of an immediate family member. “Full-time” means enrollment in: For an undergraduate certificate or degree program, at least 12 credits per semester; or For a graduate certificate or degree program, the number of credits needed for the institution to classify the graduate student as full-time based on the institution’s policy. “Initial participation year” means the academic year following the submission of a Participation Agreement under Regulation .03 of this chapter. “MDCAPS” means the Maryland College Aid Process System maintained by the Office. “Nonresident student” means a student that resides in housing that is privately owned. “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Commission. “Part-time” means enrollment in: For an undergraduate certificate or degree program, at least 1 credit, but fewer than 12 credits; or For a graduate certificate or degree program, the number of credits needed for the institution to classify the graduate student as part-time based on the institution’s policy. “Resident student” means a student who resides in housing that is owned by the institution in which they are enrolled. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education. “Scholarship” means a Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship under this chapter. Teaching Assistant. “Teaching assistant” means an individual who, regardless of job title, is employed at least 10 hours a week by a school or prekindergarten program to provide instructional assistance to a teacher in a classroom setting. “Teaching assistant” does not include a volunteer. Participation Agreements. A private nonprofit institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under Education Article, §18-2201(b)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland, shall annually notify the Commission of its agreement to provide matching grants to students, pursuant to §B of this regulation, by submitting a Participation Agreement to the Office pursuant to this section. The Participation Agreement in §A(1) of this regulation shall be in a form prescribed by the Office, which will be provided annually to all private nonprofit institutions of higher education in the State no later than February 1. Participation Agreements shall be submitted annually to the Office no later than March 1. A student at an institution that did not timely submit a Participation Agreement will not be considered for an initial award by the Office. The names of the institutions that timely submitted a Participation Agreement to the Office each year shall be displayed on the Commission website and the scholarship application form. Matching Grants. During an initial participation year, an institution shall provide a matching grant to: A student who receives an initial award from the Office for that year; and A transfer student who receives a renewal award for that year, if it is the student’s first year attending the institution. If a student received a matching grant during an initial participation year, the institution shall provide a matching grant to the student for each year in which the student: Remains enrolled at the institution; and Receives a renewal award under this chapter. A matching grant under §B(2) of this regulation shall be provided regardless of whether the institution has submitted a Participation Agreement for that year. The amount of a matching grant shall be equal to the amount of the initial or renewal award received by the student from the Office. Repayment. An institution is not prohibited from requiring repayment of a matching grant if the student fails to meet any scholarship requirements set forth in Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 22, Annotated Code of Maryland. An institution shall notify a student of all institutional repayment requirements prior to the student’s acceptance of a scholarship award under this chapter. An institution shall be solely responsible for administration of any repayment obligation. A scholarship shall be used solely for tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board for the fall and spring semester following the award. For a student using the scholarship at a public eligible institution, as defined in Education Article, §18-2201(b)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, the scholarship awarded by the Office shall be in an amount equal to 100 percent of the annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, for the fall and spring semesters at the public eligible institution. For a student using the scholarship at a private nonprofit institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under this chapter, the scholarship awarded by the Office shall be in an amount equal to: For tuition and fees, the lesser of: 100 percent of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, for the fall and spring semesters at the University of Maryland, College Park campus; or 50 percent of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, for the fall and spring semesters at the private nonprofit institution of higher education; and For room and board, 100 percent of the room and board of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, for the fall and spring semesters at the private nonprofit institution of higher education. Subject to the availability of funds, the award amount of a nonresident undergraduate or graduate student at a public or private nonprofit eligible institution may include an allowance for room and board costs, in an amount determined by the Office, but not more than 100 percent of the room and board of a resident undergraduate or graduate student at the institution, as appropriate. Subject to the State budget, the Office annually shall determine students’ initial eligibility to receive a scholarship. Except as set forth in §C of this regulation, an applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the applicant: Does not have a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; Is accepted for admission or currently enrolled at an eligible institution as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; Is a Maryland resident or has graduated from a Maryland high school; Has achieved at least: For a student currently enrolled in high school: A cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent after completion of the first semester of the senior year; An overall GPA in the top 15 percent of the student’s grade after the completion of the first semester of the senior year; A combined reading and math score of at least 1100 on the SAT with a score of at least 500 on each of those portions; or A composite ACT score of at least 25; For a student who has graduated from high school and completed fewer than 12 college credits: An overall unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; A combined reading and math score of at least 1100 on the SAT with a score of at least 500 on each of those portions; or A composite ACT score of at least 25; For a student who has completed at least 12, but fewer than 24, undergraduate credits: A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory progress toward a degree; or A combined reading and math score of at least 1100 on the SAT with a score of at least 500 on each of these portions, provided that the student has a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory progress toward a degree; For a student who has completed 24 or more undergraduate credits and does not have a bachelor’s degree: A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory progress toward a degree; or A score of at least 50 percent on the GRE, provided that the student has a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory progress toward a degree; or For a student who has a bachelor’s degree: An overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale; or A score of at least 50 percent on the GRE, provided that the student has a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory progress toward a degree; Has demonstrated an exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching; and Timely files an application and all supporting documentation required by the Office. An applicant is exempt from §B(3)—(5) of this regulation if, at the time they are scheduled to matriculate at an eligible institution, they will have been employed as a teaching assistant at a public school or public prekindergarten program in the State for at least 2 years. An applicant’s career history or prior course of study at an institution of postsecondary education may not exclude the applicant from eligibility for the scholarship. A determination made by the Office that an applicant is ineligible for an initial award is final and not subject to further review or appeal. To be considered for an initial award, a student shall submit to the Office, by the deadline established by the Office, an application form and all documentation required by this regulation. Untimely submission of any required materials shall disqualify an applicant from being awarded a scholarship. Form of Application. Except for applicants who are eligible for the scholarship under Regulation .05C of this chapter, all applicants shall submit: The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship application form; A written essay of at least 600 words detailing exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching; Documentation of GPA and standardized test score, as follows: For an applicant currently in high school: A high school transcript issued after the completion of the first semester of the senior year; and If the transcript indicates a cumulative unweighted GPA of less than 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, an SAT or ACT score report or documentation, in a form prescribed by the Office, of class rank; For an applicant who has graduated from high school and completed fewer than 12 college credits, whether or not currently enrolled: A final high school transcript; and If the transcript indicates an overall unweighted high school GPA of less than 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, an SAT or ACT score report; For an applicant who has completed at least 12, but fewer than 24, undergraduate credits: The most recent college transcript; and If the transcript indicates a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, an SAT or ACT score report; For an applicant who has completed 24 or more undergraduate credits and has not earned a bachelor’s degree, whether or not currently enrolled: The most recent college transcript; and If the transcript indicates a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, a GRE score report; or For an applicant who has a bachelor’s degree, whether or not the applicant has completed graduate credits or earned a graduate degree: A final undergraduate transcript; and If the transcript indicates a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, a GRE score report; and Any other documents required by the Office. An applicant who is not required to submit an SAT, ACT, or GRE score report under §B of this regulation may submit the applicable test score report in addition to the applicant’s required materials. Form of Application — Teaching Assistant Applicants. In lieu of the documents in §B of this regulation, applicants who are eligible for the scholarship under Regulation .05C of this chapter shall submit: The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship application form; An Employment Verification Form available from the Office; and Any other documents required by the Office. The Office may request additional information or documentation from an applicant before determining eligibility for the award. Any requested information or documentation submitted after any deadline established by the Office will not be considered. Except as set forth in §C of this regulation, an initial scholarship award under this chapter may be renewed annually for a maximum of three renewal awards. A student’s scholarship shall be eligible for renewal if the student: Continues to be a resident of the State or graduated from a high school in the State; Continues to be a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student at an eligible institution pursuing a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; Except as set forth in §D of this regulation, has maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, as demonstrated by the student’s most recent undergraduate or graduate transcript; Is determined by their institution to be maintaining satisfactory progress towards a degree; and Maintains the disciplinary standards of the institution. Renewal of Award for Fifth Year. If a student is enrolled in a course of study or program that, as determined by the institution, requires 5 years to complete, an initial scholarship award may be renewed annually for a maximum of four renewal awards. The student shall request renewal of the award for a fifth year by submitting to the Office: Documentation from the institution that the course of study or program in which the student is enrolled requires 5 years to complete; and Any other documents requested by the Office. Determinations made by the Office under this section are final and not subject to further review or appeal. Waiver of GPA Requirement Based on Extenuating Circumstances. A student who has not achieved the required GPA shall be eligible to receive a renewal award if the student provides the Office with documentation of extenuating circumstances and the Office determines that the documentation provides sufficient evidence of the extenuating circumstances. The student shall request a waiver by submitting to the Office: A letter explaining the extenuating circumstances and why they prevented the student from achieving the required GPA; Any documentation of the occurrence of the extenuating circumstances; Any other relevant supporting documentation; and Any other documents requested by the Office. Waiver determinations made by the Office are final and not subject to further review or appeal. If the number of applicants for awards exceeds the amount of funds available, eligible applicants will be selected pursuant to §§B—E of this regulation. Renewal Awards. Priority shall be given to applicants who are renewing an award under Regulation .07 of this chapter. High School and Undergraduate Students. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §B of this regulation, priority shall be given to initial applicants who have not yet earned an undergraduate degree. If the number of applicants under this section exceeds the amount of funds available, applicants shall be ranked in descending order by GPA or the GPA equivalent, as established by the Office, of the applicant’s SAT, ACT, or GRE score, whichever is higher. Teaching Assistants. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §§B and C of this regulation, priority shall be given to initial applicants who have applied as teaching assistants under Regulation .06D of this chapter. If the number of applicants under this section exceeds the amount of funds available, applicants shall be ranked according to application submission date. Graduate Students. If funds remain after awards are made to students under §§B—D of this regulation, awards shall be made to applicants who have already earned an undergraduate degree. If the number of applicants under this section exceeds the amount of funds available, applicants will be ranked in descending order by GPA or the GPA equivalent, as established by the Office, of the applicant’s GRE score, whichever is higher. An eligible applicant who does not receive an award shall be notified and placed on a waiting list. A recipient shall be notified by the Office of an award offer in writing, which may include electronic mail. The recipient shall have 6 weeks from the date notification was sent by the Office to accept the award. A recipient who does not accept the award in that time period will not receive an award. A recipient shall log into MDCAPS in order to accept an award offer unless permitted by the Director to provide an alternative form of written acceptance. Additional Requirements for Receipt of Award. To receive the award, a recipient shall, by the deadline established by the Office: Execute the written agreement with the Commission described in Regulation .11B of this chapter; and Sign the promissory note described in Regulation .11B of this chapter. A recipient who does not timely complete the requirements of this section will not receive an award. Annual awards shall be disbursed in two installments, one per semester. Certification of Initial Awards. Before an initial award is disbursed, eligible institutions shall certify, on billing rosters provided by the Office, that a recipient is: If applicable, a Maryland resident; and Enrolled as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student, as applicable, pursuing a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate. Certification of Renewal Awards. Before a renewal award is disbursed, eligible institutions shall certify, on billing rosters provided by the Office, that a recipient: If applicable, continues to be a Maryland resident; Continues to be enrolled as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student, as applicable, pursuing a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; Has maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale; Is maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree; and Is maintaining the disciplinary standards of the institution. An institution shall provide certification to the Office and request payment for all recipients on a semester basis no later than: December 15, for the fall semester; and May 15, for the spring semester. An institution that fails to timely certify and request payment for all recipients under §D of this regulation may not certify recipients for the subsequent semester until all prior semester awards have been certified and disbursed. Recipient Obligations. A scholarship recipient shall: Maintain all scholarship eligibility requirements set forth in Education Article, Title 18, Subtitle 22, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter; Satisfy the degree requirements of the course of study or program for which the scholarship was received; After completion of the course of study or program for which the scholarship was received, perform a service obligation that meets the requirements of Regulation .12 of this chapter; Become professionally certified to teach in the State of Maryland no later than 2 years after completion of the course of study or program for which the scholarship was received; and Satisfy any other criteria established by the Commission. Required Documents. A recipient shall: Enter into a written agreement with the Commission, in the form and manner prescribed by the Office, to meet the scholarship conditions in §A of this regulation; and Sign a promissory note, in the form prescribed by the Office, to repay the award if the recipient does not perform the obligations set forth in the written agreement. Conversion of Scholarship to Loan. Except as provided in Regulation .12 of this chapter, if a recipient breaches the agreement or promissory note in §B of this regulation, the scholarship shall be converted to a student loan, payable to the State. Except as set forth in §C(3) of this regulation, the amount of the loan shall be equivalent to the total of the awards received by the recipient from the State. The loan amount may be prorated based on partial fulfillment of the service obligation. Interest on the loan shall be charged at an interest rate equal to the interest rate established by the United States Department of Education for the Federal Stafford Loan on July 1st each year. Interest will not accrue prior to a recipient’s graduation or termination from an eligible institution. The Office shall establish a repayment schedule for the loan. