Latest news with #MHEC
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland Higher Education Commission cancels grants, leaving hundreds of students without funding
Hundreds of university students across Maryland lost funds this week after the state's Higher Education Commission (MHEC) canceled grants. The Guaranteed Access Grants, which were awarded to students in the spring, were canceled just days before classes were set to begin, according to a spokesperson for the University System of Maryland. Spokesperson Michael Sandler shared a statement, saying in part, "This is devastating for them and must be addressed quickly. Many of these students were depending on this money to attend college; receiving this news days before the fall semester begins will make that challenging." Andrew Farmer is enrolled at Frostburg State University and was preparing for his freshman year when he learned his grant, totalling $18,000 for the 2025-26 school year, was canceled. His mom, Amy Sawyer, said Tuesday that when they checked his Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) account, the $18,000 had disappeared. There were no emails, phone calls or notifications on the portal about the grant cancellation, she said. On Wednesday, Sawyer told WJZ that she and her son called the MHEC and spoke with a supervisor who said a computer glitch in the MDCAPS system, discovered on August 14, caused the MHEC to falsely award the grants in May. Sawyer was told her son is not eligible and should not have been offered the grant. Sawyer was told by MHEC that once discovered, the glitch was corrected, removing the awarded funding. Farmer planned to attend community college for financial reasons, but that changed in May when he was awarded the $18,000 grant. He is planning to move into his dorm on Thursday morning, knowing there is a chance he will have to move out if the funds are not returned. Sandler said the University System of Maryland's focus is on the affected students. He said the system's campuses are communicating with the students, and leadership is in touch with MHEC and the governor's office. The school system includes Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University and the University of Baltimore. The system also includes the following campuses: "It is our hope that all of these students can receive what was promised to them and focus their attention on their studies," The University System of Maryland said. WJZ has reached out to MHEC and Gov. Wes Moore's office, and is waiting to hear back. Full Statement from University System of Maryland Spokesperson Michael Sandler: "We were stunned to learn that hundreds of students across the University System of Maryland were notified this week that their Guaranteed Access Grants — which were awarded last spring by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) — had been canceled. This is devastating for them and must be addressed quickly. Many of these students were depending on this money to attend college; receiving this news days before the fall semester begins will make that challenging. Our focus is on the affected students. Our campuses are communicating with them, and our leadership is in touch with MHEC and the governor's office. It is our hope that all of these students can receive what was promised to them and focus their attention on their studies."
CBS News
07-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Student loan borrowers in Maryland eligible for up to $5,000 in relief
Marylanders with student loans can get up to $5,000 in relief by applying for the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit for the 2025 tax season. Borrowers can apply for the tax credit through the Maryland Higher Education Commission through September 15. Most taxpayers who apply will get an average of $1,800, according to Director of Communications for the MHEC Kristin Clarkson. To be eligible, you must be a Maryland taxpayer who has incurred at least $20,000 in undergraduate and/or graduate student loan debt and have at least $5,000 in outstanding debt at the time of applying for the tax credit. The program has been around since 2017. A total of $9 million has been allocated by the Maryland General Assembly for the 2025 tax year, down from $17 million last year, according to Clarkson. Last year, about 85 percent of people who applied received some money, Clarkson said. Marylanders completing a program at a 4-year public institution come out with about $22,000 of debt, and at HBCU institutions, it's about $28,000, according to Clarkson. "Any little bit helps whenever you're paying down those student loans, especially with a lot of people coming back into repayment based on things that are happening on the Federal level," said Clarkson. "So, we are just here to make sure that people know about this credit and do what they can to try to benefit from it." You can apply for the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit here. The application takes about 15-30 minutes to complete and closes on September 15, 2025. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will notify applicants who will receive funds by December 2025. If you do receive funds, you will have three years to show you've applied the money to your balance with your lender or be required to pay back the funds.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bacone College ordered to liquidate assets
