Chancellor Kirwan Thanks Maryland Senate for Passing USM Budget

ADELPHI, Md. (March 17, 2006) – University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor William E. Kirwan publicly thanked Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and the Maryland Senate today for passing, intact, USM's operating budget. The Senate's action also included the passage of more than $20 million in additional funding for higher education in the Governor's FY 2007 supplemental budget introduced just yesterday.

"The Senate's action today is good for students, good for Maryland families, and good for the educational and economic future of our state," said Chancellor Kirwan. "The University System of Maryland has historically enjoyed tremendous support from Senate President Miller and Senator Ulysses Currie, chairman of the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee."

"The Education and Business AdministrationThe The Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Patrick J. Hogan, has dedicated itself to promoting the value of higher education," added the chancellor. "Senator Hogan and his subcommittee members, Senator David Brinkley, Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden, and Senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus, have been strong supporters in both good and bad fiscal times – over a four-year period, they have reduced our budget by less than $5 million. That is an extraordinary accomplishment for higher education in this state."

Highlights from the Senate's action this morning include preserving the Governor's entire FY 2007 operating budget request for USM and freezing tuition at current levels for full-time, in-state undergraduate students. In addition, the Senate gave preliminary approval to the Governor's FY 2007 capital budget and added several projects for Frostburg State University, Coppin State University, and the University of Maryland, College Park. Chancellor Kirwan said, "Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer did a wonderful job of balancing the many needs in the State and crafting a capital budget that meets the needs of USM." Kasemeyer is chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Capital Budget subcommittee.

"For several years, we have focused on building a partnership between USM, the Governor, and the General Assembly to meet our mutual goals of promoting access, quality and affordability. The Senate's action today, which embraces and complements the Governor's significant operating and capital budget requests, is an important step in this process. We look forward to working with the House of Delegates, which has also given preliminary approval to a very supportive FY 2007 budget."

Contact: Liz O'Neill
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: loneill@usmd.edu