RESOURCES SERVICES
MICUA is a member-driven organization, which exists to advance the interests of independent higher education in Maryland. Consistent with its mission, MICUA administers collaborative efforts, resource sharing, and information exchange to support campus leaders and promote access, affordability, and accountability.
The MICUA Business Affiliate Program provides a mutually beneficial link between Maryland’s business community and the State’s private colleges and universities.
The MICUA Board of Trustees has adopted an action plan to build on existing efforts by Maryland’s independent colleges and universities to increase minority and local business participation in capital construction contracts.
In 2009, MICUA launched the Maryland Student Loan Resources to help students and their families navigate college financing. This free online resource teaches smart borrowing practices.
Harnessing the collective purchasing potential of 15 colleges and universities, consortia programs offer MICUA members the economies normally available to much larger institutions.
The Maryland Department of Commerce created STEMConnect for students at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels to access a comprehensive list of internship, fellowships, and mentorship opportunities available at the military and research facilities in the State.
Veterans' Benefits
MICUA colleges and universities participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
MICUA member institutions provide numerous services and financial support to the nation’s military service personnel, veterans, and family members.
Every MICUA member institution actively participates in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program and matches the Yellow Ribbon grants to pay for college costs, including tuition, fees, books, room and board. The Yellow Ribbon benefit is available to certain veterans and their family members who served in active duty after 911.
Seven MICUA institutions have a full-time veteran counselor and a dedicated point of contact for veterans, military service members, and their families.
Yellow Ribbon Program
Financial Aid Guide for Military and Veterans
Student and Military Voter Empowerment Act Report for 2023
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides substantial veterans' benefits, including college tution and fees. In addition, MICUA colleges and universities participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides supplemental assistance with college expenses.
In addition to the Yellow Ribbon Program, several MICUA institutions offer targeted financial assistance to veterans, military members, and their families, including reduced tuition, scholarships, and other tuition assistance benefits. One MICUA institution provides a $25,000 annual scholarship, the Military Legacy Scholarship, for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their children.
Ten MICUA institutions have signed and adhere to the Veteran Administration’s Principles of Excellence.
Eight MICUA institutions are eligible to receive Military Tuition Assistance from every branch of the military to pay for up to 100% of tuition expenditures for active duty students.
Four MICUA institutions have Student Veterans of America (SVA) Chapters. These student-led organizations provide support services to veterans and manage high-impact programs to empower student veterans to achieve their academic goals. In addition, the SVA Chapters provide peer to peer networks for veterans and advocate for student veterans.
Seven MICUA institutions have a full-time veteran counselor to offer support and assistance to student veterans.
Eight MICUA institutions have a Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) to provide a pathway for a career as an officer in the U.S. military.
Many MICUA institutions offer alternative pathways for veteran members to earn college credits. For example, five institutions offer college credit for military experiences, 9 award college credit based on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and 3 award college credit for the Department of Defense’s DSST exams.
Representatives of MICUA and many of its member institutions serve on the Maryland College Collaboration for Student Veterans Commission.
MICUA Matters
MICUA Matters was first published in Fall 2005. The newsletter is published every Fall, Winter, and Spring, and includes articles from MICUA member institutions.
To receive copies of future MICUA Matters newsletters, please contact Stephanie Thomas, Director of Communications, at sthomas@micua.org. Previous MICUA Matters issues dating back to Spring 2013 are available upon request at sthomas@micua.org.
Spring 2023
Past Publications
Winter 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022
Fall 2021
Spring 2021
Winter 2021
Fall 2020
Spring 2020
Winter 2020
Minority & Local Business Enhancement Initiative
The MICUA Board of Trustees has adopted an action plan to build on existing efforts by Maryland’s independent colleges and universities to increase minority business enterprise (MBE) and local business enterprise (LBE) participation in capital construction contracts. The goal of the MBE/LBE Enhancement Initiative is to develop best practices in MBE and LBE contracting, provide training opportunities on outreach and inclusion, and increase the value of construction contracts awarded by MICUA member institutions to MBE and LBE firms. The MBE/LBE Enhancement Initiative is a top priority of the MICUA Board and is consistent with the mission of Maryland’s independent colleges and universities to contribute to the future economic strength of our nation, state, and local communities.
