Regents'Committee to Vote on New School of Public Health

ADELPHI, Md. (May 30, 2006) - The Education Policy Committee of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents will meet on Thursday, June 1, 2006 to consider a proposal from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to create a new School of Public Health, as well as proposals for six academic programs. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the atrium of the Wilson H. Elkins building, headquarters for USM. The building is located at 3300 Metzerott Rd., Adelphi, Md. Directions are available at http://www.usmd.edu/usm/directions.

In 2005, the regents approved a plan for creating a new School of Public Health to respond to the growing need for more public health specialists. The new school would be a collaborative effort between UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). One step in the approval process is the development of institution-specific schools of public health at UMB and UMCP. The plan calls for UMB to move forward immediately in the approval process, with UMCP following within the year. On June 1, the committee will officially vote on the creation of a School of Public Health at UMB. This would be UMB's seventh professional school and the first new school there in 45 years.

In addition, the committee will make a recommendation to update board policy on research involving human subjects.

Committee members will consider the following academic degrees:

  • Master's in Mental Health Counseling at Bowie State University;
  • Doctorate in Computer Science at Bowie State University.
  • Bachelor's of Music Education at UMCP;
  • Doctorate in Anthropology at UMCP;
  • Bachelor's in Ethnobotany at Frostburg State University;
  • Master's and doctorate in Human Centered Computing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The committee will also consider a number of information items, including proposed revisions to USM policy language pertaining to student residency classification; the annual report on system-wide campus crime; the annual report on intercollegiate athletics at USM institutions, including the NCAA academic progress rates; and the annual report on academic program actions approved by the chancellor.

Full agendas and background information will be available at the meeting, and at http://www.usmd.edu/regents/agendas/ed060106.html.

Sign language interpreters and/or other appropriate accommodations for eligible individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please call 301.445.2756 (voice) or 301.314.7683 (TTY/ITT) to make special arrangements.

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