USM is 25 Years Old
Happy
25th Anniversary USM!
Celebration
details coming soon
Adelphi, MD (July 1, 2013)-Today marks the University
System of Maryland's (USM's) 25th anniversary. With the beginning of
the new academic year in late August, the USM community will launch a
celebration of USM's 25 years of impact on many areas, including access to education,
research, economic and workforce development, and public service. We'll look back on all we've accomplished together and look
ahead to our bright future.
State
legislation launched the system, originally named the University of Maryland
System, on July 1, 1988, by merging the five campuses of the University of
Maryland (UM) with the six campuses of the State University and College System.
The five UM campuses were then called the University of Maryland at Baltimore,
the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the University of Maryland College
Park, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and the University of Maryland
University College. The six campuses of the state college and university system
were then called Bowie State University, Coppin State College, Frostburg State
University, Salisbury State University, Towson State University, and the
University of Baltimore.
Also
included were the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies and the
Maryland Biotechnology Institute (which no longer exists). The current names of
the 12 USM institutions are listed below.*
William
Donald Schaefer, then governor of Maryland, wrote this about the merger: "On July 1, 1988, the State of Maryland took
a giant step forward restructuring and strengthening our state's public higher
education system. That day marked the birth of the University of Maryland
System.
"Maryland
is blessed with a rich variety of colleges and universities. The creation of
the University of Maryland System brings together 11 public institutions to
deliver efficiently the academic and research programs and the public services
needed for the residents of the state."
Since July
1, 1988, the University System of Maryland has advanced opportunities for
individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations throughout Maryland and
beyond. As we celebrate during the next several months, there will be information
and stories to share, chances to win prizes, and opportunities to learn even
more about the University System of Maryland. (Who was the founding chancellor of the system? Why and when was the
name changed from the University of Maryland System to the University System of
Maryland? How has the system grown in numbers and quality?)
The
University System of Maryland thanks the following donors for their generous
support of the 25th-anniversary celebration: Barry Gossett, vice
chair of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents; Care First Blue Cross
Blue Shield; The Classic Catering People; Delmarva Power; Micros Systems; PNC
Foundation; University System of Maryland Foundation; and The Whiting-Turner
Contracting Company.
Stay
tuned for details on how we will mark this important milestone together!
*(The current
names of the 12 institutions comprising today's University System of Maryland
are: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State
University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore;
University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County;
University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland Eastern Shore;
University of Maryland University College; University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science. USM also has two regional higher education
centers-Universities at Shady Grove and the University System of Maryland at
Hagerstown.)
For more information:
Contact: Anne Moultrie
Phone: 301.445.2722
Email: amoultrie@usmd.edu