The Board believes that expanding opportunities for MBE and LBE contractors will contribute to the region’s economic activities by generating local jobs, supporting local spending, and increasing public tax revenues. Furthermore, the emergence of new firms with greater expertise in construction contracting will improve the competitiveness of Maryland’s construction industry.
stay in the know
MICUA MBE/LBE Policy Statement
MBE Vendor Certification Application for Maryland
Directory of Maryland MBE Certified Firms
Maryland Student Loan Resources
In the past decade, the demand for private student loans has grown to over $23 billion annually. In response, MICUA seeks to help students and their families navigate college financing. When students need to seek private loans, they should do so with strong knowledge of the marketplace. Credible provides a transparent process to evaluate private loans, encourages students to engage in smart borrowing practices, and provides existing and new lenders with a way to reach qualified borrowers with targeted products.
Credible resources are available to students free of charge. Comparing offers on Credible does not affect your credit score and is completely free. MICUA receives no compensation for its part in developing and managing the site.
With traditional lenders and finance companies scaling back their operations in the wake of the credit crisis, regional and community banks and credit unions have a unique opportunity to step in and serve a new generation of customers. Private student lending is a valuable way for regional and community banks and credit unions to serve their local communities.
state grants
Grant Opportunities
MHEC Office of Outreach and Grants Management
The Maryland Higher Education Commission administers a number of educational grant programs funded by State general funds, special funds, and federal funds. The Office of Outreach and Grants Management issues requests for applications for grant projects and develops programs to implement the plan for postsecondary education in Maryland. The programs are designed to address the State’s economic and workforce development needs, campus reform initiatives, student preparation for postsecondary education, faculty and student diversity goals, and teacher professional development objectives.
visit the site
Maryland Governor’s Grant Office
The Maryland Governor’s Grants Office helps state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, find, win, and manage grants. You will find lots of information and training materials at this site about grants and the life cycle of grants management. You can search for an available state grant or foundation grant at this site and click on links to take you to sites where federal grants are posted. Please note that generally, grants are not made to individuals, with the exception sometimes for artists, scientists, and researchers.
visit the site
Federal grants
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is the federal government’s online application system. It provides one central portal where organizations and individuals can electronically find and apply for grants throughout the federal government. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by the 26 federal agencies that make grants, including the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
visit the site
Information for FY24 Capital Grant Applicants
FY24 Capital Project Site Visit Presentations
Consortium Activities
Coalition for College Cost Savings
MICUA continues its strong relationship with the Coalition for College Cost Savings. The CCCS consists of 32 member organizations in 30 states that collectively serve more than 894 private colleges and over three million students across the United States. The President of MICUA serves on the CCCS Board of Directors and the Program Development Committee.
The CCCS currently offers 12 programs representing over 100 contracts. To date, all MICUA institutions, with one exception, use one or more of the contracts provided through CCCS. In 2016, MICUA institutions spent $8,745,837 on CCCS contracts.
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CBIZ
MICUA and CBIZ established an informal consortium for the purpose of offering core fiduciary services and certain optional services to MICUA member institutions based on specified terms and fees. The core services provision includes CBIZ Retirement Services signing as a 3(21) Co-Fiduciary, hosting an annual meeting, and providing MICUA participant members with an aggregated investment monitoring report on a quarterly basis. The report includes formal documentation of investments on CBIZ’s watch-list with recommendations and pertinent investment monitoring. Six MICUA members have joined the consortium to date and others may join in the future.
-School Specific 3(21) or 3(38) Fiduciary Reporting
-Participant Education Services
-Operational Compliance Services
-Form 5500/Non-Discrimination Testing
-Conversion Services/Open Architecture
-Retiree Medical Plan Consulting
-Defined Benefit Plan Consulting and Actuarial
Optional services provided to members may include:
MICUA Library Directors Round Table
The MICUA Library Directors Round Table provides a forum where academic library directors can share ideas and concerns and discuss issues and trends that impact the administration and delivery of library services. Founded in 1976, the Round Table encourages and seeks to facilitate cooperative ventures through joint purchasing, reciprocal borrowing, staff training, joint collection development and planning, and other activities. The Round Table seeks to foster collegiality among its members as well as with other State and regional library organizations.
