Alumni delegate profile

Delegate Jolene Ivey

Democrat, District 47, Prince George's County. First elected to the House of Delegates in 2006. Member of the House since 2007. Member, Ways and Means Committee (Election Law Subcommittee, Revenues Subcommittee). Currently a regular guest on NPR's "Tell Me More," hosted by Michel Martin. Co-founder of Mocha Moms, a support group for at-home mothers of color.

Born in Washington, D.C., July 30, 1961. Towson State University, B.A., Mass Communications, 1992. Former press secretary for U. S. Representative Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland. Former television co-host, writer, and producer. Freelance writer. Married to Glenn Ivey, State's Attorney for Prince George's County, MD. Mother of 5 beautiful boys.

Annapolis office: 204 House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401-1912; phone: 410-841-3478. E-mail: jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us

To view a list of all TU Alumni Delegates, please click here. 

New in the News

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

• Towson University president is bullish on growth-- The Baltimore Sun
• Student regent accepted-- The Towerlight
• Lawmakers consider higher education bill-- The Baltimore Sun
• Bills that don't run up the bill-- The Gazette
• Tuition freeze right move for Maryland's future-- The Baltimore Sun
• Stimulus funds save state from brutal cuts-- The Baltimore Sun
• Education geared toward workforce needs-- The Towerlight
• O'Malley nominates four to USM policy board-- The Diamondback 

TU student chosen as USM STudent regent

Sarah Elfreth, a Towson University junior, has been selected as the student representative to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.  Each USM institution is eligible to send one candidate, and the Governor selects who will fulfill the role of student regent.  The 17-member Board of Regents governs the USM, and oversee the system's academic, administrative, and financial operations.  Elfreth, who is currently the director of legislative affairs for the Student Government Association, will take over the one-year term from current student regent Josh Michaels of UMBC. 

Towerlight article | Student Government Association | USM Board of Regents

Legislative Bills

SB402 Maryland Higher Education Commission - Review of Duplicative Academic Programs was heard in the Senate Education, Health and Environment Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. This is the fourth year the bill has been introduced to the General Assembly. It is anticipated the bill will go to the Senate floor for a vote in the coming weeks.
SB402 has 2 key components:

1. Retroactive provision targeted at the Towson University/University of Baltimore MBA program. If passed, the bill states MHEC would have to re-review its decision in 2005 to grant the joint degree program...an unprecedented act.
2. Another provision in the bill would allow institutions of higher education to seek judicial review for program approval decisions that were approved or implemented after July 1, 2007. This provision greatly reduces the authority of the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and would subject program approval decisions to judges rather than the experts in higher education costing our institutions and the State countless time and money in legal fees.

It is time to have your voice heard.  Towson and UB received approval for the joint MBA program in 2005 by following all of the required steps in the program approval process. However, this legislation is reintroduced annually, to retroactively undo decisions already put in place by MHEC. For the good of the institutions, the students, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, it is time to move forward toward more pressing issues facing higher education in our state.

We need your help.  Please call and/or email your Senators and urge them to VOTE NO on SB402. Talking points and the USM testimony are linked below. You can call the Senate switchboard at 410-841-3000 or go to http://mdelect.net to find your senator. Thank you for your assistance and support of Towson University.

USM SB402 Testimony | MBA Fact Sheet | 2008 MBA Data

HB693 University System of Maryland - Designated Growth Institutions - Community Impact Statement was heard before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2009. The bill would require universities, designated as "growth institutions," to submit community impact statement to the General Assembly whenever the student population increases or a master plan is updated. The statement would have to assess the impact on local resources such as transportation, housing, and public safety and include a mitigation plan. A "growth institution" means a university designated by the USM Board of Regents as such with a student population of 14,000 or more. The bill also calls for "monitoring and tracking of, and applying appropriate discipline to, students living off-campus within a 10-mile radius" and a statement regarding the "investment in the local community." While the bill would have a system wide impact, it is targeted at Towson University. Good faith efforts have been made on both sides to resolve the customary "town-gown" issues that arise in the regular course of growth, and witnesses expressed that many of the issues are regularly addressed through the institution's 5-year master plan. Moreover, the institution has already been working with the community, county government, and the local elected officials to address both on-campus development and off-campus (student) behavior issues. Towson University believes many of the issues raised can be addressed without legislation. The requirement of annual impact statements would be costly to the State and time consuming. TU will continue to work with the 42nd district delegation, the appropriations committee and the community to address these issues.

To read Towson University's testimony opposing HB693 please click here. 

HEARINGS AND BILLS TO WATCH:

• HB 101 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act Of 2009.  Hearing 3/3/09 at 1:00pm in House Appropriations.
• SB 728 Higher Education - System and Funding.  Hearing 3/4/09 at 1:00pm in Senate Budget and Taxation.
• SB 667 State Legal Business - Hiring Counsel.  Hearing 3/5/09 in Senate Judicial Proceedings at 1:00pm.
• SB 275 Higher Education - Higher Education Investment Fund - Funding.  Hearing 3/6/09 in Senate Budget And Taxation/Education, Health and Environmental Affairs at 8:00am. 
• SB 728 Higher Education - System and Funding.  Hearing 3/6/09 in Senate Budget And Taxation/Education, Health and Environmental Affairs at 8:00am.
• SB 861 Higher Education Funding Model for Maryland Act Of 2009. Hearing 3/6/09 in Senate Budget And Taxation/Education, Health and Environmental Affairs at 8:00am.
• SB 693 Election Law - Maryland Student Voting Rights Act Of 2009. Hearing 3/12/09 in Senate EHEA at 1:00pm.

For more bill information, please click here.