Chancellor's Report to the Board of Regents on October 31

Report to the Board of Regents
Chancellor Jay A. Perman
University of Maryland Global Campus | October 31, 2025

Thank you, Madame Chair. To protect any chance we have to greet trick-or-treaters tonight, I’ll go as quickly as I can. Please consult your written report for all the important stuff I’ll leave out.

ENDORSING OUR EXCELLENCE
We often talk about the System’s path to preeminence. Of course, there are many ways to measure our quality—national rankings among them. I’ll begin by highlighting just a few.

U.S. News has released its annual Best Colleges list, and we’ve notched some notable laurels. College Park earned its highest-ever ranking, #16 among public universities. UMBC rose 11 spots to No. 63, with an overall top 20 placement for Most Innovative Schools. UMB’s undergraduate nursing program made the top 10 among publics. Undergraduate engineering at College Park came in at No. 12.

Among public universities in the North, Towson ranks No. 3, Salisbury, No. 18, UBalt, No. 25, Frostburg, No. 33. Bowie State ranks among the country’s top 5 public HBCUs.

Forbes puts UMD at No. 10 among publics—another record. UMBC, Towson, and Salisbury made the coveted list. Washington Monthly named Towson a Top 25 Best in Class University and gave them our highest ranking, No. 28, in the Best Bang for the Buck category. The Wall Street Journal gave Towson a top 50 ranking for Social Mobility; UMGC, for Best Salaries; College Park, for Best Value.

These accolades don’t do justice to the hundreds of rankings that endorse our universities’ excellence and value. We excel on the indicators we consider mission-critical Systemwide: access and outcomes, affordability and economic mobility, service to our students and to our communities.

That could explain why our enrollment keeps growing. Without stealing the thunder of Regent Fish and Associate Vice Chancellor Muntz, I’ll note that we’re breaking records this year—in undergraduate enrollment; in first-time, full-time enrollment; in total enrollment. Let me repeat that: In total enrollment.

Salisbury and College Park each have their highest-ever first-time, full-time class. Together, our HBCUs are recording their fourth-straight year of growth, led by Coppin, who clinched a 25-year enrollment high and exceeded its projections.

Another university did the same, exceeding projections by nearly 5,000 students. Of course, that’s our host today, UMGC. President Fowler and his team can explain better than I how they’re achieving this headcount. But I do know that UMGC keeps growing the number of alumni who return to the university to enroll in another program. The alumni-return rate is up 19% over last year. This is the endorsement we’re after: students who see us as a proven value and keep coming back for what we offer. Congratulations, President Fowler.

Let me share another endorsement of our work—the gifts that enable it. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has given the University of Maryland Eastern Shore the single largest gift in its history, $38 million. That’s on top of $20 million that Ms. Scott donated five years ago, proving her confidence in UMES’s direction and momentum—and in the leadership of President Anderson.

The money will go to the priorities where UMES is already seeing gains: student access and completion, research, and regional partnerships. Dr. Anderson, I know my congratulations pale in comparison to $38 million, but I offer them anyway.

How about the endorsement of industry? Microsoft will soon open a major quantum research lab at College Park. Since Maryland launched the Capital of Quantum initiative nine months ago, UMD’s Discovery District has welcomed nearly a dozen quantum startups. The district’s anchor, IonQ, is expanding its research-park footprint and doubling its Maryland workforce. And a new partnership with DARPA will test and evaluate quantum information science at College Park, unlocking millions in federal funds. Provost Pomietto, this momentum is hard-earned and well-deserved.

HOW WE ENDURE
Several of our universities are celebrating milestone anniversaries. Coppin State capped 125 years with its largest capital campaign total in university history—$25.5 million raised. Congratulations, President Jenkins.

The University of Baltimore will end its year-long centennial next month, with a celebration that features exhibits integrating a vision for UBalt’s future. I look forward to it, Provost Mueller.
 
