 5 Questions With
President
Robert Caret...
We are pleased to debut the first TAP newsletter of the 427th Maryland Legislative session. Great things are happening at Towson University and your advocacy this session will be more important than ever in conveying both the exceptional value and significant return on investment we deliver to the State. Please stay informed by subscribing to this weekly newsletter, and be ready when we call on you for support. I look forward to working with you and thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Caret, Towson University President
Q: With no designated enrollment growth, how is TU managing increasing applications and repeated budget cuts?
A: Access to public higher education is one of the keys to keeping Maryland citizens highly educated. Towson continues its success with access programs but as demand for a limited number of freshmen and transfer seats grows, the competition for admission also increases. In fall 2009, Towson turned away approximately 10,000 students of which 2,000 were qualified freshman and transfer applicants. Without enrollment growth funding, Towson is unable to hire the faculty necessary to support a greater number of students.
Q: How has Towson been able to retain its "Best Value" designation by Kiplinger Magazine?
A: Thanks to the Governor's budget and the General Assembly, the University System of Maryland's Board of Regents has held tuition steady for the past 4 years--a significant accomplishment in difficult economic times. During that time, Maryland moved from the sixth-highest public tuition in the nation to the 17th. The tuition freeze benefits all Maryland families, but it is especially important to traditionally tuition-dependent Towson, as we strike an affordable balance between what students pay for tuition and the state appropriation per student.
Q: How has the summer trimester benefited Towson University and the State?
A: The pilot was introduced in response to and in support of the Board of Regents Efficiency and Effectiveness initiatives to support continued enrollment growth, maximize use of existing facilities and resources, and increase program offering options with a goal of decreasing time to degree in high workforce need areas such as nursing. The Summer Trimester at Towson University has been highly successful as enrollment last summer grew by 8% with full-time student enrollment growing 7.8%. As the pilot comes to its third and final pilot year next year, our challenge will be to seek permanent State funding for this vital program.
Q: How is Towson helping to prepare a STEM workforce for the State?
A: Towson is a workforce engine in STEM and many fields for the State of Maryland. TU is building the pipeline of K-12 students who want to pursue STEM careers by utilizing resources from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the TU Hackerman Academy of Science & Math and the integration of the UM Biotechnology Institute K-12 outreach efforts. Our faculty is implementing a plan to triple production of STEM teachers and computer information science majors to meet workforce demands.
Q: Why is Towson University offering educational programs in Harford County?
A: For the past 12 years Towson University, Harford Community College and the Higher Education and Conference Center at HEAT have been working together to address the higher education needs of Harford County residents. As BRAC professionals and families relocate to the region and the population grows, TU/HCC Educational Partnership aims to provide the upper-level undergraduate education to the current and future residents of Harford County and northeast Maryland. In addition to continued operations of TU's programs at the HEAT Center, a new Towson-operated educational facility on the HCC campus is being planned which will allow additional undergraduate and graduate educational offerings from interested USM institutions. TU currently has 23 2+2 articulation agreements in place with HCC and is moving forward to offer those programs to make the transition from HCC to TU seamless for the student.
 Culminating the 2010 Plan
In 2003 Towson University utilized input from the entire campus and external supporters to launch a comprehensive campus strategic plan in 2004, Towson University 2010: Mapping the Future. With nine guiding principles and five major themes, the plan set a clear direction for the University and raises awareness about Towson's significant value to the region and state. Over the last five years, the progress and completion of 96 action items have been closely tracked and evaluated with annual report cards and a rigorous tracking system. As the 2010 plan culminates this year and leads into the next strategic plan, we will highlight and celebrate our cumulative accomplishments with TAP readers as we plan for Towson's future. Be sure to follow our collective highlights in this section, Culminating the 2010 Plan, in the subsequent issues of the TAP newsletter.
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:
 Legislative Bills
The following bills have been introduced to the legislature recently:
- Sales and Use Tax - Exemption - University and College Textbooks. HB 16 Assigned to Ways and Means.
- Maryland Higher Education Commission - Office of Student Financial Assistance. SB 80 Assigned to Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
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