By AFRO Staff
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is seeking to bring hundreds of students unenrolled from Howard University to institutions across the State of Maryland.
In a July 30 statement, Moore announced a directive to the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the University System of Maryland to “establish a coordinated process to help affected students identify available programs, navigate financial aid options, and seek expedited late admissions review at participating USM institutions with available capacity.”
The University of Maryland System (USM) is made up of 12 different institutions, including Coppin State University and Bowie State University.
In 2025, USM institutions enrolled 175,702, including more than 39,000 transfer students and 16,145 full-time freshmen who had never attended college before.
Now, Moore is seeking to pick up students involved in what has become a national spotlight on the enrollment process for higher education.
“These students worked hard, earned admission to college, and were preparing to begin the next chapter of their lives,” said Gov. Moore, in the statement. “Historically Black Colleges and Universities are pillars of education, research, and excellence for our entire country, and we support any young person pursuing their future through higher education. Maryland is moving with urgency to give them a clear path forward—with hands-on support, expedited admissions assistance, and financial relief—so they can stay on track toward earning their degree.”
Last week, the Associated Press first reported that more than 500 incoming freshmen at the prestigious HBCU in Washington, D.C., had been unenrolled because they had failed to meet “required enrollment and financial obligations by the previously communicated deadlines,” according to the school.
Since then, more than 200 of those students were readmitted after school officials reviewed each case and met with parents and students, Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick told The AP on July 29.
Still, hundreds of other students might be wondering what other options are available to them, particularly with the beginning of the fall semester mere weeks away.
Moore, supported by higher education officials, are offering the state’s public universities, including its four HBCUs, as some of those options. The governor is even extending an $800 credit to those students who do enroll at a Maryland institution to help offset the nonrefundable enrollment and housing fees that they paid to Howard.
“The University System of Maryland is committed to helping these displaced students,” said University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman in a statement. “Our goal is to help these students continue with their education with as little interruption as possible.”
Individuals impacted by this decision are encouraged to contact Maryland Higher Education Commission through the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OFSA) at osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov.