At UMCES’s centennial kickoff, President Miralles-Wilhelm shared his biggest goals for the next 100 years: Expand UMCES’s educational footprint, at home and abroad. Catalyze science collaborations and investment—especially from non-government sources. And explore new research areas focused on ending poverty, disease, hunger, and violence. Appropriately ambitious, President Miralles-Wilhelm.

The USM at Hagerstown celebrated 20 years of impact this month—20 years of expanding access to higher ed. Their annual fundraiser brought together donors, students, faculty, and staff—with all dollars raised going to student scholarships. Dr. Ashby, I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things.

Same goes for another fundraiser held a couple of weeks ago. The Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony doubles as a fundraiser for the county’s greatest asset, The Universities at Shady Grove. This year’s luncheon netted $200,000 for USG students. Congratulations, Dr. Khademian.

WHERE WE INVEST
When our universities launch new programs, those programs don’t only grow opportunities for our students; they signal what we value, what we invest in.

With a STEM culture in this country that can crowd out everything else, UMBC is doubling down on the arts. The university’s Arts+ initiative—launched with an on-campus BSO concert—will lift up the visual and performing arts at UMBC, and connect the campus and community in the celebration of human creativity. Congratulations, President Sheares Ashby.

Towson is all-in on public service, democratic values, and constructive dialogue. The Ben and Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse will advance scholarship on the issues that most imperil—and most divide—our nation. Sen. Cardin will lead the center, joining TU as its second Presidential Scholar. Congratulations, President Ginsberg.

Salisbury is proving its commitment to international experiences—for all—with a record number of historically underserved students studying abroad this semester. And a partnership with Sumy State University in Ukraine will allow Salisbury to provide support to the university during and after the country’s enduring war with Russia. Thank you, President Lepre.

Bowie State is doubling down on career-connected, industry-aligned learning. A partnership with the nonprofit CodePath will give BSU students advanced training in software engineering and cybersecurity, linked with meaningful industry opportunities. And a $1 million NSF grant will launch a Computing Experiential Hub, connecting students to careers in AI and emerging technologies. Congratulations, President Breaux.

Frostburg State is leaning into its role driving the regional economy. Frostburg has won a $400,000 NSF grant to connect applied research with community entrepreneurship. The grant—one of the largest NSF investments in Frostburg’s history—will launch the Appalachian Innovation Institute. It’s part of a five-university network led by Frostburg and funded with $2 million from NSF—a model for how rural universities can shape tech-based regional growth. Thank you, President Smith.

Coppin State is investing in a campus built for growth. The university dedicated three buildings this month: the Margaret Peters Tennis Complex, the Katherine Johnson Science & Technology Building, and the Henrietta Lacks Health & Human Services Building—centering three Black women whose legacies of excellence, discovery, and ethical care have changed our nation.

UMB is doubling down on its life-saving research, now threatened with federal disinvestment. Proposed cuts would slash federal funding for global health by 62%, imperiling malaria research, vaccine programs, AIDS prevention. As a bulwark against these cuts, UMB’s School of Medicine is linking its global-focused departments, institutes, and centers—leveraging assets and partnerships to sustain and grow its global health impact. An important investment, President Jarrell.

The USM at Southern Maryland is leaning into community care. Last month, the center hosted the Southern Maryland Suicide Prevention Summit, opening up a conversation about suicide risk and self-harm, and gathering together prevention and intervention resources that save lives every day. Thank you, Dr. Nesbary.

And, finally, the System is proving its commitment to incarcerated Marylanders and those returning home. We’ve won a $4 million grant to develop a statewide plan for prison education and reentry programming. This is a critical milestone, and I thank those responsible: Regent Wood, Dr. Wrynn, Dr. Lee. But I also thank my colleagues at UBalt, Bowie State, and Maryland Corrections for the foundational work they’ve done in this space for years—and for the guidance that secured our grant. You’ll hear more from Regent Wood shortly.

Madame Chair, this concludes my report.

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Contact: Amy Pelsinsky
Phone: 301.445.8503
Email: apelsinsky@usmd.edu