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, repayment shall be made to the State within 6 years after the repayment period begins. Loan Forgiveness. The Office shall partially forgive a recipient's repayment obligation, in an amount equal to 2 years’ awards, if it determines that: The recipient has: Taken the teacher certification examination approved by the State Board of Education, in 2 consecutive years; and Failed to pass the teacher certification examination within 2 years after completion of the course of study or program for which the scholarship was received; or The recipient has provided to the Office satisfactory evidence of extenuating circumstances that prevented the recipient from becoming professionally certified to teach in the State. Decisions of the Office regarding loan forgiveness are final and not subject to further review or appeal. Allowable Employment. Generally. Except as set forth in §B(2) of this regulation, the service obligation requirement in Regulation .11A of this chapter shall be fulfilled by employment of at least 35 hours a week as a teacher at: A public school in the State that has at least 50 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced price meals; or A public prekindergarten program in the State that has at least 50 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced price meals. Employment Unavailable. If, after aggressively seeking employment for a position that meets the requirements set forth in §A(1) of this regulation, a recipient is unable to perform the service requirement in this section because there are no available positions that meet these requirements, the service obligation may take place in any public school or public prekindergarten program in the State. A recipient described in §A(2)(a) of this regulation shall provide to the Office documentation that provides sufficient evidence, as determined by the Office, that there are no available positions that meet the requirements of §A(1) of this regulation. The service obligation requirement may not be fulfilled by: Employment as a teaching assistant; Volunteer service; or A fellowship or internship. Duration. Undergraduate Students. For each year a recipient receives a scholarship for an undergraduate program, the recipient shall perform the service obligation for 1 year. Graduate Students. A recipient who receives a scholarship for a graduate program shall perform the service obligation for at least 2 years. Deferment. A recipient may request that the service obligation be deferred during the time the recipient is: Enrolled full-time or part-time in a graduate certificate or degree program in Education in the State; On a temporary leave of absence of less than 12 months from an allowable employer under this regulation, approved by the employer; Temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation, for a period not to exceed 3 years; Unable to maintain employment because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled, for a period not to exceed 12 months; Assigned military duty outside of the State, for a period not to exceed 3 years unless the Director determines that special circumstances exist that warrant a longer period; or Married to a spouse assigned military duty outside of the State, for a period not to exceed 3 years unless the Director determines that special circumstances exist that warrant a longer period. A recipient’s deferment request shall include satisfactory supporting documentation, consisting of the following, as appropriate: Certification by an institute in the State that the recipient is enrolled in a full-time or part-time graduate certificate or degree program in Education; Certification by the employer that the recipient is on a temporary approved leave of absence; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is temporarily disabled in a manner that substantially impairs the recipient’s ability to perform the service obligation; A sworn affidavit by a qualified physician that the recipient is unable to maintain employment because the recipient must care for a spouse or child who is disabled; or A copy of military orders. The Office shall review all documentation, determine if the deferment conditions have been met, and, if so, determine the deferment period. Decisions of the Office regarding deferment are final and not subject to further review or appeal. Education Article, §§11-105 and 18-204 and Title 18, Subtitle 22, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 739) Regulation .02B amended effective February 2, 2026 (53:2 Md. R. 61) The purpose of the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in workforce development sequences at community colleges in the State or registered apprenticeship programs that partner with community colleges in the State. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Associated costs of attendance” means costs incurred by a student to purchase books or equipment that are necessary for the completion of the workforce development sequence for which the student is receiving a Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship, and any related testing fees for licensure or certification. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “Noncredit certificate” means a document issued by a community college to a student certifying that the student has completed a noncredit sequence of courses. “Office” means the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Commission. “Registered apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program approved by the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning in the Maryland Department of Labor. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education. Workforce Development Sequence. “Workforce development sequence” means: A group of noncredit courses, approved by the Commission, that is offered by a community college and composed of courses related to job preparation, an apprenticeship, licensure, certification, or job skill enhancement; or A registered apprenticeship program. “Workforce development sequence” does not include a sequence of courses leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree. “Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship” or “Scholarship” means an award made to an eligible student under this chapter. There is a Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship, which shall be administered by the Office consistent with this chapter and pursuant to participation agreements with participating community colleges. To participate in the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship, a community college shall enter into a participation agreement with the Office, upon the terms prescribed by the Secretary, which, at a minimum, shall include terms to: Safeguard the confidentiality of personally identifiable information; Ensure the accuracy of student eligibility determinations under this chapter; and Provide for the return by the college to the Office any Scholarships not awarded consistent with this chapter and the participation agreement. A community college shall apply to the Commission for approval of a workforce development sequence on a form prescribed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall approve a workforce development sequence application if: The Secretary determines that completion of the courses in the sequence results in the issuance of a noncredit certificate to the student; and Each course in the sequence: Is eligible to be funded through Pell grants under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act; Is eligible to be funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Is designed to prepare an individual to sit for a licensing exam required by a State regulatory agency for employment in a specific occupational field; Is a required component of a registered apprenticeship; or In the Secretary’s determination: Is approved for State funding through the Request for State Funding of a Continuing Education Course (CC-10) application process; and Has the purpose of job enhancement or job preparation, or leads to licensure or certification for an occupation that requires licensure or certification. To be eligible to receive a Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship, a student shall satisfy the criteria set forth in §§B and C of this regulation. Residency. A student is eligible for a scholarship if the student: Graduated from a Maryland high school; Is a Maryland resident; or Is an active duty member of the U.S. Military who resides in the State or is stationed or domiciled in the State. Enrollment. A student is eligible for a scholarship if the student is: Enrolled in a workforce development sequence at a community college that has entered into a participation agreement with the Office; or Directly enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program that partners with a community college that has entered into a participation agreement with the Office. A Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship may not exceed $2,000 per student annually. A Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship shall be used solely for tuition, mandatory fees, costs to participate in a registered apprenticeship program, and other associated costs of attendance that have not been met through another grant or scholarship by the State or employer. A Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship may be combined with any other grant or scholarship, provided that the total amount of grants or scholarships does not exceed the student’s tuition, mandatory fees, apprenticeship costs, and other associated costs of attendance. At the beginning of each State fiscal year, and no later than August 15, the Office shall notify each participating community college of the total dollar amount of funds allocated to the institution for awards. The Office shall annually allocate the funds appropriated for the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship in the State budget based on a community college’s pro rata share of the total FTE enrollment in workforce development sequences, based on the most recently available Enrollment Report for Equated Credit Continuing Courses (CC3 report). On a date established by the Office, each community college shall be initially disbursed half of the amount of their annual allocation as calculated under §B of this regulation. The amount of total funds remaining after the initial disbursement shall be disbursed as follows: A community college that has awarded at least 66 percent of their initial disbursement by December 31 shall receive the remaining half of the amount calculated under §B of this regulation in a second disbursement on a date established by the Office. A community college that has awarded 95 percent of their initial disbursement prior to December 31 shall notify the Office and the Office may, at its discretion, provide the second disbursement to the community college at an earlier date. If a community college has awarded less than 66 percent of their initial disbursement by December 31, the community college shall consult with the Office. If the community college determines, after consultation with the Office, that the community college is unlikely to need the entirety of the remaining 50 percent of the amount calculated under §B of this regulation, the community college may authorize the Office to retain all or part of the remaining 50 percent of their annual allocation for reallocation to community colleges that have awarded a higher percentage of their disbursement. The Office shall calculate the reallocation of the funds retained under §D (3) of this regulation to community colleges based on a community college’s pro rata share of the amount of funds from the initial disbursement awarded to students by each community college by December 31. The Office shall notify the community colleges of the amount