Maryland Education Section 10-101

      (a)      In this division the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Charter" means the Maryland Charter for Higher Education.

      (c)      "Commission" means the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

      (d)      "Governing board" means:

            (1)      The Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland;

            (2)      The Board of Regents of Morgan State University;

            (3)      The Board of Trustees of St. Mary's College of Maryland; and

            (4)      The Board of Trustees of Baltimore City Community College.

      (e)      "Governing body" means:

            (1)      A governing board;

            (2)      A board of trustees of a community college;

            (3)      The governing entity of nonpublic institutions of higher education; or

            (4)      The governing entity of a regional higher education center.

      (f)      "Institution of higher education" means an institution of postsecondary education that generally limits enrollment to graduates of secondary schools, and awards degrees at either the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level.

      (g)      (1)      "Institution of postsecondary education" means a school or other institution that offers an educational program in the State for individuals who are at least 16 years old and who have graduated from or left elementary or secondary school.

            (2)      "Institution of postsecondary education" does not include:

                  (i)      Any adult education, evening high school, or high school equivalence program conducted by a public school system of the State; or

                  (ii)      Any apprenticeship or on-the-job training program subject to approval by the Apprenticeship and Training Council.

      (h)      "Private career school" means a privately owned and privately operated institution of postsecondary education other than an institution of higher education that furnishes or offers to furnish programs, whether or not requiring a payment of tuition or fee, for the purpose of training, retraining, or upgrading individuals for gainful employment as skilled or semiskilled workers or technicians in recognized occupations or in new and emerging occupations.

      (i)      "Program" or "educational program" means an organized course of study that leads to the award of a certificate, diploma, or degree.

      (j)      "Public senior higher education institution" means:

            (1)      The constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland;

            (2)      Morgan State University; and

            (3)      St. Mary's College of Maryland.

      (k)      "Regional higher education center" means a higher education facility in the State that:

            (1)      Is operated by a public institution of higher education in the State or a nonpublic institution of higher education operating under a charter granted by the General Assembly and includes participation by two or more institutions of higher education in the State;

            (2)      Consists of an array of program offerings from institutions of higher education approved to operate in the State by the Commission or by an act of the General Assembly that specifically satisfies the criteria set forth in § 10-212(b) of this title;

            (3)      Offers multiple degree levels; and

            (4)      Is either approved by the Commission to operate in the State or is established by statute.

      (l)      "Secretary" means the Secretary of Higher Education.

      (m)      "State Plan for Higher Education" means the plan for postsecondary education and research required to be developed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission under § 11-105(b) of this article.