§ 18-304. Amount of award

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEducationEffective: July 1, 2025

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Education (Refs & Annos)
Division III. Higher Education [Titles 10-20] (Refs & Annos)
Title 18. Student Financial Assistance (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 3. Educational Excellence Award Program (Refs & Annos)
Effective: July 1, 2025
MD Code, Education, § 18-304
§ 18-304. Amount of award
Currentness
<Section effective July 1, 2025. See, also, section 18-304 effective until July 1, 2025.>
Definitions
(a) In this section, “academic year” means:
(1) The fall, spring, and summer semesters; and
(2) Any semester shorter in length than the term of a regular semester.
Calculation of award
(b)(1) An institution of higher education shall determine the amount of each Guaranteed Access Award based on the financial need of the applicant.
(2) In determining the amount of financial need, the institution of higher education shall consider regional cost-of-living differences.
(3) In determining the percent of financial need used to calculate an award for a community college student receiving a Guaranteed Access Award, the institution of higher education shall use not less than 60%.
Minimum and maximum awards
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award may be awarded in $100 increments.
(2)(i) 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.
(ii) Beginning in the third academic year of enrollment and for each academic year thereafter:
1. If the student successfully completed at least 30 credits in the prior academic year, the amount of an Educational Assistance Grant made to a student may not be less than $400 or more than $3,000; or
2. If the student successfully completed at least 24 but less than 30 credits in the prior academic year, the award amount shall be equal to the amount the student would have otherwise received multiplied by the ratio of the number of credits successfully completed divided by 30.
(3)(i) All applicants who fulfill the requirements established in § 18-303(a) and (b) of this subtitle shall receive a Guaranteed Access Grant.
(ii) Except as provided in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, 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 financial need as determined by the institution of higher education, 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 Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate.
(iii) Except as provided in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, beginning in the third academic year of enrollment and for each academic year thereafter:
1. If the student successfully completed at least 30 credits in the prior academic year, the award amount shall be equal to 100 percent of the student's financial need as determined by the institution of higher education, 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 Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate; or
2. If the student successfully completed at least 24 but less than 30 credits in the prior academic year, the award amount shall be equal to 100 percent multiplied by the ratio of the number of credits successfully completed divided by 30.
(iv) If a recipient of a Guaranteed Access Grant becomes ineligible because of a change in family income, the recipient shall remain eligible for the full award for the full award term applicable to the recipient under this subtitle if the recipient remains eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant.
Information on the availability of Educational Assistance Awards
(d) Each institution of higher education shall include in the financial aid award notification to a student the availability of the Educational Assistance Award administered by the Office, including:
(1) A description of the Office and the Educational Assistance Award;
(2) Information on Educational Assistance Award timelines; and
(3) A point of contact at the Office for students.
Appropriation
(e) Beginning in fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $112,000,000 for Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards made under this subtitle.

Credits

Added as Education § 18-303 by Acts 1978, c. 22, § 2, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1984, c. 87; Acts 1987, c. 244; Acts 1988, c. 246, § 2, eff. July 1, 1988; Acts 1991, c. 462, § 3. Renumbered as Education § 18-304 by Acts 1996, c. 10, § 16, eff. April 9, 1996. Amended by Acts 1997, c. 114, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, c. 694, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 2002, c. 314, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Acts 2002, c. 315, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Acts 2002, c. 429, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Acts 2006, c. 496, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2007, c. 491, § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2016, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2016, c. 25, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 689, § 3, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 690, § 3, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2019, c. 40, § 7, eff. July 1, 2019; Acts 2022, c. 23, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2023, c. 634, § 2, eff. July 1, 2025.
MD Code, Education, § 18-304, MD EDUC § 18-304
Current through legislation effective through May 9, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document