Chapter 23. Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship

“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 Scholarship” or “Scholarship” means an award made to an eligible student under this chapter.

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.

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:

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.

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 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.

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:

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:

By October 15, a report of all initial awards for the academic year that includes for each award the:

By January 15, a report of subsequent awards for the academic year that includes for each award the:

By June 15, a final, end-of-year report that provides a final cumulative list of recipients that includes for each award the:

Any additional information required by the Office pursuant to the participating agreement.