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University System of Maryland Board of Regents

  February 16, 2007

Minutes of the Public Session

A.     Chairman Kendall called the meeting of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to order at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 16, 2007 at Bowie State University. Those in attendance were:  Chairman Kendall, Regents Brady, Florestano, Gill, Heidemann, Hoffman, Johnson, Kelly, Mandel, Mitchell, Nevins, and Pettit. Chancellor Kirwan, Vice Chancellors Goldstein, Vivona and Raley; Assistant Attorneys General Goedert and Short; USM Presidents Aldridge, Battle, Boesch, Bogomolny, Burnim, Caret, Gibralter, Hrabowski, Hunter-Cevera, Mote, Ramsay, Thompson, and other institutional representatives; Ms. Ryan; Ms. Doyle, USM Staff; members of the press and others.

 B.     Dr. Burnim welcomed the Regents and others to the campus and introduced a number of students from Bowie State University:  Jessica Reid, Terrence Briscoe, and Darryl Davis.  President Burnim discussed his experiences at Bowie for the past six months as president.  He reported that an updated strategic plan is being developed and that three new vice presidents have been hired. 

 C.     Committee of the Whole

1.      Chairman Kendall presented the Minutes of December 1, 2006 for approval.  The minutes were unanimously approved. (Moved by Regent Mitchell, seconded by Regent Hoffman).


2.      Chancellor Kirwan presented his report to the Board. A summary follows:  

Chancellor Kirwan thanked President Mickey Burnim and Bowie State University for hosting the meeting today and noted the remarkable impact Dr. Burnim has had in less than one-half year as President.   Chancellor Kirwan also noted that the former Bowie State University president, Dr. James Earl Lyons, Sr., was nominated as Secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission by Governor Martin O'Malley.

Chancellor Kirwan reported on numerous achievements of USM institutions.  Coppin State University's Laptop Ownership Program was listed as #30 of "101 Best Practices", in Campus Technology magazine.  Salisbury University (SU) was named in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine one of its 2007 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.  The University of Baltimore (UB) has signed its first articulation agreements with Harford Community College in four undergraduate subject areas: criminal justice, business, real estate and forensic science.  University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) staff, faculty, and retirees raised nearly $470,000 for the 2006 Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC), making it the number one contributor in the state for the third consecutive year.  University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) President Freeman Hrabowski delivered the Robert H. Atwell Lecture at the American Council on Education's 2007 Annual Meeting, which is widely considered to be one of the most important higher education addresses of the year.  The University of Maryland, College Park received national recognition in the Peace Corps' Annual Rankings of Top Colleges and Universities.  University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) President Thelma Thompson has been selected as the primary negotiator for regulations relating to accreditation of student financial aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1964.   The formal installation of Susan Aldridge as the fifth president of the University of Maryland University College was held last week.  The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) has forged a partnership with FSU and West Virginia University to pave the way for the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) launched a new Speakers Bureau at the Horn Point Laboratory designed to increase understanding and involvement of  initiatives related to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Chancellor Kirwan also provided examples of the ongoing USM commitment to the victims of Katrina. 

The Chancellor reported on the status of the FY 08 budget.  Governor O'Malley's proposed budget would provide an increase of 6.8 percent-$63.6 million-in general funds.  This funding will enable the USM to address priorities of quality, access, and affordability. 

Chancellor Kirwan discussed a number of bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly including HB 81 and SB 29, which address the issue of Academic Program Duplication.   The Chancellor also reported on efforts toward a resolution on the issue of offering retirement benefits to longtime contract full-time non-tenure-track faculty members. 

Finally, the Chancellor noted the importance of educating the Governor, the legislature and the public at large on the importance of higher education.  A recent study funded by the Pew Center on the States ranked Maryland in the top-5 in this index, noting that smart states, like smart companies, make the most of their investments by ensuring that young people's education is connected from one stage to the next - reducing the chances that students will be lost along the way or will require costly remedial programs to acquire skills or knowledge they could have learned right from the start. 

