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 Letter from the President
Dear TU Alumni, Family and Friends:
Happy New Year! The start of 2009 and Maryland's 425th legislative session brings with it difficult economic times and tough decisions that lie ahead. Despite a difficult budget year and a forecast that indicates more fiscal challenges forthcoming, Towson University is forging ahead with our academic mission and seeing great results from our efforts. Towson University’s continued success is attributed to the strong support higher education receives in Maryland. A round of thanks must go out to those who have worked so hard to keep higher education at the forefront in Maryland. Governor O'Malley and the General Assembly have made it clear that they understand that the State’s future success is reliant on a well-educated workforce, please help us in thanking them for their continued support this legislative session. Thanks to the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, the State, the County, and the community; Towson University is better equipped to educate that workforce. As Governor O'Malley unveils the FY2010 budget tomorrow, we will be hopeful for solid funding to continue the strides that have been made to keep higher education in Maryland affordable and accessible.
In the current fiscal year Towson University has seen budget cuts, totaling $5.7 million dollars, in the form of operating budget reductions, hiring freezes, and, most recently, furloughs. Nonetheless, as a result of the fiscal prudence and cost-saving practices of our faculty and staff, we have been able to weather these mandated reductions and emerge with much good news to share.
- The Baltimore Business Journal named us "number one" on their annual list of the largest colleges and universities in the Baltimore area.
- Towson's applications are up over last year and demand for a Towson University education is competitive and strong at a time when many schools are seeing a decline in applications.
- This month the Princeton Review named Towson University one of the nation’s top 50 "Best Value" public universities. This is additional confirmation of Towson's affordability, accessibility, and academic excellence. To put this recognition in perspective, there are 1,800 4-year public universities in the nation.
Great things are happening at Towson University and your advocacy this legislative session will be more important than ever in conveying both the exceptional value and the significant return on any investment the State makes in our campus. Stay informed through this newsletter, and be ready when we call on you for support. Likewise, feel free to call on us to lend your support. As we state in our campus strategic plan Towson University 2010: Mapping the Future, we rely on you to help us "tell and sell the story" of Towson University.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Caret
President
 New in the News
Read up on the latest higher education issues that have appeared in the news recently:
 Towson University 2010
Towson University's FY2010 capital budget request is for $71.5M in construction funding for Phase II of the College of Liberal Arts project. The College of Liberal Arts, when complete, will add more than 250,000 gross square feet of much awaited academic space to campus. Towson is also moving forward on Phase II of our public/private partnership for student housing in the West Village as well as a new West Village Commons building for student dining and activities.
2010 | construction projects | campus master plan
 Legislative Bills
The following bills have been introduced to the legislature this week:
- Higher education - Tuition Charges - Maryland High School Students. SB 41 introduced by Senator Harrington. Assigned to Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
- Supplemental Retirement Plans and Optional Retirement Program - Employing Institutions - Community Colleges. SB 66 Assigned to Budget and Taxation.
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