University System of
Maryland Board of Regents
December 1, 2006
Minutes of the Public Session
A. Chairman
Kendall called the meeting of the University System of Maryland Board of
Regents to order at 10:35 a.m. on Friday, December 1, 2006 at University of
Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Those in attendance were: Chairman Kendall, Regents Finan, Florestano,
Heidemann, Hoffmann, Johnson, Krongard, Mandel, Mitchell, Nevins, Pettit, and Pevenstein.
Chancellor Kirwan, Vice Chancellors Goldstein, Vivona and Raley; Assistant
Attorneys General Goedert and Short; USM Presidents Boesch, Bogomolny, Burnim, Caret,
Dudley-Esbach, Hrabowski, Hunter-Cevera, Mote, Ramsay, Thompson, and other
institutional representatives; Ms. Ryan; Ms. Doyle, USM Staff; members of the
press and others.
B. Dr. Hunter-Cevera
gave a welcome to Regents and others and provided a presentation on the various
successful enterprises at UMBI, including research activities, innovative programs, learning labs,
incubators, and outreach to middle and high school students. A graduate student at UMBI also described her
research experiences.
C. Committee
of the Whole
1.
Chairman Kendall presented the Minutes of October 27, 2006 for
approval. The minutes were unanimously
approved. (Moved by Regent Florestano, seconded by Regent Mitchell).
2.
Chancellor Kirwan presented his report to the Board. A summary
follows:
Chancellor Kirwan thanked
President Jennie Hunter-Cevera and the University of Maryland Biotechnology
Institute (UMBI) for hosting the meeting and acknowledged UMBI's 10-year
history of serving both educational and workforce development needs.
Chancellor Kirwan announced that Stanley
Battle, president of Coppin State University (CSU) since 2003, will be leaving
in June 2007 to take the position of chancellor of North Carolina A&T State
University in Greensboro, NC. He also noted that the new year will usher in
an entire new roster in Annapolis: a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney
General and Comptroller, in addition to 11 new State Senators and 34 new
delegates. He reported that he believes
higher education is in a strong position since Governor-elect O'Malley stressed
his commitment to higher education throughout his campaign, including concerns about
ensuring access and affordability.
Chancellor Kirwan noted a number
of important items. The USM, partnering
with the Maryland Department of General Services, has entered into an
electricity procurement agreement that will save Maryland taxpayers more than
$31.3 million over a two-year period.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has been awarded a $12.5
million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
to enhance understanding of the ecosystems of the Atlantic coast, including
Maryland's coastal bays. The University
of Baltimore (UB) Student Center has been honored with an Award of Merit from Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine in
its Best of 2006 Awards edition.
University of Maryland University College has officially opened its Dorsey
Station Center, UMUC's newest location, located on the MARC train line in
Elkridge.
The University of Maryland,
Baltimore (UMB) School of Law's Trial Team swept the team and individual
national championship titles at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy's
17th annual "Tournament of Champions"; UMB's School of Nursing has
begun the first Doctor of Nursing Practice program ever in Maryland; and the
most advanced Dental School in the world has officially opened at UMB. Towson University (TU) President Robert
Caret was recently inducted into the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
Business Hall of Fame. TU is also
enhancing its offerings at the USM Hagerstown center with bachelor's and
master's programs in nursing beginning next year. In addition, TU has launched its Capital Campaign, aiming to
raise $50 million for endowment. The
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and Montgomery College have
launched a new program that will provide guaranteed admission and scholarship
opportunities to qualified Montgomery College transfer students who wish to
complete their bachelor's degrees at UMBC.
Chancellor Kirwan reported on the
statewide listening tour. A full report
will be completed early next year, which will include recommendations and
action steps.
(A copy of the Chancellor's complete report is on file with the
minutes.)
3.
Transfer of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) from
University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) to University of
Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Chancellor Kirwan presented the implementation plan for
the transfer. The regents unanimously approved the transfer of the IHV to UMB
and delegated to the Chancellor the authority to finalize and execute the
related MOU. (Moved by Regent Gill;
seconded by Regent Finan)
4.