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Guaranteed Access Partnership Program
In 2016, Maryland’s independent colleges and universities and the State of Maryland launched the Guaranteed Access Partnership Program (GAPP), a public‐private partnership to help close the college affordability gap by supporting capable Maryland high school graduates with financial challenges. GAPP provides a matching grant award up to the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students who receive a State Guaranteed Access (GA) grant and attend a participating Maryland independent institution. For the 2022-2023 year, students who receive a GA grant and a matching GAPP grant may recieve a total award up to $40,000 per year, which is renewable for up to three years.
Student Eligibility
Students must demonstrate financial need and meet the income eligibility requirements for the State GA grant, which is at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. Students must also be Maryland residents; have a minimum unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher; and apply to a participating Maryland independent college or university to attend as a full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate student.
Interested students must apply for the State GA grant through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Students should also complete any GAPP financial aid application required by the institution and demonstrate eligibility for institutional need-based assistance.
Grant Details
The specific award amounts for the State GA grant and GAPP matching grant are determined by the student’s financial need and the institution’s cost of attendance. Unless approved by the institution, the combined award may not exceed the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees after adjusting for the Pell Grant.
For the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum annual State GA award is $40,000. So, a student who is eligible for a maximum GA grant of $20,000 and a matching $20,000 GAPP grant would receive $40,000 in the 2022-2023 academic year. Students who receive a GAPP grant may still receive other forms of need-based and merit-based financial aid for which they are eligible.
To Apply
Students should contact the financial aid office at any GAPP participating colleges or universities to which they are applying for admission, for assistance in completing the process. For consideration, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any institutional application for the GAPP matching grant.
FASFA Form
Guaranteed Access Partnership Program
faq about
GAPP
The Guaranteed Access Partnership Program (GAPP) provides a matching grant to eligible Maryland students who receive a Guaranteed Access (GA) grant from the State and who enroll at a participating Maryland independent college or university as an undergraduate student.
Capitol Technology University, Goucher College, Hood College, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Maryland Institute College of Art, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Stevenson University, St. John’s College, Washington Adventist University, and Washington College.
You are eligible for a GAPP award if you receive a State GA grant, complete the financial aid application process as required by the participating institution, and demonstrate eligibility for institutional need-based assistance. To be eligible for a renewal GAPP award, you must maintain ongoing eligibility for the GA grant and need‐based financial aid at the institution. Details about the State GA grant, including income requirements and other eligibility criteria, are available here.
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC) online MDCAPS system. When completing the application for the GA grant, you should indicate that you are applying to at least one of the colleges and universities that participate in GAPP. You must also contact the financial aid office of the GAPP participating college or university to inform the institution of your interest in applying for a matching GAPP award. The institution’s financial aid officer will assist you in completing the process.
The award amounts for the State GA grant and matching GAPP grant are determined by your financial need and your chosen institution’s cost of attendance. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum annual State GA award is $20,000. An eligible student may receive a GAPP grant equal to the State GA grant up to the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees. Therefore, a student who is eligible for a maximum GA grant of $20,000 and a matching $20,000 GAPP grant may receive $40,000 annually to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees. The matching GAPP grant may consist of a combination of institutionally‐funded need‐based grants and merit scholarship assistance and may not exceed the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees unless, authorized by the participating institution.
Yes. You may receive other forms of need‐based and merit‐based financial aid for which you are eligible, including the Federal Pell Grant. However, the matching GAPP award, together with the GA grant, may not exceed the full cost of your institution’s undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, unless permitted by the institution.
Yes. You must maintain full‐time enrollment status to remain eligible for GAPP.
Students who continue to receive the State GA grant, maintain full‐time enrollment status, make academic progress, and continue to demonstrate need will remain eligible and renew the GAPP grant each year for three additional years. However, you must remain at the institution in which you originally enrolled in order to remain eligible for the GAPP matching grant.
All undergraduate majors are eligible for GAPP.
Great! You are already ahead of the game! Please contact the financial aid office at the participating institution(s) where you have applied for admission. A financial aid officer will assist you with the GAPP application process.
Maryland State Government
Maryland General Assembly
Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)
Associations & Organizations
Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC)
MarylandOnline - A Consortium of Maryland Colleges and Universities
University System of Maryland
National Associations
American Council on Education (ACE)
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Association of American Universities (AAU)
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU)
Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
Education Commission of the States (ECS)
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO)
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)
Special Interests