>> Jane Neapolitan:  

Welcome to Towson University.  The goal of this part of your orientation is to introduce you to Towson University and to help you understand the organization of the University System of Maryland, the role of Towson within that structure, and the administrative organization within Towson.  Towson is the second largest university in the state and is one of the 11 University System of Maryland schools.  In addition to the universities, USM includes one research center -- the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, and two education centers -- the Universities at Shady Grove and the USM at Hagerstown.  Towson offers courses of study at both education centers.  This map shows the geographical distribution of the USM institution, stretching from the lower eastern shore, across metropolitan central Maryland, to far western Maryland.  

The university began in 1866 as Maryland's first teacher training school, the State Normal School.  The principal was M.A. Newell, and the school boasted three faculty and 11 students, resulting in an enviable faculty ratio of 3.7 to 1.  From 1866 to 1876, the school occupied rental property, Red Men's Hall, on Paca Street in Baltimore City.  But in 1876, the 10 faculty and 206 students -- notice that the student-faculty ratio had risen above 20 to 1 -- moved into a building on the corner of Carrollton and Lafayette Avenues, the first built specifically for the school.  In 1910, principal Sarah Richmond began a campaign to build a residential campus, where teachers-in-training could live and study in a pleasant environment.  In 1912, the state passed a $600,000 bond bill, to begin the campus that principal Richmond envisioned. The new campus was located in the suburban community of Towson, Maryland, just 8 miles north of downtown Baltimore, where it remains today. 

The Administration Building -- which we now call Stephens Hall—and Newell Hall, a residence hall, and the power plant were dedicated in November of 1915, classes having begun earlier that fall at the new Maryland State Normal School at Towson.  Principal Richmond moved into a Victorian home on the campus, named Glen Esk, which would serve as a residence for the principal or president for the next 50 years.  Glen Esk currently houses the University Counseling Center.  

In June of 1935, the name of the school became Maryland State Teachers College at Towson.  This reflected legislation passed that year by the Maryland State Legislature, requiring teachers to earn a four-year baccalaureate degree, rather than a two-year certificate.  The principal at this time was Lida Lee Tall.  Over the next 30 years, the school expanded its curricula in the arts and sciences and began a small graduate program.  Reflecting these changes, the name of the institution was then changed to Towson State College in 1963.  Over the next 10 years the student body nearly quadrupled in size to 13,399.  This necessitated the purchase of additional land and the construction of a number of new buildings, including the Center for the Arts, the University Union, the Residence Tower, the Psychology Building, Hawkins Hall, the Towson Center, Cook Library and Minnegan Stadium -- now called Unitas Stadium.  In addition, the arts and sciences curricula continued to expand and diversify, as did the graduate offerings.  In recognition of these changes in the size of the school and its program offerings, the name was changed to Towson State University in 1976.  

In 1988, there was a reorganization of the public institutions of higher education in Maryland, and Towson State University became a member of the University System of Maryland.  The final name change occurred in 1997, when Towson State University became Towson University, during the administration of President Hoke L. Smith.  In 2003, President Robert Caret instituted a new strategic plan for the university faculty, staff and students.  During Dr. Caret’s tenure, Towson University experienced enrollment growth to over 21,000 students, new construction in the forms of an expanded Center for the Arts, a brand new building for the College of Liberal Arts, and a modernized football stadium and field house. Now, under the leadership of President Maravene Loeschke, Towson University moves into the next chapter of its history through initiatives that include, among others, innovation in teacher preparation, leadership development, integration of the arts, and health and wellness programs in the community.

But with all of these changes, Towson remains proud of the fact that it continues to prepare more teachers for the state of Maryland than any other institution in the state, and that teaching and student learning remain at the heart of our mission and goals.  Oh, yes, and that our student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1 is better than the student-to-faculty ratio back in 1876.  There are six academic colleges offering graduate and undergraduate degrees.  These colleges are listed on these slides.  These are the College of Business and Economics, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Health Professions, Liberal Arts, and the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics.  There are two colleges with specialized functions.  These are the Honors College and the College of Graduate Studies and Research.  

The Towson mission statement listed on the accompanying website includes several important points.  That we are the state's metropolitan university reflects our location just north of Baltimore, but it also speaks to the importance of the partnerships and applied research that we carry out in service to the needs of the urban and suburban greater Baltimore area.  This statement also speaks to our commitment to a student-centered learning environment, to enhancing our diversity of student body, to providing access and success for all of our students, engaging students in the community through research experiences in internships of all types, and to applied research in partnership with regional business, industry and government.  Here you can see Towson University’s current enrollment, including both undergraduate and graduate students.  The breakdown of full-time and part-time students can be seen here grouped by undergraduates and graduates, as well as gender. Currently at Towson, these undergraduate majors are the most popular. And these graduate programs are the most popular. 

Once again, we welcome you to Towson University.  We hope that this brief introduction to Towson has given you a sense of the structure and the values that make this a great University.