October 19th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Allegany College of Maryland invites new and current students to register for courses for the spring 2022 semester. Registration opens Nov. 1. Full-term courses begin on Jan. 12. Students may preview available courses online at www.selfservice.allegany.edu/Student/Courses.   

 

New students are asked to meet with an advising specialist prior to registration. Current ACM students may also meet with an advising specialist or their program advisor regarding questions about their degree or certificate program. In-person and virtual advising appointments are available by calling 301-784-5654. Navigate, a free mobile app to empower current ACM students to explore majors, manage their path to graduation and stay on top of important dates and deadlines, is available for download through the App Store or Google Play.   

 

Student Emergency Funds Available 

Students are encouraged to apply for COVID-related student emergency funds. Beginning Nov. 10, students may request HEERF III funds if they have experienced a personal or family hardship because of the pandemic. An application will be available at www.allegany.edu/financial-aid.   

 

Scholarship Week! Runs Nov. 1 to 5  

The college’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Pathways for Success/TRiO program and Student Life Office will host Scholarship Week! beginning Nov. 1. to raise awareness and support current and prospective students applying for scholarships. The ACM Foundation will release its new scholarships catalogue and accept online scholarship applications for 2022-2023 academic year beginning Nov. 1, 2021. 

• From 4 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, ACM students and Foundation staff will offer a virtual panel on how to apply for scholarships. The Zoom link for the panel is https://zoom.us/j/96178210191.    
• Scholarship essays can be a roadblock for applicants. Specialists from the college’s Reading and Writing Center offer one-on-one help year-round for current and prospective students needing assistance with their scholarship essays. RAWC specialists are available for in-person and virtual appointments with special in-person evening hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2. during Scholarship Week! 
• A video on how to complete ACM's online scholarship application is available at https://youtu.be/frs7YmLlbpQ.  
• Many scholarships require individuals to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students may complete their 2022-23 FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov.  

Make a Graduation Plan  

“Graduating on time saves our students time and money. We ask them to stay with us, take advantage of our support services and resources, and work their graduation plan. They’ll save in tuition, books and fees and be closer to achieving their transfer or career goals,” said ACM President Cynthia Bambara. “Being in debt without a degree can keep individuals in a state of financial instability, prevent job attainment and stifle career advancement – that’s the last thing we want for our students.”  

 

Nationally, 38-39 percent of all student loan borrowers who are defaulting on loan repayment have no college degree. Twenty-four percent of individuals with college debt owe less than $5,000 on their original loans. The college encourages students to become informed student loan borrowers, plan their path to graduation, and reach out for available academic and other supports to stay in school until graduation. ACM’s graduates realize, on average a 22.9 percent return on their investment in their education, according to a recent economic impact report produced by a third-party economic modeling company, EMSI Burning Glass. The average associate degree graduate from ACM will see an increase in earnings of $8,300 each year compared to someone with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Maryland. For every dollar spent on their education, students gain $3.70 in lifetime earnings.  

 

For more information about Allegany College of Maryland’s spring 2022 plans, visit www.allegany.edu, call 301-784-5005, or email info@allegany.edu.