Chancellor Kirwan Joins President Obama for Summit on College Affordability
University
System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan in December joined
several prominent university leaders for a White House meeting with President
Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding college affordability
and improved retention and graduation rates.
The group of leaders included University of Maryland,
Baltimore County President Freeman Hrabowski, a USM institution that is receiving
national attention for its innovations in teaching and research.
President Obama has praised the University System of
Maryland and Chancellor Kirwan's vision for keeping costs down by implementing
an Effectiveness and Efficiency Initiative. The initiative, launched in
2003-2004, has generated savings to date of $255 million. Working with its
partners in Maryland state government, the USM froze in-state, undergraduate
tuition for four straight years while tuition rose at substantial rates
nationally.
Both Chancellor Kirwan and President Hrabowski have received
national acclaim for their vision in reducing racial disparities in graduation
rates.
The group's discussion included how colleges and
universities can diminish costs, become more accessible to people of all
economic backgrounds, and produce more graduates. Other leaders at the White
House meeting included the heads of the New York and Texas university systems
and the president of Carnegie Mellon University.
The meeting received coverage in numerous national news
outlets, including the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