Dashboard Indicators. Vice
Chancellor Vivona presented USM's annual dashboard indicators, used to
benchmark and to assess progress across the system's 13 institutions
5.
Chairman Kendall presented the following recommendation:
That the Board approve granting any USM employee 8 hours of
administrative leave if he/she worked as an election judge on November 7, 2006
even if it was not a scheduled duty day for the employee.
The recommendation was unanimously
approved. (Moved by Regent Johnson;
seconded by Regent Pettit)
D. Report
of Councils
1.
President Thelma
Thompson, chair of CUSP, greeted the Regents and guests. Dr. Thompson reported on the work of the USM
System Presidents during the past few months, which included a review and
discussion of enrollment data and trends, programs at regional centers, status
of collective bargaining and several policies and proposals, including the
policy on posthumous degrees, and tuition remission for dependants or retirees
and the STEM, SAT and BRAC residency proposals. The presidents were also apprised of the preliminary findings of
the Governor's Listening Tour. Dr.
Thompson said that the presidents are looking forward to individual
institutional meetings with the Board.
2.
Dr. David Parker, chair of CUSF, reported that CUSF is concerned
about the status of long term adjunct faculty and requested that data on this
be collected. . Chancellor Kirwan
agreed to gather the data and review the issue.
3. Mr. Larry Lauer, chair of CUSS, reported that CUSS met on November
14 and internal committees are working on issues of concern to staff and
institutions. CUSS is planning the
agenda for a joint meeting with the faculty council at College Park.
(A copy of the written report
is on file with the minutes)
4. Mr. Brian Bailey, chair of the USMSC, reported that the
student council is currently interviewing candidates for the student regent
position.
E. Education
Policy Regent Florestano
1.
New Academic Program Proposals
a.
New academic program proposal for the UMES Bachelor of Arts in
History was presented. Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded
by Regent Kelly and unanimously approved.
b.
New academic program proposal for the UMES Bachelor of Science
in Professional Golf Management was presented.
Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Hoffman
and unanimously approved.
2.
Proposed USM Policy on the Award of Posthumous Degrees was
presented. Regent Florestano moved
approval of the new policy; seconded by Regent Heidemann and unanimously approved.
3.
Salisbury University's request for exception to the BOR Policy
III-4.00 - Policy on Undergraduate Admissions was presented. Regent Florestano moved approval of the new
policy; seconded by Regent Hoffman. The
BOR discussed the pros and cons of the proposal. President Dudley-Esbach reported that SU had studied this matter
carefully and taken great care in preparing its proposal. She noted that this is a pilot program rather
than a permanent exemption from BOR policy, and SU will be providing the BOR with
annual reports on student achievement, retention, and graduation upon which to
make an informed decision about the value of the pilot program. Regent Florestano called for a vote;
exemption to policy approved with nine votes in favor and two opposed (Regents
Finan and Nevins).
4.
Opening Fall 2006 Enrollment and FY 2007 Estimated FTE Report. Regent Florestano noted that both the
Education Policy and Finance Committees heard presentations on enrollment and
the information will be presented under the Finance Committee report.
5.
UMCP's Progress with Collaborative School of Public
Health. Regent Florestano reported on
the activities that are now underway, noting that the UMCP will submit its
letter of intent regarding accreditation for the School of Public Health in
March 2007 and anticipates final approval by January 2009. UMB has also submitted its letter of intent
to seek accreditation in August and having received in October the go-ahead
from the Council on Education in Public Health to move forward with development
of its proposal.
6.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education: Reaffirmation of
Accreditation. Regent Florestano
reported that the Education Policy Committee heard the first two, UMUC and UMB,
of a series of presentations by USM institutions that have undergone an
extensive periodic review for the reaffirmation of accreditation by the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
7.
USM STEM-Teach Initiative.
Regent Florestano asked Chancellor Kirwan to present the USM STEM-Teach
Initiative. The Chancellor discussed
the proposed initiative, which is modeled on the successful UTeach program at
the University of Texas at Austin, to recruit more science and mathematics
majors into teaching by establishing new programs within colleges of mathematics
and sciences in collaboration with colleges of education.
