Www.usmd.edu



Report to the USM Board of RegentsChancellor William E. KirwanFriday, September 20, 2013Thank you Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to welcome everyone to the first University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents meeting of the new academic year. I especially want to welcome our new student regent— Samim Manizade —to his first “official” board meeting. Of course, I once again thank and congratulate the winners of the Regents Staff Awards. These individuals truly represent the excellence, professionalism, and commitment found throughout the USM. The summer months used to be thought of as a “down time” for higher education, but that is simply not the case anywhere within the USM. Since we last met in June, there has been an incredible amount of activity. So much so, that I can only offer a few highlights. I hope you will take the time to read my written report to get a more complete sense of the many accomplishments of our institutions and our faculty, staff and students over the past three months.I will begin with our “host” institution, the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). Just a few days ago UMCP announced the largest ever in-kind software grant—with a commercial value of more than $750 million—from Siemens’ Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software. The software will help students and researchers develop innovative design capabilities. A few weeks ago, I received some impressive statistics from Dr. Darryll Pines, Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Using the most recent data for engineering degrees conferred to African Americans from all universities in the United States, College Park ranks 12th in bachelor’s degrees, 3rd in master’s degrees, and 1st in doctoral degrees awarded. This represents a wonderful success story in our efforts to overcome the achievement gap, as well as our efforts to advance the number of degrees in the STEM disciplines.University of Maryland, College Park can boast of numerous other rankings as well:In the 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities, UMCP was placed among the world's top universities, ranking 38th overall in the world.The university was also named a Top 25 College for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people by Campus Pride.UMCP ranks 14th among public colleges, according to Forbes' 2013 list of America's Top Colleges. College Park has been ranked 13th by The Sierra Club in its seventh annual ranking of America's greenest universities.And with 15 Fulbright grants, UMCP will appear on the Fulbright organization's “Top Producers” list for the fourth consecutive year.I know President Wallace Loh and the entire UMCP community takes great pride in all this success. Elsewhere across the USM . . . . Frostburg State University (FSU) enjoyed some impressive ranking and recognition news as well. , a consumer group that tracks online education, rated the online nursing BSN program a “Best Buy.” Victory Media, which serves military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Frostburg a Military Friendly School for the third year in a row. And on the environmental front, Frostburg was named to Sierra Magazine's list of "Coolest Schools" for the second year. In addition, FSU President Jonathan Gibralter was recently appointed to the 2013-2014 Steering Committee for the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.There was great news at Salisbury University (SU), where the Baltimore-based Ratcliffe Foundation has committed to as much as $1 million over the next five years to support entrepreneurs from the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business looking to create startups. SU also celebrated winning the Division III Women’s Lacrosse National Championship. Way to go Sea Gulls!At Bowie State University (BSU), the Education Innovation Initiative—or ei2—was named that university’s first “Signature Program.” The program is designed to help close the achievement gap in both STEM and the humanities-related fields by creating a pipeline from pre-kindergarten through college for talented Prince George’s County students. And, perhaps getting a jump on inspiring those students, 50 local middle-schoolers took part in BSU’s Summer Science Camp, getting a chance to meet Bernard Harris, the first African-American to walk in space.Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Health Sciences Facility—or HSF III—at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). With critically important laboratory space and laboratory support features, HSF III will attract new research activity, create jobs, lead to biomedical advances, and support the ongoing MPowering initiative, providing enhanced opportunities for research partnerships and collaborations between and among USM campuses. I am also pleased to note that this past summer, UMB President Jay Perman received two distinguished accolades, being elected chair of the board of directors of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and being named one of Maryland's Most Admired CEOs for 2013 by The Daily Record.Towson University (TU) has been ranked by Washington Monthly magazine 66th out of 684 public and private institutions in the magazine's just-released 2013 college rankings issue. For this list, the magazine rates schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility, Research, and Service. TU did even better in the "Best-Bang-for-the-Buck" ranking, coming in 25th. And earlier this summer, Towson celebrated its new partnership with SECU, a partnership that will provide TU with $4.75 million over 10 years—by officially naming the new arena “SECU arena.” Let me also congratulate Leonard Raley, our vice chancellor for advancement and president/CEO of the University System of Maryland Foundation, who was honored with the 2013 Towson University Distinguished Alumni Award.The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) was the recipient of stellar rankings as well. UMBC was ranked 6th on U.S. News and World Report’s list of schools with the “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” along side institutions such as William and Mary, Berkeley, Princeton, and Brown. UMBC also has been named the top national university for “promising and innovative changes.” This is the 5th consecutive year that UMBC has topped this “Up-and-Coming” list.Earlier this month, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new home for the aviation science, computer science, and engineering programs. When complete, the new building will be the university’s largest. Earlier this summer, the UMES doctor of pharmacy program earned full accreditation. UMES was again rated—along with Bowie—in the top tier of America’s historically black institutions by U.S. News & World Report. And President Juliette Bell was featured on the cover of Diverse as part of that magazine’s profile of what they called the “New Breed of HBCU Presidents Making Big Changes.”At the University of Baltimore (UB), the generosity of Peter Angelos continues, with a $1 million gift to strengthen the School of Law’s Baltimore Scholars Program, an intensive, one-on-one approach to enhancing diversity in legal education and in the wider legal community. The new John and Frances Angelos Law Center, home to the UB