Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., announced today that he is allocating $142.6 million in fiscal year 2006 to fund capital projects for the University System of Maryland (USM). The projects span a wide range of critical capital needs, including a new facility for the increasing student population of the Universities at Shady Grove (one of USM's two regional higher education centers), a new dental school at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a business and graduate studies center at Bowie State University.

"Governor Ehrlich's continuous support of the University System of Maryland's capital needs demonstrates his strong commitment to higher education and research excellence," said USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "Completion of the projects supported by the Governor's FY 2006 capital budget will enhance academic opportunities for our students, boost the university system's role and the state's reputation as a major research powerhouse, and expand capacity for the state's burgeoning undergraduate student population."

"Gov. Ehrlich's capital budget also responds to critical needs of the university system's historically black institutions (HBIs)," Kirwan continued. "The FY 2006 allocations for Bowie State University and Coppin State University—two of the system's three HBIs—are especially appreciated."

"All of the activities at the University System of Maryland—teaching, research, and service—have a direct impact on the state's intellectual and economic development," Kirwan commented. "Adequate state investment in the system's operating and capital budgets translates to a strong future for our state. We appreciate Gov. Ehrlich's support of the state's public higher education system."

Here are the highlights from Gov. Ehrlich's FY 2006 capital budget for the University System of Maryland.

Bowie State University
New Center for Business and Graduate Studies, $2 million
New Fine and Performing Arts Building, $1.5 million

Coppin State University
New Health and Human Services Building, $47.6 million
New Physical Education Complex, $4 million

Towson University
New College of Liberal Arts Complex, $2.1 million

New Dental School, $11.2 million

University of Maryland, College Park
New Biological Sciences Research Building, $3.6 million
Tawes Fine Arts Building Conversion, $0.9 million

R.V. Truitt Laboratory Addition, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, $2.9 million

Oyster Production Facility, $0.5 million

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
New Research Facility for the Center for Advanced Research in

Biotechnology (CARB II), $2.5 million

University System of Maryland Office
Universities at Shady Grove Educational Facility III, $51.9 million
Capital Facilities Renewal Projects, $11.9 million

Contact: Anne Moultrie

301.445.2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu