Wes Moore is stepping in for Howard University students who lost their spots this summer. The governor announced Thursday that Maryland will offer expedited admissions support and an $800 credit to any incoming student affected by Howard’s mass disenrollment, according to the governor’s official announcement. That gives families a real option just weeks before the fall semester starts.
What Happened at Howard
The crisis started when Howard sent notices to 502 incoming freshmen. Their accounts didn’t reflect required payments or financial aid by a July 10 deadline. Many families said their balances were wrong. Some accounts showed credits instead of debts. Others said financial aid was still processing when the cutoff hit. For the full timeline of how this unfolded, check out our previous coverage of the Howard University unenrolled students situation.
Howard has since admitted timing gaps between when aid posted and when charges finalized likely caught some students unfairly. So far, the university has reinstated more than 200 of the affected students. Hundreds still don’t have a confirmed seat for August.
The fallout spread quickly beyond Howard’s campus. Many displaced students come from the DMV area, so neighboring states saw an opening to help. New York moved first. Maryland followed this week with its own package.
Wes Moore Howard University Students Get New Options
Under Moore’s plan, the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the University System of Maryland will work together. Their goal is to help displaced students find open seats, sort through financial aid, and move through an expedited late admissions review at participating USM campuses. Students who enroll at a USM school will also get the $800 credit. That money is meant to offset the nonrefundable enrollment and housing deposits they already paid to Howard.
Moore called this a matter of urgency. He said these students earned their spots and were building toward their next chapter before the disenrollment upended those plans. USM Chancellor Jay Perman echoed that message, saying the system wants to limit the disruption to these students’ education. Board of Regents Chair Linda R. Gooden added that Maryland’s schools are ready to give displaced students a path forward.
Maryland’s public system includes campuses like the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, along with several other four-year schools that could absorb students with open capacity. The state hasn’t detailed exactly where the $800 credits are coming from. The governor’s office also hasn’t clarified the total expected cost of the program, as The Baltimore Banner’s coverage of the fast-tracked admissions plan notes.
Maryland Joins a Growing List of States
Maryland isn’t the only state moving to catch students who fell through the cracks. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced earlier in the week that eligible New York residents affected by the Howard fallout would receive guaranteed admission to participating SUNY or CUNY campuses. Out-of-state students could still get expedited review under that plan. Several SUNY campuses, including Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, opened spots for displaced students. That offer also came with an $800 credit, mirroring Maryland’s approach.
The University of the District of Columbia stepped up too, adding its own enrollment opportunities for students trying to salvage their fall plans. Multiple states extending a hand gives displaced students something they didn’t have two weeks ago. Now they have real leverage and real options. A student in Maryland or D.C. has a shot at starting the semester on time, without necessarily losing a full year to the chaos. You can follow more HBCWes Moore Howard University studentsU Buzz coverage on Howard University as this story develops.
What Comes Next for Affected Students
Howard’s fall semester begins August 17, so time is tight. Families weighing their choices need to move fast. Anyone impacted by the disenrollment should reach out directly to USM’s admissions office to start the expedited review process. Capacity varies by campus, so timing matters. Students should also keep documentation of what they already paid Howard, since that paperwork will likely be needed to claim the $800 credit once they’re enrolled elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Howard continues reviewing individual cases for students who believe their disenrollment was a mistake. Keyana Scales, Howard’s Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management, has personally addressed reinstated students. She apologized for the disruption and reaffirmed the university’s goal of welcoming every admitted student. Still, hundreds of students remain in limbo. Maryland’s offer gives many of them a backup plan they didn’t expect to need this close to move-in day.
