MD. Education Code Ann. §  18-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Education|Division III - Higher Education|Title 18 - Student Financial Assistance|Subtitle 3 - Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards Program|Section 18-304 - Amount of Award

    (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.    (b)    (1)    Except as provided in § 18–307 of this subtitle, the Office shall determine the amount of each Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award based on the financial need of the applicant.        (2)    In determining the amount of financial need, the Office 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 Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award, the Commission shall use the following percentages:            (i)    For fiscal year 2007, not less than 55%; and            (ii)    For fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, not less than 60%.    (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)    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 Office, 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)    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 Office, 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.