Maryland Education Act Has Potential to Rock the College Boat

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
A bill under review in the House of Representatives would allow recent high school graduates, no more than two years post-graduation, the opportunity to attend Maryland community colleges for free. If passed in both the House and Senate, the Maryland Education Act of 2014 is designed to give high school graduates greater access to higher education. Students would have to pursue an Associate’s Degree and apply for federal and state aid but all remaining fees: tuition, lab fees, registrations would be covered under the bill. If enacted, the community colleges would receive funds from the Education Trust Fund, the money being made from the recent gambling establishments put in Maryland set aside for state educational use. Delegate Nathan Haynes, democrat and Baltimore City representative, is the primary supporter of the bill and believes strongly in increased access to higher education for young Americans. (more…)...
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Funds for Community Colleges depend on the “C”

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Samantha Helmold Delegates introduce a bill to get community colleges to start thinking about having to pay for students who don’t receive a “C” grade or better in developmental education courses. This bill required that local community colleges, including Baltimore City Community College, to receive only half of the State funding through their funding formulas for the contact hours of students who do not receive a grade of “C” or better in the developmental education courses. Developmental education courses are defined as a noncredit course that must be completed successfully before or concurrent with a student enrolling in a credit-bearing course. (more…)...
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Maryland Considers Bachelor’s Degrees for Community Colleges

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
A Calvert County Republican delegate has proposed legislation that would allow community colleges in Maryland to offer bachelor’s degrees. The legislation has been unsuccessful in the general assembly and has not moved forward. However, 21 states already have four-year community college degrees or similar baccalaureate degree programs, according to Sean McNew, legal aide to Del. Mark Fisher, the delegate who proposed the bill. Fisher said that the purpose of the bill is “to allow citizens to have easier access to college at a much lower price” than traditional four-year colleges. He mentioned accessibility and affordability as key benefits of the bill. A 21st century reality that would make bachelor’s degrees in community colleges appropriate is the widespread use of technology in education, such as online courses, he said. (more…)...
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Industrial Hemp Study Bill Passes its Third Reading, Moves to Senate

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
       The legalization of an experimental study concerning the growing of industrial hemp in the state of Maryland is becoming a real possibility as HB1472 works its way through the legal system.      The Agriculture Industrial Hemp Study, as it is now called, is sponsored by Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo. The bill passed its third reading on March 28 and is now headed to the Senate for consideration.      On March 26, The House Environmental Matters Committee voted 23-1 in favor of the bill.      According to the bill’s, Fiscal and Policy Note, HB1472 “would establish a pilot program to study the growth and marketing” of hemp plants for industrial purposes on Maryland State agricultural property.      Implementation of this program is estimated to cost $279,100.      The goal of the program is to assess the feasibility of growing hemp in the area as well as the extent to which this industry could be used for commercial purposes.     (more…)...
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Public Comments Ring Out at Frederick Board of Aldermen Meeting

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
Frederick citizens speak out on a number of issues during Board of Alderman meeting Thurs. March 3, 2014 including members of the Fort Detrick Restoration Advisory Board. Taking time during the citizen comments section of the board meeting, The Fort Detrick RAB spoke out and addressed the sorts of situations they were facing, mainly their fight to track and prevent the further spread of ground and water contamination in Frederick. TCE and PCE, which Rudy and Haan cited as the main dangers facing Frederick city and county, are “volatile organic compounds” and through mistreatment and lack of attention, have made their way into the soil and bedrock of Frederick, Md. Due to their nature, they are not dissolved by water and therefore can travel through it and into both the earth and various Frederick water systems. George Rudy, a pending member of the Fort Detrick RAB and Jen Haan city resident attended the meeting on behalf of RAB in order to revive...
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Tensions Flare at Board of Aldermen Meeting

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
Community members involved with the Fort Detrick Restoration Advisory Board, known as the Fort Detrick RAB, discussed their mounting ecological concerns due to what they claim stem from government negligence at a Frederick, Md. Board of Alderman meeting Thursday evening. Two supporters of the Fort Detrick RAB, Jennifer Haan and George Rudy, addressed the Board of Alderman during the meeting to discuss, according to Haan, the “imminent ecological danger that will affect the Frederick community.” “The City government is simply not doing enough to address problems that Fort Detrick wants to help solve,” Rudy, a pending Fort Detrick RAB member and Downtown Frederick resident, said.  “[The government] hasn’t done [it’s] job.” (more…)...
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