Annapolis 101 Event Brings Students, Legislators Together on Higher Education Issues, January 25

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (January 23, 2007) - On Thursday, January 25, 2007, the membership of the University System of Maryland Student Council (USMSC) will meet throughout the day with members of the Maryland General Assembly to discuss current issues pertaining to public higher education and host its annual Annapolis 101 dinner and program that evening.

"It is important that the members of the Maryland General Assembly, who will soon vote on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget allocation for the system, hear from those persons that the allocation will benefit most, the students," said Brian S. Bailey, Chair of the USMSC. "It is important that we, the students, are visible. Legislators need to see that students have a keen interest in the quality of their public higher education. We realize that we need to be partners with legislators and other public policy makers for the good of the future of the university system."

The USMSC was established during the restructuring of public higher education in Maryland in 1988 to advise the USM chancellor and board of regents in order to ensure that system remains aware of student perspectives and is responsive to student concerns and issues.

In addition to USMSC members meeting with legislators throughout the afternoon, the USM Student Research Day, sponsored by the USM Council of University System Faculty (CUSF), will held in the President's Conference Center East (I and II) of the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Twenty-six students from across USM will be on hand to present and discuss their research projects with legislators. Legislators and visitors to the legislative office complex are encouraged to stop by in between committee meetings and other engagements to meet with these academically talented students.

This year's Annapolis 101 program and dinner will be held in the same location as the Student Research Day activities. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Invited guests include Governor Martin O'Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, members of the Maryland General Assembly, members of the USM board of regents, higher education administrators, and student leaders. Confirmed speakers include state treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, USM chancellor William E. Kirwan, and Clifford M. Kendall, chairman of the USM board of regents.

Contact: John Buettner
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: jbuettner@usmd.edu