(A copy of the Chancellor's complete report is on file with the minutes.)

 

3.      Award to the Chancellor.  Chairman Kendall reported that Chancellor Kirwan received the Speaker's Medallion Award, awarded by the Maryland House of Representatives.  This is a very prestigious award honoring an individual who gave extraordinary service to the state.

4.      Report on Governor's Higher Education      Transition Team.  Dr. Hrabowski reported on the Governor's Higher Education      Transition Team which he co-chaired with Chairman Kendall.  The Work Group had over sixty participants representing all segments of higher education -- ranging from presidents and provosts to administrators, faculty, students, interest group representatives, business people, and citizens.  The Team held meetings across the State in a four week period during which they heard from key figures (the Chancellor, representatives from DBED, GWIB, and from higher ed. segments), developed a document that discusses the key issues facing higher education and includes policy recommendations. The draft document has been submitted to the Governor's staff and will be published with the other work groups' work products. Dr. Hrabowski reported that a key consideration was the impact of the changing demographics of students in the state.  A series of recommendations were included in the report under four broad areas: quality, access, affordability and accountability.

5.      Walter Sondheim Jr. Resolution.  Chairman Kendall noted that with the death of Walter Sondheim Jr., the state had lost a great advisor to governors, civic leaders, and educators.  His extraordinary contribution to advancing the desegregation of Baltimore schools, advancing economic development, and to advancing higher education are legendary.  Chairman Kendall requested that Chancellor Kirwan prepare a USM resolution to honor Mr. Sondheim's great contributions to the University of Maryland System and the entire state.  

D.       Report of Councils

1.      President Thelma Thompson, chair of CUSP, greeted the regents and guests.  Dr. Thompson reported that the Council had met twice since the last meeting of the BOR.  The issues discussed included:  operating and capital budgets for FY 2008 being considered by the General Assembly, retirement benefits for non-tenure faculty, the presidents' meetings with the BOR, and the USM legislative agenda.

2.      Dr. David Parker, chair of CUSF, presented the report of the Council of University System Faculty.   Dr. Parker reported that the Council of University System Faculty and the Council of University System Staff met in a joint session to discuss the issue of providing uniform benefits for non-tenured instructional faculty who work on a contractual basis at all USM institutions.  The Councils passed a joint resolution urging the Board of Regents, the Chancellor and System Office to investigate and resolve this issue as rapidly as possible.

3.      Mr. Larry Lauer, chair of CUSS, presented the report of the Council of University System Staff.  Mr. Lauer also reported on the joint CUSS and CUSF meeting.  A number of issues were discussed, including optional retirement program (ORP) enhancement, tuition remission benefits, contractual employees, faculty and staff, and COLA and merit pay programs.  CUSS passed a resolution with CUSF urging the BOR, Chancellor and Presidents to investigate and resolve the issue of benefits for full time, non tenured track faculty members.  CUSS also met in January 2007 and received the Regents Staff Award nominations and discussed the timing of ORP enhancement and reinstatement of merit pay for non-exempt staff.

4.      Mr. David Butler presented the report of University System of Student Council.  Mr. Butler reported a very successful Annapolis 101 event, which was combined with Student Research Day in partnership with CUSF. The events were well attended by numerous legislators, including Senate President Mike Miller, as well as Regents Kendall, Mandel, Florestano and Heidemann. 

E.      Education Policy Committee                          Regent Florestano

 

1.      Report on the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males.  Regent Johnson and Mr. Dunbar Brooks, Vice President of the Maryland State Board of Education, provided a summary and responded to questions about the report of the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males, which they co-chaired.  This report documents a daunting and persistent problem on which the state has seemingly made little significant progress in the past decade since the Governor's Commission on Black Males, chaired by Elijah E. Cummings, issued its report. 

