Higher Education - Academic Forgiveness Policy - Established
HB 214 requires each institution of higher education in Maryland that receives State funds to develop and implement an academic forgiveness policy by August 1, 2026. The policy must allow an applicant, during the admissions process, to have prior unsatisfactory or failing grades from a previous institution of higher education disregarded if those grades were earned seven or more years before the application is submitted and the applicant chooses to use the policy.
The bill defines “academic forgiveness policy” and “admissions process” for purposes of the new section added to the Education Article. It applies to public and other State-funded institutions of higher education, and it takes effect July 1, 2026. In practical terms, the measure is intended to reduce the long-term academic penalty of older poor grades for returning or transfer students seeking readmission or new enrollment.
HB 214 adds a new Section 15-141 to the Education Article, creating a statewide requirement for State-funded institutions of higher education to adopt an admissions-related academic forgiveness policy. It does not automatically erase grades from transcripts, but it requires institutions to disregard qualifying older failing or unsatisfactory grades when evaluating applicants who opt in. The bill affects admissions practices at colleges and universities receiving State funds and may expand access for adult learners, returning students, and others with older academic records that previously limited enrollment opportunities.
The bill appears generally favorable in concept, with the stated purpose of helping former students return to higher education without being permanently hindered by earlier poor academic performance. The preamble frames the measure as a way to remove barriers to academic success after a significant passage of time. No vote totals or committee testimony are provided, so there is no recorded opposition or support in the supplied materials beyond the bill’s affirmative policy rationale.
The main potential point of contention is the balance between access and admissions standards: supporters are likely to view the policy as a second-chance measure for adult and returning students, while critics may question whether institutions should be required to discount prior academic performance in admissions decisions. Another possible issue is implementation, since each State-funded institution must design and administer its own policy by a fixed deadline, which could raise concerns about consistency across campuses and how the seven-year lookback will be applied.