A U.S. bankruptcy judge ordered Bacone College assets be liquidated to pay outstanding debts. Judge Paul R. Thomas' ruling Tuesday effectively ends the 145-year history of the Native American college. Bacone College Acting President Leslie Hannah said this is a sad ending to the college. 'My understanding is this is the death of Bacone,' Hannah said. 'Ron (Brown, attorney representing the college) told me to not pay any more bills, to not write any more checks. To cease all operations.' Bacone's demise stems from a lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleging the college owed $1,038,500 to MHEC LLC, doing business as Midgley-Huber Energy Concepts. Bacone had attempted to reorganize its debts under bankruptcy laws in order to continue as a higher eduction facility. Thomas' order changed Bacone's status from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. The United States Courts website says Chapter 11 bankruptcy 'generally provides for reorganization.' The website says Chapter 7 'provides for 'liquidation' — the sale of a debtor's nonexempt property and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors.' Liquidation is the process of bringing a business to an end and distributing its assets to claimants. Hannah said he received a phone call Tuesday morning from Ron Brown, a bankruptcy attorney representing Bacone, telling him of the ruling. 'Ron said 'I've got bad news and maybe some good news,' Hannah said. 'The way he said it it was kind of a joke. I've been talking with him about it and I said 'I'm exhausted by all of this.' 'He said 'Well the good news is maybe you can finally get some rest. Pretty much it's over.'' Bacone College, formerly The Indian University, was founded in 1880 to educate Native American students. The history of the college on its website that Muscogee (Creek) Nation donated land to the American Baptist Church and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies to establish Bacone College. Bacone suspended classes for the Spring 2024 semester except for the students that were set to graduate that semester. The last full semester was the fall of 2023. Judge Thomas said in his ruling, 'It is hereby ordered that the motion to convert case to Chapter 7 filed by MHEC is granted, and this case is hereby converted to Chapter 7.' Bacone attempted to sell 70 of its 160 acres in 2024 to satisfy its debt bending from the lawsuit. Hannah said the sale fell through. An auction and a sheriff's sale of the college were scheduled for 2023, but both sales were called off by MHEC.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland agencies launch college internship program for Key Bridge rebuilt project
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is partnering with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to create paid internship opportunities for college students working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction project. The bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, after being struck by the cargo ship DALI, which lost power before the collision. Six construction workers died in the collapse, which disrupted port operations and regional traffic for months. The Key Bridge Rebuild Internship Program will provide hands-on experience for undergraduate and graduate students from four major Maryland universities as the state works to replace the bridge that collapsed one year ago. Who will participate in the program? During the program, both undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Maryland College Park, Morgan State University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Johns Hopkins University will work with professional engineers and project stakeholders on the rebuild project. More than 80 students majoring in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental science, computer science, information systems, business technology, and communications applied for the program, the MHEC said. Ten students have been selected for the inaugural session this summer. Where does the Key Bridge rebuild stand now? The bridge reconstruction project is expected to cost about $2 billion and is expected to take about four years to complete. Pre-construction activities began in January 2025, including inspections of nearby properties, riverbed scanning, and soil sample collection. In February, the MDTA authorized three contracts worth $20 million each for construction management and inspection services. A new cable-stay design revealed in February shows that the new structure will visually resemble the original bridge while implementing structural improvements. The new Key Bridge will be taller to better accommodate ship traffic, with the federal shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide and the base raised by 45 feet to a height of 230 feet. Demolition of remaining bridge pillars is scheduled to begin this spring, with in-water construction expected to start in fall 2025.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chesterfield coming, Simonaire going, a list of our favorite things, more notes
Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection next year, after fiver terms in office. Del. Nicholaus Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) has already filed for the seat. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears) A five-time elected Republican state senator is calling it a career at the end of his current term. Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) announced in an email Tuesday morning that he would not run for reelection in 2026. 'It's time for the next chapter in my life and I cherish the opportunity to spend more time with my growing family,' Simonaire said in a statement. Simonaire, 61, was the first Republican elected to the Senate from District 31. He succeeded Sen. Phil Jimeno, a Democrat who retired after 22 years in the Senate. Simonaire said he plans to finish his current term, which includes two more weeks of the 2025 session. His term ends in 2026. 'Therefore, the final farewells will have to wait awhile,' Simonaire said in his statement. 'Given the political ripple effect on the Senate and other seats in my district, I thought it was the right thing to make my intentions public now.' The ripples have already started: Del. Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) filed on Monday for the Republican primary for the Senate seat in the district. Kipke, 46, was elected to the House of Delegates the same year Simonaire joined the Senate. He filed his candidacy the day before the senator announced his intent to retire. A former Maryland Senate aide pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony theft scheme for diverting $20,000 in senatorial scholarships that she never applied for to pay her own school bills, the Office of State Prosecutor announced. Esther Dikongue was an aide to Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) from fall 2019 through March 2023, during which time she had access to the senator's legislative email account and was assigned to work with the committee that disbursed the scholarships that all senators have to award. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Those scholarships typically go to constituents who attend a college in Maryland, or who are attending a college out of state for a course of study not offered in Maryland. Each senator gets about $50,000 a year to award as they see fit, with awards typically renewed annually by the Maryland Higher Education Commission until the student graduates. Smith's office had a formal application to the committee, which selected recipients. Awards ranged from $500 to $5,000, with the upper amount being awarded 'only under rare circumstances,' according to court documents. Prosecutors said that in July 2022, Dikongue used Smith's email to tell MHEC that she had been awarded a $10,000 scholarship to study at American University in Washington, D.C., even though she never actually applied for the award and was not chosen by the senator or the committee. An MHEC worker questioned the size of the award, but Dikongue insisted that $10,00 was the correct amount and had the money sent to American University, where she was enrolled in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights master's program. In May 2024, after she left the Senate office, Dikongue again used the office email to falsely obtain a second $10,000 scholarship, the prosecutor's office said. Dikongue pleaded guilty Tuesday before Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Stacy McCormack. Sentencing has been set for July 16. 'It is unacceptable to misappropriate funds that are reserved to help Maryland students attend universities,' said Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton Howard III. 'Our office will continue to work to ensure Maryland taxpayer dollars are being used as intended.' The Senate voted Tuesday morning to officially confirm Alverne 'Chet' Chesterfield to the state Board of Education. The 33-13 vote along party lines came after Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-Lower Shore) asked for the Senate to vote separately on 'Nominee No. 14' — Chesterfield — from among those other nominees listed on an Executive Nominations report. Gov. Wes Moore (D) had submitted Chesterfield's name to serve on the board. 'I believe the nominees and board members should be held to a standard greater than sufficient when you factor in the impact of the State Board of Education on our children and their future,' Carozza, who voted against Chesterfield, said in prepared remarks. 'Questions and concerns were raised by well-respected education leaders about the nominee's background and qualifications that prevent me from voting to confirm this nominee to serve on the Maryland State Board of Education.' Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County) said Chesterfield received 37 pages of letters of support. Sydnor, who voted in favor of the appointment, read one of the letters on the Senate floor Tuesday that mentioned the person working with Chesterfield at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for more than 30 years. 'The tireless services he provided at the university and now, while working with other educational related establishments, support his commitment to education and excellence,' Sydnor said. 'I think he'll do a great job on this board.' Chesterfield recently served as a member of the Somerset County Board of Education and worked as a substitute teacher in that school system. A state Department of Education spokesperson said in an email Tuesday afternoon Chesterfield was appointed in December during the interim as a recess appointment and began to attend meetings in January. Chesterfield, whose four-year term runs through 2028, replaced former board member Susan Getty. What did you do to mark Maryland Day? You know, to recognize March 25, 1634, when the first English settlers celebrated their safe arrival in St. Mary's County, four months after leaving England. Yeah, we didn't either. But the folks at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Institute of Politics have more state spirit than we do, apparently, and decided to mark the day by polling Marylanders on what they like best about the state. Almost one in four people, 24%, said their favorite part of the state's 'natural beauty, climate and weather' as their favorite things about the state, with 'geography and geographic diversity' in third place, at 15%. The geography fans echoed the old America in Miniature label for the state, with one noting to pollsters that residents can 'enjoy a diversity of activities and environments, from enjoying the ocean in Ocean City to fishing in the Chesapeake to hunting in central Maryland, and skiing at Wisp.' In second place, at 17%, was 'people and communities,' with respondents citing both the diversity and the friendliness of the people. Crabs and Natty Boh were not — strictly speaking — at the top of the list, but the 14% who cited 'food and culinary experiences' name-checked crabcakes, crabs and Old Bay. Bottom of the list, maybe not surprisingly, were government and politics, at 3%, and economy and job opportunities, at 2%. Institute of Politics Director Mileah Kromer said the polls shows 'there are many things to love about Maryland. Like many other Marylanders, I'm glad to live in a state that offers a little bit of everything, truly embodying America in miniature moniker.' The survey of 803 Maryland adults took place from Feb. 11-15, by phone and internet. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.
