ANNAPOLIS — Governor Wes Moore on July 8 announced that the Maryland Higher Education Commission had launched a new initiative to reduce inequities in college completion. Called Expanding SUCCESS, the initiative intends to provide coaching, financial support, and other community resources to bolster access to higher education and to build a more educated workforce.

"Our administration is committed to supporting all Marylanders, no matter their path and no matter their background," said Gov. Moore. "By moving in partnership with leaders inside and outside of government, we will help ensure that students who choose to pursue a college degree have the tools they need to succeed. Together, we are building a Maryland where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and achieve." 

Developed in partnership with MDRC – an organization founded in 1974 originally called the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation - Expanding SUCCESS will increase the number of students in Maryland who are earning a postsecondary degree or credential at a Maryland community college. Three higher education institutions will take part in the pilot program, including Baltimore City Community College, Prince George’s Community College, and Wor-Wic Community College. Each institution will receive $125,000 in funding.

“The Maryland Higher Education Commission is excited about this opportunity to support Maryland students through evidence-based advising models,” said Maryland Higher Education Commission Secretary Dr. Sanjay Rai. “Having access to regular, targeted advising can help provide the support students need to successfully complete their program of study. As MHEC considers new post-2025 college completion goals for Maryland, advising initiatives like the SUCCESS model will be imperative to meet those goals.”

MDRC’s Scaling Up College Completion Efforts for Student Success (SUCCESS) program comprises student supports that are designed to help improve college completion and economic mobility rates for students of color and students from low-income families. Participating institutions were identified based on student population composition and the commission’s commitment to serving community colleges statewide.

Both the Maryland Higher Education Commission and MDRC will provide support and training to the participating colleges to launch the initiative, including data analytics to track student retention and degree completion. The institutions will also gather and use data to continuously improve the program and support student success. 

“One of the most important public policy challenges of our time is to make the promise of postsecondary education real by supporting students to complete their degrees,” said MDRC President Virginia Knox. “We are thrilled to partner with Maryland to implement a promising student support program to help students achieve their potential.”

Program eligibility requirements will vary by college. For more information, contact: 

• Baltimore City Community College: Donna Thomas, Interim Vice President, Student Affairs,
  dthomas2@bccc.edu
• Prince George’s Community College: Crystal Smith, Dean of Student Success and Advisement,
  smithcm@pgcc.edu
• Wor-Wic Community College: Paul Fields, Director of Advising and Title III,
  pfields@worwic.edu