|
In This Issue: •Letter from Dr. Robert L. Caret, President, Towson University •TigerTracks •TAP Resources •Governor O’Malley’s Higher Education Press Release •12th Annual Annapolis Alumni Reception •Alumni Legislators •Cherry Hill Learning Zome •New in the News |
|
Towson University Alumni Legislators |
|
the County, and the community, Towson University is better equipped to educate that workforce. Additional assistance for students and parents was announced on Monday. Governor O’Malley announced a tuition freeze for higher education in Maryland for the third consecutive year. The Governor’s FY09 budget uses $16.3M out of $54.9M from the Higher Education Investment Fund to freeze tuition at USM institutions and Morgan State University. With the Governor’s plan, our students will pay the same rate of tuition they’ve paid for the past three years, a true savings for our working families and students. Please see the press release below for the details. Over the past couple of years we have shared with you Towson University’s strategic plan, Towson University 2010: Mapping the Future. Each day we get closer to 2010, we come closer to achieving the goals and objectives laid out in Towson University 2010. CONSTRUCTION In September, we broke ground on the first entirely new academic building at Towson in over 30 years. The design of the College of Liberal Arts project will complement the University’s historic structures while setting the standard for future projects with its design and innovative use of interior space. On January 7, 2008, the expansion to the Towsontown Parking garage opened. The expansion serves the academic core of campus. Additional construction will begin to support the College of Liberal Arts project in July. ENROLLMENT In FY07, the State funded enrollment growth at Towson for 300 additional students. Towson was asked to grow by 400 students, but due to continuing demand and the commitment to serve more State students, our enrollment growth was 758 additional students in Fall 2007. The growth made Towson University’s fall 2007 class the largest ever, including 2,665 freshmen and 1,617 transfers. Towson University is working to educate 19,758 students who will become our State’s nurses, teachers, artists, scientists and business professionals. As the State’s “designated growth campus” we will continue to grow to serve the citizens of Maryland. Our connection with regional public schools continues to grow stronger. Our Top 10% Program now has over 368 students from Baltimore City and Baltimore County schools enrolled. To ensure student success we’ve created a partnership with Baltimore City Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County to offer necessary preparatory courses and a seamless transition to a four-year degree. EDUCATION MILESTONES Closing the minority achievement gap at Towson became reality last year. The six-year graduation rate for African American students is equal to all races. From 1996 to 2006 Towson University reduced the graduation gap from 10.3% to 0%. The second year retention rate was as equally impressive with 85.2% of the African American students compared to 82% of all races remaining at Towson University for their second year. The Cherry Hill Learning Zone Initiative and University Partnership Schools endeavor made great strides this year. The University Partnership Schools (UPS) were formalized by the State Board of Education in May, allowing the four elementary/middle schools in Cherry Hill and Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School to be managed in partnership with Towson University and the Baltimore City Public School System. In addition, Towson University held a summer reading clinic in Cherry Hill and continues to bring elementary students and their parents to campus to further enhance their reading skills. Currently, Patapsco Elementary School is being prepared as a Professional Development School for Early Childhood Educators beginning in spring 2008. Other schools will begin preparing for the receipt of teacher interns in summer 2008. Ultimately, all UPS schools will be merged into a Professional Development School network whereby teachers across grade levels will be prepared for a career as urban educators. The schools are further assisted by 68 tutors focusing on reading and math education in grades K – 5. Our goal is to prepare every preschooler for kindergarten, every elementary student for middle and high school, and every high school student for college or the workforce. Towson University is also concentrating more on STEM programs (science, teaching, engineering and math). The need for better preparation beginning in the public schools is well documented. Building on our Professional Development School (PDS) network connections, we are partnering with those same schools to build the STEM pipeline. This year we hired a former NASA astronaut with an engineering degree and teaching experience to head the Willard Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science and to bring yet more emphasis on early STEM initiatives. Under Dr. Don Thomas’ leadership, the Willard Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science recently launched a new Saturday morning science series. The series features presentations, performances and demonstrations that are designed for the general public and students of all ages to excite the mind and spark the imagination of young and old and share modern discoveries in mathematics and science. Towson University’s College of Business and Economics has grown to be the largest undergraduate business school in the State of Maryland. In just over 2 years, the Towson/UB MBA program has an enrollment of 391 new students and is offering two new and unique tracks for an MBA; sports management and business security. To further address access to quality, affordable higher education in Maryland, Towson University has created broad-based seamless articulation agreements with Baltimore County Community College and Harford Community College. The Harford partnership which includes over 20 program articulation agreements will allow students to earn their Towson degrees (bachelors and masters) on the HCC campus. APPLIED RESEARCH AND INNOVATION The College of Health Professions will establish the Center for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders which will offer and evaluate model programs for addressing the needs of adults, primarily young adults, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. In addition to these services the center will support ongoing education for a variety of professionals who serve this population and provide outreach to a variety of entities. Towson has adapted to 142 years of change and challenges and has found its place in today’s world, all the while holding on to core values. We have come a long way since we had 11 students, 3 faculty members, and a rented building. Now we have nearly 20,000 students, nearly 3,000 faculty and staff, and 328 prime acres in a metropolitan region abundant with opportunity. Our past is amazing and we look forward to a remarkable future. I ask you to talk to your friends, neighbors and legislators about Towson University. Collectively we can tell the Towson story. Thank you for your past support and for your continued support of Towson University. Cordially, Dr. Robert L. Caret President, Towson University Robert L. Caret President, Towson University |
|
Letter from Dr. Robert L. Caret, President, Towson University |
