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USM Sees Record Enrollment; Headcount Across System Tops 137,000

ADELPHI, Md. (December 4, 2007) - The number of students attending University System of Maryland (USM) institutions has reached a record high of 137,412, the system has announced with the release of its Fall 2007 Preliminary Opening Enrollment Report. The increase translates into an additional 2,093 students system-wide, up 1.5 percent from Fall 2007.

Eight of the system's 11 universities experienced enrollment growth between 1.7 and 9.4 percent: Bowie State University (2.1 percent); Frostburg State University (1.7 percent); Towson University (4.4 percent); University of Baltimore (9.4 percent); University of Maryland, Baltimore (4.4 percent); University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2.1 percent); and University of Maryland, College Park (2.6 percent).

First-time, full-time undergraduate enrollment also reached a record high of 13,072 students--up 3.1 percent from Fall 2006--reflecting the surge in high-school graduation levels associated with the "Baby Boom Echo" population. Graduate/first-professional part-time enrollment grew 4.2 percent in the same period.

"Growing enrollment is a testimony to our efforts to increase access and find a place for all qualified students," said USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "We are literally adding the student population equivalent of a Frostburg, Salisbury, or University of Maryland Eastern Shore--4,000 or more students--every two years."

USM currently receives funds through the FY 2008 Enrollment Funding Initiative EFI to help meet the demand on its universities' operating budgets as a result of increasing enrollments. Developed in collaboration with the Governor's Office and General Assembly, EFI provided $5.1 million in additional state funding to the system's FY 2008 budget. Under the FY 2008 EFI plan, the USM Board of Regents designated Salisbury University, Towson University, and University of Maryland University College (UMUC) as the system's primary growth institutions. The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the University of Maryland, College Park programs at the Universities at Shady Grove regional higher education center were also targeted for growth. All met or surpassed their enrollment targets except UMUC, which saw a 2.4 percent decrease in headcount from FY 2007.

The Board of Regents plans to expand EFI in the near future to include Bowie State University in the group of targeted growth institutions.

"Despite some small declines at a few of our institutions, the overall growth trend is very strong," said Chancellor Kirwan. "In the next decade, total enrollment system-wide is expected to grow by more than 30 percent. Programs such as the Enrollment Funding Initiative will be critical to meeting the increased demand on our facilities, staff, and resources."

To access the Fall 2007 Preliminary Opening Enrollment Report, visit: http://www.usmd.edu/usm/adminfinance/IR/reports/index.html.

Contact: John Buettner
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: jbuettner@usmd.edu

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