Maryland state aid to private colleges and universities dates back to the 18th century.

The current Joseph A. Sellinger Program was established in 1972.

Budget

Sellinger Aid to Maryland's independent colleges and universities was reduced by $14.8 million in FY 2004 to $31.5 million, a 32% reduction in total dollars and a 36% reduction on a per-student basis.

In this fiscal year, Sellinger Aid expenditures are below the1990 per-student appropriation level.

Only 3.5% of all state dollars spent on higher education go to independent colleges and universities.

Neighboring States

New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia provide public funds for private education.

Popularity among Marylanders

Two-thirds favor the current system of grants to private institutions

74% believe the governor should make no additional cuts to private institutions

Half believe the governor should work with the General Assembly to restore cuts already made

Impact of further cuts

Maryland's independent colleges and universities already are facing financial stress because of earlier rounds of Sellinger cuts and other factors. As a result, some of them already are taking the following actions:

Laying off staff

Freezing faculty salaries

Reducing salaries of key administrative personnel;

Shifting additional health care costs to employees

Increasing class sizes

Increasing tuition

Reducing institutional financial aid

Deferring maintenance

Selling property

Refinancing debt

Postponing equipment purchases

Delaying capital projects

Additional Sellinger cuts will lead to even more campus cutbacks. At Johns Hopkins, we are committed to maintaining our core academic programs, including student aid. More cuts to Sellinger would force Johns Hopkins to make cuts elsewhere — including to important community-based programs and educational and job training partnerships across the state — in order to preserve those core programs.