School of Law, has been shortlisted for the international World Architecture Festival, and recognized with the Energy Performance + Architecture Award. The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) will continue its 64-year tradition of educating U.S. troops overseas after being awarded a new contract by the Department of Defense. The contract calls for UMUC to offer exclusive undergraduate and graduate instruction at military installations across Europe. The new contract is renewed annually, extends through academic year 2022-2023, and is valued at more than $250 million. In other UMUC news, the MS in Biotechnology has been selected as the Sloan Consortium's 2013 Outstanding Online Program.Don Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), has been appointed to the Leadership Council of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, a group that works with all sectors of the ocean community to encourage action and monitor progress toward meaningful ocean policy reform. Closer to home, UMCES led a panel of scientific experts in response to Governor Martin O’Malley’s Executive Order on Climate Change and “Coast Smart” Construction, providing a comprehensive report with insight into a likely sea level rise in Maryland over the next few decades.Coppin State University (CSU) just completed the third year of its summer bridge program, the Summer Academic Success Academy, a free, comprehensive, six-week summer residential program designed to assist direct-from-high school students in getting a jump-start on their college career. In addition, Coppin is continuing with implementation of the recommendation of the Special Review Committee. At the conclusion of my report, Coppin’s president, Mort Neufville, will give a quick summary of where things stand and respond to any questions.Let me conclude with a few comments about important matters that we will be discussing in the coming weeks and months.We are at the earliest stages of working with leaders in Annapolis on the USM’s budget for Fiscal Year 2015. Governor O’Malley has expressed the desire to continue the State’s impressive record of investment in higher education. I will keep you informed as our efforts move forward. Obviously, we will continue to link the budget to the elements of our new Strategic Plan, stressing our economic impact. Two weeks from now we will be holding our annual Board of Regents Retreat. We will be discussing issues surrounding financial aid, enrollment management, and taking fuller advantage of the potential that advanced information technology offers, both administratively and academically.As you know, we will be celebrating USM’s 25th anniversary throughout 2013-14 by highlighting the system’s impact on the quality of life throughout Maryland and beyond. We’ve launched a microsite—usmd.edu/25—and enhanced the system’s Facebook page to carry messages about our impact, to sponsor monthly contests, and hopefully, to engender greater appreciation for the university system. I understand that since the launch early last week, our “LIKES” on Facebook have increased more than 100. In addition, you’ll see our 25th anniversary logo on the sponsorships, t-shirts, mugs, and other items we purchase throughout the year. Anne Moultrie, vice chancellor for communications, is working with the communications professionals at our institutions and regional centers to help spread the word and get people engaged in the celebration. I especially want to thank the sponsors whose donations are making this celebration possible: Barry GossettCareFirst BlueCross BlueShieldDelmarva PowerMICROS SystemsPNC FoundationThe Classic Catering PeopleThe Whiting-Turner Contracting CompanyUniversity System of Maryland FoundationThis past summer saw higher education elevated in the national conversation as President Obama unveiled a comprehensive plan to advance his goals for college completion and affordability.These goals are so vitally important for our nation both in terms of our competitiveness in the global economy and in terms of social equity in America. As you know, Freeman Hrabowski and I were invited to the White House several months ago and had an opportunity to contribute to some of the proposals that the President presented. Not surprisingly, therefore, my overall reaction to the president’s plan is positive. The plan has three major components:Pay for PerformanceCreate new college ratings based on tuition, graduation rates, debt and earnings of graduates, and other factorsTie financial aid to college performance based on ratings Promote Innovation and CompetitionChallenge states to invest in higher educationChallenge institutions to offer a range of affordable, high-quality options (competency based credits, online offerings, etc.)Create a Race to the Top program for higher educationEnsure Student Debt Remains AffordableCap loan repayment at 10 percent of monthly incomeAs the President actually noted in his remarks, many aspects of this plan mirror ideas that the state of Maryland and USM have embraced and implemented. Certainly, Governor O’Malley and the General Assembly have sustained the state’s investment in higher education better than almost all other states. In challenging states to promote innovative and affordable strategies to advance completion, the President actually cited USM’s academic transformation efforts. And, capping loan repayment at 10 percent of monthly income is reminiscent of our policy stipulating that low-income students should incur debt at a rate that is at least 25 percent less than the average student debt across the system. My endorsement of the president’s overall plan is not without some concerns. For example, while I wholeheartedly agree that we need a new system of ranking colleges and universities—one tied much more closely to national needs—developing a single system to rank the great diversity of higher education institutions in America with their widely differing missions will be a great challenge. But there can be no doubt that we need new means to provide incentives and recognition to universities that admit and graduate more low income and underrepresented minority students. Finally, I close with a piece of disappointing news. As you know, Bob Bogomolny recently announced his retirement after more than a decade leading the University of Baltimore. There is certainly no shortage of accomplishments from Bob’s tenure to highlight. Under Bob’s leadership, the UB campus grew physically, with the Student Center, Liberal Arts & Policy Building, and the John and Frances Angelos Law Center. Bob also elevated UB academically, expanding to a four-year undergraduate program and introducing 31 new programs, targeting in-demand fields. And—above all—Bob’s commitment to UB’s growing student population stands as his greatest legacy.And as the Board of Regents begins the process of a national search to identify Bob’s successor, we will be mindful of the reality of what can only be called “the new UB.” And Bob, I know I speak for the entire Board of Regents when I say thank you for your leadership, congratulations on your success, and we are glad you will be on the job through this academic year.Mr. Chairman . . . this concludes my report. I would be happy to take any questions.### ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download