Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

ADELPHI, Md. (September 28, 2005) — University System of Maryland (USM) institutions are offering credit courses through the Sloan Semester Program to students whose higher education has been interrupted by the recent hurricane devastation on the Gulf Coast. Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, have all agreed to offer courses as part of the initiative.

An international group of colleges and universities committed to quality online education, the Sloan Consortium is offering the Sloan Semester Program as an opportunity for hurricane victims to continue their education online tuition-free. In collaboration with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and with a $1.1-milion grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the special eight-week accelerated semester provides a wide range of courses. According to SREB, hundreds of students from hurricane-damaged, Gulf-Coast colleges and universities have requested Sloan Semester courses, which begin October 10. Courses from USM institutions are among the offerings.

"Our institutions are very pleased to participate in the Sloan Semester initiative," said USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "USM campuses already have opened their doors to nearly 200 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. By offering additional courses through the Sloan Semester Program, we are helping to increase higher-education options for hurricane victims."

Contact: Anne Moultrie

301.445.2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu