Q&A With...

 William E. Kirwan, Chancellor

 University System of Maryland

Q: How much was cut in total from the USM budget during the past few years?

A: Since FY 2009 (including the Governor's FY 2011 budget allowance), we have sustained $59.3 million in state funding reductions, enacted furloughs to achieve $68 million in savings, and will have transferred $134 million from our fund balance (cash reserves) to the state. While these cuts have slowed the university system's progress on some fronts, we realize that USM, as Maryland's public higher education system, must play a critical role in helping the state through the current economic difficulties. At the same time, the link between higher education and the state's future growth is undeniable. For example, USM awards nearly two-thirds of the degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines. Towson University is a key player as it graduates a substantial number of STEM teachers. USM pumps millions of dollars into the state's economy through its three affiliated research parks and its success in attracting more than $1 billion annually in external grants and contracts supporting vital research and development. In addition, several USM institutions--including Towson--have been recognized as best values in public colleges nationwide.

Q: How have these cuts affected the USM campuses?

A: Our institutional presidents, faculty, and staff have done tremendous jobs in handling the cuts of the past few years, while honoring the system's commitment to provide students with affordable access to high-quality programs. However, the cuts have been painful. Unfortunately, we have had to reduce some student services as well as funding for financial aid; in fact, the number of financial aid appeals has risen significantly and our students' loan indebtedness is growing. Also, our institutions have been unable to keep up with student demand, forced to turn down qualified applicants. As one of USM's designated growth institutions, Towson has had to modify its enrollment growth plan. On the research side, our inability to renovate research space and add faculty has resulted in lost external funding opportunities. And we have frozen hiring, instituted layoffs and furloughs, and foregone pay increases.

    Despite these impacts, we have benefited from the state's willingness to allow us to use fund balance in lieu of base budget cuts to respond to the mandated reductions. If we had been forced to take the $134 million (mentioned earlier) in base budget reductions, we would have had to lay off more than 1,000 staff across USM.

Q: Do you foresee a tuition increase?

A: Yes, I think there will be a tuition increase this year; the USM Board of Regents will make that decision in the spring. Gov. O'Malley has presented a budget to the Maryland General Assembly that includes a modest three percent increase in tuition for in-state undergraduates. We are supporting this recommendation. And our board will vote on tuition rates once the legislature has approved our FY 2011 operating budget. Thanks to the partnership the University System of Maryland has with the state, the regents have been able to freeze tuition for in-state undergraduates for the past four years. The state's support has made this multi-year freeze possible and has improved the state's rank as having the country's sixth highest tuition to what we project will be the 21st highest in the upcoming academic year.

Q: What are the University System of Maryland's priorities for the current legislative session?
A:  We have three major priorities. The first is to achieve full funding of the Governor's proposed FY 2011 USM operating budget. This will be a tall order, as the state's fiscal situation continues to be problematic and the General Assembly will take a careful look at all budgets to find savings.

    The second priority is to get full funding of the Governor's proposed FY 2011 capital budget for USM, which includes $38.7 million for phase 2 of Towson University's College of Liberal Arts Building. Here again, the state's fiscal condition will require special efforts to get all of the projects funded.

    The third priority is to get the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) reauthorized. This is a special tax on corporations passed two years ago that provided a dedicated funding stream of approximately $50 million for higher education. The HEIF had a sunset provision and must be reauthorized this year if the funding is to be continued. As with most sessions, other issues could emerge that would require dedicated time and effort.

    It is very important for the entire USM community--alumni and other friends, faculty, staff, students--to rally around these priorities. To keep everyone up-to-date, we have added a link on our  home page to our system-wide and institutional legislative testimony. The link is under the Fast Forward heading.

Culminating the 2010 Plan

In November 2009, Towson University became the first four-year institution in the State to declare that its campus will be entirely smoke-free beginning August 1, 2010. Nearly two years ago, Towson's Smoke Free Task Force drafted a policy with input from campus representatives including the Student Government Association, TU Staff Council and various administrative offices with the aim to reduce the health risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, reduce health costs associated with smoking, and ensure that all members of the campus community have access to clean air. The initial policy was tailored based on feedback received from a series of discussions with campus groups and open forums for faculty, staff, and students and ultimately approved by the President's Council. Under the new smoke-free policy all buildings and exterior grounds owned or operated by Towson University will be designated as smoke-free. The campus Dowell Health Center is providing free smoking cessation services and therapies for students, faculty and staff in partnership with Baltimore County Department of Health.

2010 Plan | Report Card | Guiding Principles

New in the News

Read up on the latest higher education issues that have appeared in the news recently:

• Energy Conservation Contest in progress with hopes to reduce electronic use-- The Towerlight
• Towson, Morgan State extend application deadlines-- The Baltimore Sun
• University of Maryland President Mote retiring in August-- The Daily Record
• Professors struggle to get the academic year on track-- The Towerlight
• General Assembly cries 'uncle' as storms force postponement of legislative sessions-- The Gazette

Legislative Bills

The following bills have been introduced to the legislature recently:

• HB 151 / SB 141 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2010.  Assigned to House Appropriations and Senate Budget and Taxation.
• HB 16 Sales and Use Tax - Exemption - University and College Textbooks.  Assigned to Ways and Means. 
• HB 348 / SB 334  Public Institutions of Higher Education - New Design and Substantial Exterior Modification - Notice and Consultation.  Assigned to House Appropriations and Senate Budget and Taxation.
• HB 466 / SB 286  Governor's P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland.  Assigned to House Ways and Means and Senate EHEA.
• HB 843 Academic Facilities Bonding Authority. Assigned to House Appropriations.  Hearing 2/23 at 1:00 pm. 
• SB 283 / HB 470 Higher Education Investment Fun - Tuition Stabilization and Funding.  Assigned to Senate Budget and Taxation and House Appropriations.
• SB 311 / HB 943 Chesapeake Conservation Corps.  Assigned to Senate EHEA and House Environmental Matters.
• SB 503 Higher Education - Sergey Brin Scholarship Program.  Assigned to Senate EHEA.
• SB 596 Maryland Prepaid College Trust - Student 2+2 Program - Out-of-County Costs.  Assigned to Senate Budget and Taxation.

• SB 604 College and Career Readiness Act of 2010.  Assigned to Senate EHEA.
• SB 639 Higher Education - Death of Police Officer or Firefighter - Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program.  Assigned to Senate EHEA. 
• SB 693 Green Maryland Act of 2010.  Assigned to Senate EHEA. 
• SB 702 Tuition Cap and College Opportunity Act of 2010.  Assigned to Senate Budget and Taxation. 
• SB 708 Maryland Higher Education Business Coalition and Fund.  Assigned to Senate EHEA. 
• SB 829 Teachers' Retirement and Pension Systems - Reemployment of Retirees - Retired Higher Education Faculty.  Assigned to Budget and Taxation.
• SB 840  Budget Reduction Act.  Assigned to Senate Budget and Taxation. 

For more bill information, please click here.