of any reallocated funds they will receive no later than January 21. Selection Criteria. In determining the selection criteria to be applied to award applicants, a community college: Shall ensure that awards are made only to students who are eligible under Regulation .05 of this chapter; May not make an award to any student who already has received the award for two workforce development sequences, regardless of the duration, cost, or successful completion of the sequences; and May determine the prioritization of awards based upon any of the following criteria: The workforce needs of the service area of the institution; The availability to the applicant of other funds; Whether the student has received the award previously; and The order in which applications were submitted by applicants. Compliance with State and Federal Law. A community college shall administer the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship consistent with State and federal law. Nondiscrimination. A community college may not discriminate against applicants, prospective applicants, or awardees based upon sex, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or sexual identity. Reporting to Commission. A community college shall report to the Office annually regarding the selection criteria used by the college under §A of this regulation. Approval of a Workforce Development Sequence terminates when the condition under which the sequence was approved ceases, including by: A determination by the U.S. Department of Education that one or more of the courses in the sequence are no longer eligible to be funded through Pell grants under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act; A determination by the Maryland Department of Labor that the sequence is no longer eligible to be funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; A determination by a licensing board that the licensing exam that is the subject of the sequence no longer is required for employment in a specific occupational field; A determination by the Maryland Department of Labor that the sequence is no longer a required component of a registered apprenticeship; or A determination by the Secretary that: Any course in the sequence is no longer eligible for State funding through the CC-10 application process; or The sequence no longer has the purpose of job enhancement or job preparation, or no longer leads to licensure or certification for occupations that require the licensure or certification. A community college shall notify the Commission immediately if the Workforce Development Sequence discontinues, or if any of the circumstances enumerated in §A of this regulation occurs. If a workforce development sequence is discontinued or terminated, the community college either shall reallocate workforce development sequence funds towards another workforce development sequence, or shall return the unused funds to the Office. All financial books, records, and documents pertaining to the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship program shall be open to inspection, review, and audit at all times by the Commission, the State auditor, or their authorized representatives. A community college shall include the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship program in any independent audit conducted for the college on State financial aid programs. Except as provided in §D of this regulation, each community college that participates in the Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship program shall submit to the Office: By October 15, a report of all initial awards for the academic year that includes for each award the: Name and social security number of each award recipient; Cost of attendance for each sequence of courses; Amount awarded to each recipient; Workforce development sequence in which each recipient is enrolled; Any registered apprenticeship in which the recipient participated; State and county residency of each award recipient; and For any recipients who are not residents of the State, the Maryland high school from which the recipient graduated; By January 15, a report of subsequent awards for the academic year that includes for each award the: Name and social security number of each award recipient; Cost of attendance for each sequence of courses; Amount awarded to each recipient; Workforce development sequence in which each recipient is enrolled; Any registered apprenticeship in which the recipient participated; State and county residency of each award recipient; and For any recipients who are not residents of the State, the Maryland high school from which the recipient graduated; By June 15, a final, end-of-year report that provides a final cumulative list of recipients that includes for each award the: Name, social security number, and date of birth of each award recipient; Cost of attendance for each sequence of courses; Gender, race, and ethnicity of each award recipient; Amount awarded to each recipient; Workforce development sequence in which each recipient is enrolled; Any registered apprenticeship in which the recipient participated; State and county residency of each award recipient; For any recipients who are not residents of the State, the Maryland high school from which the recipient graduated; and The number of current year recipients registering for the following year to continue their sequence of courses; and Any additional information required by the Office pursuant to the participating agreement. Education Article, §§11-105(u) and 18-204(c), and Title 18, Subtitle 33, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: January 14, 2019 (46:1 Md. R. 12) Regulation .01 amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .02B amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .05 amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .06 amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .07 amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847) Regulation .07A, C amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .07D repealed effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .08B amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .08 repealed effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847) Regulation .09A amended effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405) Regulation .11D repealed effective March 21, 2022 (49:6 Md. R. 405