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USM Attracts Half Billion in Grants and Contracts

Increase Brings Five-Year Total to More than $2 Billion

The University System of Maryland’s 13 institutions attracted $500 million in grants and contracts in Fiscal Year 1999, an increase of 6.8 percent over the previous year. A report on the amount was presented during the September 10 meeting of the USM Board of Regents’ Committee on Advancement.

“I am pleased to report that the investment by the citizens of Maryland in its University System continues to return large dividends,” said USM Chancellor Donald N. Langenberg. “This sizeable increase, to the half billion dollar mark, is a direct consequence of the outstanding faculty we have been able to attract, the infrastructure improvements we have been able to afford, and the competitive, entrepreneurial spirit that can be found on each of our campuses.”

Each of the 13 USM institutions - 11 degree-granting, and two devoted to research - attracted grants and contracts from federal, state, and private sources. While there are fluctuations from year to year, the System has shown a steady overall increase during the past decade of seven to 10 percent annually. The Fiscal Year 1990 total of $210 million has now grown to $499 million in Fiscal Year 1999, an overall annual increase of 150 percent. USM institutions have attracted more than $2 billion in grants and contracts during the past five fiscal years.

Yonathan Zohar, director and professor at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute’s Center of Marine Biotechnology, said, "The University System's help and commitment have been critical to our success in obtaining over $5 million from several federal agencies for basic and applied research on the Pfiesteria problem in Maryland's waters. We appreciate their support and expertise."

Highlights of the Fiscal Year 1999 report include:

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