8.
Maryland Higher Education Commission Low Productivity Report
2006. Regent Florestano reported that the Committee heard a report on the
annual review of programs that have been identified by MHEC as low productivity
programs. In 2006 a total of thirteen
programs at three USM institutions were so identified, and all have either been
discontinued, granted a three-year exemption, or granted a permanent exemption.
F. Finance Committee Regent Pevenstein
1.
Opening Fall 2006 Enrollment and FY 2007 Estimated FTE
Report. Regent Pevenstein reported that
a complete briefing on the enrollment report was provided to both the Education
Policy and Finance Committees. Vice
Chancellor spoke briefly on the Fall 2006 enrollment trends and the estimated
FTE enrollment for FY 2007.
2.
FY 2008 Operating Budget Request. Vice Chancellor Vivona reviewed the FY 2008 Budget Preparation
Task List with the BOR.
3. Waiver
of Certain Residency Requirements for Relocating Defense Contractor Employees
under BRAC 2005. Regent Pevenstein
moved approval of the BOR resolution that provides a waiver of residency
requirements for defense contractor employees who are relocated under BRAC
2005. The waiver is for a five-year period. Motion was seconded by Regent Florestano. The resolution was unanimously approved
4. University
of Baltimore; Facilities Master Plan 2004-2014. Regent Pevenstein reported that UB's FMP was approved by the
Finance Committee in November and moved approval. Seconded by Regent Mitchell;
unanimously approved.
5.
University of Maryland, Baltimore: Renewal of System-wide
Scientific Supplies Contract. Regent
Pevenstein moved approval of the contract, seconded by Regent Krongard and
unanimously approved.
6.
Contingent Category II Employee Conversion to Regular Status-
Annual Report. Regent Prevestein
presented the annual report on the conversion of contingent category II
employees to regular status.
G. Committee
on Organization and Compensation Regent Mitchell
The Committee on Organization and
Compensation met with representatives of Towson University and UMBC at its
September meetings to discuss two proposed collective bargaining MOUs. The Committee recommended approval of both
proposed MOUs and they were approved in executive session on October 27 at the full
board meeting:
1.
Towson University:
Collective Bargaining Memorandum of Understanding - Towson University
Sworn Police Officers (SPO) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
2.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Collective Bargaining Memorandum of
Understanding - UMBC Sworn Police Officers (SPO) and the Fraternal Order of
Police (FOP).
H. Audit
and Inst. Assessment Committee Regent Gill
Regent Gill reported that the
committee reviewed the draft financial statement. The institutions are making significant progress with
presidential engagement being a critical component. The committee approved the internal audit plan for 2007 and noted
that a number of staff positions need to be filled to meet the committee
objectives. The outside quality
assessment review has been very successful.
I. Capital Campaign
Workgroup Regent Krongard
Regent Krongard reported on the
recent meeting of the workgroup. The
focus and priorities of the workgroup are on best practices across U.S. public
institutions and the role of the USM Advancement office in providing
value-added capacity-development services to campuses that need assistance
through 1) professional development workshops, 2) focused consultancies on
campaign planning and staff deployment' 3) provision of data metrics, such as
campaign gift pyramids, and 4) direct fundraising assistance through staff
efforts and the engagement of the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.
J. Effectiveness and
Efficiency Workgroup Regent
Nevins
Regent Nevins reported that the work
group received reports from Vice Chancellors Goldstein and Vivona on the status
of the "Phase II" academic and administrative initiatives. A detailed report of
the Maryland Course Redesign Initiative was presented by Associate Vice
Chancellors Shapiro and Spicer. The
"kick-off" workshop has been held with all USM degree-granting institutions
represented and over 100 faculty participating.
K. Technology
Transfer Workgroup Regent
Gill
Regent Gill reported on the work of the Technology Transfer
Workgroup. The biggest challenge faced
by the institutions is obtaining external funding. TEDCO is developing a report on the State of Maryland in terms of
technology transfer.
The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.