Section 15-138 - Recruitment and outreach efforts for the communities of interest(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Community of interest" means a community in the State identified by a public senior higher education institution that has individuals from historically underrepresented groups, demographics, or geographic areas that the institution has determined are underrepresented in the enrollment of the institution or other institutions of higher education in the State.(3)(i) "Targeted recruitment and outreach efforts" means efforts specifically identified by a public senior higher education institution and a community of interest to increase applications of students from the identified community of interest.(ii) "Targeted recruitment and outreach efforts" includes:1. Establishing partnerships with community-based organizations, local school systems, or specific high schools and the public senior higher education institution;2. Attending college fairs;3. Holding specific recruitment events in the community of interest;4. Establishing a student ambassador program;5. Holding college access workshops in the community of interest, with a focus on the admissions application process at the public senior higher education institution; and6. Providing dedicated support services and staff for the community of interest during the application process.(b) This section does not apply to University of Maryland Global Campus.(c)(1) Each public senior higher education institution shall adopt and annually update a written policy that identifies communities of interest in the State and the institution's targeted recruitment and outreach efforts for the community of interest with the goal of meeting the principle of public higher education stated in § 10-202(7) of this article.(2) Each public senior higher education institution shall complete the targeted recruitment and outreach efforts identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection each year.(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before August 1, 2024, and each August 1 thereafter, each public senior higher education institution shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House on:(i) The communities of interest identified by the institution;(ii) The targeted recruitment and outreach efforts completed in the previous school year in each identified community of interest;(iii) The targeted recruitment and outreach efforts planned for the next school year in each identified community of interest; and(iv) Application and admission data for individuals in each identified community of interest.(2) The report submitted by an institution on or before August 1, 2024, is not required to include the information required in paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 38,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.