Alumni delegate profile 
Delegate Tanya T. Shewell
Republican, District 5A, Carroll County. Member of the House since 2004; appointed August 4, and sworn in August 17, 2004. Deputy Minority Whip. Member, Environmental Matters Committee (Agriculture, Agriculture Preservation and Open
Space Subcommittee; Housing and Real Property Subcommittee; Local Government and Bi-County Agencies Subcommittee). Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Member, Women Legislators of Maryland.
Born in Piqua, Ohio, March 9, 1944. Class valedictorian,Troy High School, 1962. Towson State College, B.S., Psychology and Sociology, summa cum laude, 1970. Manager, Shewell Enterprises, a family property rental business, 1969-; Rehabilitation Supervisor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, State Department of Education, 1974-77; Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Medical Disability Examiner, 1970-73; Consultant and Educator, 1973-74; Manager, Admissions Services, Carroll Lutheran Health Care Center; 1981-83; Executive Director, Granite House, Inc., a residential mental health counseling program, Westminster, 1983-91. Married; 2 children.
Annapolis office: 322 House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401-1912; phone:410-841-3070 or 301-858-3070. E-mail: tanya.shewell@house.state.md.us
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New in the News
Read up on the latest higher education issues that have appeared in the news recently:
 Towson University 2010
Towson University was named the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Christina McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The purpose of the award is two fold: To recognize excellence in teacher education programs and to advance the field of teacher education by identifying promising practices and critical issues related to measuring the impact of programs on teacher candidate knowledge and the impact of these teachers on pupil learning.
Towson is being recognized for its Professional Development School Network. Through outreach to 115 school sites in metropolitan Baltimore, the network seeks to facilitate learning of P-12 students and improve the skills of inservice and preservice teachers.
Press Release | Partnerships Philosophy | Professional Development School Network
 Legislative Bills
Budget Update:
The State Operating Budget passed both the House and Senate in their respective forms. A conference committee has been appointed and they are working through the differences at this time.
Specific information as it pertains to USM:
| House cut $5.6M for under attainment from the HEIF |
Senate concurred. |
| House cut $3.7M in general funds. |
Senate rejected this cut. |
| House cut $1M for Efficiency and Effectiveness. |
Senate rejected this cut. |
| House cut $500K from USM Hagerstown. |
Senate rejected this cut. |
| House cut $10M from the fund balance. |
Senate reduced the amount, cutting $4M from the fund balance. |
Understanding Maryland's profound fiscal challenges, USM will continue to work with House and Senate decision makers to craft a budget that supports key initiatives of both Governor O'Malley and the General Assembly. Once the Senate passes the budget with their amendments, a conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences.
Senate Summary Report | House Summary Report
The State Capital Budget: The House passed the Capital Budget (HB102) last week. Funding for phase II of construction for the College of Liberal Arts Complex was approved.
2009 Legislative Bills and Information
The following bills relevant to higher education have been introduced in the General Assembly this session:
Favorable Committee Report with amendments- awaiting vote on Senate and House floors:
- HB 1392 Election Law - Miscellaneous Technical and Clarifying Corrections. Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means Committee.
- HB 1435 Higher Education - Enforcement Powers of Maryland Higher Education Commission and Secretary of Higher Education. Favorable with Amendments Report by House Appropriations Committee.
- SB 592 State Retirement and Pension System - Compliance with Federal Tax Provisions. Passed Senate. Favorable report House Appropriations Committee.
- HB 710/ SB 802 Higher Education - Edward T. Conroy Tuition Waiver Program - Establishment. Passed House. Favorable report with amendments Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
Passed Senate, Awaiting House Action:
- SB 81 State Personnel - Maryland Whistleblower Law - Confidentiality of Information Obtained During Investigations of Complaints.
- SB 230 Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act.
- SB373/ HB1152 Higher Education - Maryland National Guard Members - Nonresident Tuition Exemption.
- SB 264/ HB 298 State Employees - Collective Bargaining - Negotiations - "The Fair Share Act." Favorable with Amendments Finance.
- SB 689 Education - Study Group on Expanding Enrollment Options for High School Students. Hearing 4/7 in Ways and Means at 1:00 p.m.
Passed House, Awaiting Senate Action:
- HB173/ SB247 Health Occupations - Maryland Athletic Trainers Act.
- HB 598 Academic Facilities Bonding Authority.
- HB 1403 State Plan for Higher Education Quadrennial Review - Reporting Date 2009.
- HB 1404 Higher Education - Children of Fallen State or Local Public Safety Employees - Exemption from Nonresident Tuition. Hearing 4/8 in Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs.
- HB 1465 Maryland National Guard Tuition Assistance Program.
Passed each chamber with amendments - differences may need to be resolved:
- SB 183/ HB 85 College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2009.
- SB278/ HB 315 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009.
- HB 538/ SB 372 Foster Care - Tuition Exemption - Expanded Eligibility.
For more bill information, please click here. |