2.      New Academic Program Proposals

a.      New academic proposal for a B.A. in Art History at Towson University was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Heidemann and unanimously approved.

b.      New academic proposal for a B.A. in Media and Communication Studies at University of Maryland, Baltimore County was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Johnson and unanimously approved.  

c.      New academic proposal for a B.A. in Gender and Women's Studies at University of Maryland, Baltimore County was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Nevins and unanimously approved.

d.      New academic proposal for a Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Systems at University of Maryland, Baltimore County was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Heidemann and unanimously approved.

e.      New academic proposal for a M.A. in Management of Aging Services University of Maryland, Baltimore County, was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Hoffman and unanimously approved.

f.        New academic proposal for a B.S. in Information Assurance at University of Maryland University College was presented.   Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Brady and unanimously approved.

g.      New academic proposal for a B.S. in Emergency Management at University of Maryland University College was presented.  Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Mandel and unanimously approved.

h.      New academic proposal for a B.S. in Homeland Security at University of Maryland University College was presented.   Regent Florestano moved approval of the new program; seconded by Regent Pettit and unanimously approved.

3.      Middle States Commission on Higher Education:  Reaffirmation of Accreditation - UMES.  Regent Florestano reported on the UMES Middle States Review.  UMES met all 14 accreditation standards with no recommendations and received commendations in Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Revenue), Standard 9 (Student Support Services), Standard 10 (Faculty), and Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning).

4.      Report on the Workload of the USM Faculty.  Regent Florestano reported that the annual Report on the Workload of the USM Faculty was presented to the Education Policy Committee.  The report shows that for AY 2005-2006, the USM collectively exceeded the expected instructional productivity standards (averaging 7.9 course units per FTE faculty member at comprehensive institutions and 6.0 at research institutions).  Further, the aggregate data show that, collectively, the tenured/tenure-track faculty members of each USM institution are generating more course units than expected based on the Board policy.  Those faculty members at comprehensive institutions collectively produced a ratio of 1.1/1, meeting 114% of Regents policy expectations and those at the research institutions produced a ratio of 1.3/1 and met 129% of the Regent's policy expectations.  This increased productivity is likely a factor in the overall reduction in student time-to-degree and the increase in the percentage of students graduating within four years, both indicators highlighted in discussions of E+E.

5.      Maryland Higher Education Commission Student Outcome and Achievement Report.  Regent Florestano reported on the most recent MHEC SOAR report.  The report showed that among Maryland college freshmen in 2004 who completed a college-preparatory curriculum (core) in a state high school, 30 percent were assigned to remedial classes, up from 26 percent in 1999.  This increase is largely due to a 5 percent spike in freshmen taking remedial math classes at public four-year institutions, most of these students were enrolled at UMES, Coppin, and Morgan.  Among the state's traditionally white four-year campuses, Towson University had the highest percentage of students in 2004 requiring remedial math, with more than 20 percent taking such classes.  Finally, the report found that, for the ninth consecutive year, core (college preparatory) students performed better than non-core students on every measure of college achievement.

6.      Report on USM Institutional SAT Profile.  Regent Florestano reported that three institutions reported that at least three quarters of their freshmen class had combined SAT scores greater than 1000 in Fall 2006: Salisbury, UMBC and UMCP.

F.   Finance Committee                                Regent Pevenstein

1.      University System of Maryland:  FY 2008 Operating and Capital Budgets.  Vice Chancellor Joseph Vivona presented a status report on the FY 2008 operating and capital budgets.

2.      University of Maryland, College Park:  Increase Authorization for the Conversion of the Cole Student Activities Building Swimming Pool.  Regent Kelly moved approval; Seconded by Regent Mandel; unanimously approved.

3.      University of Maryland, College Park:  Request Authorization for North Campus Storm Water Drainage Improvements.  Regent Gill moved approval.  Seconded by Regent Kelly; unanimously approved.

4.      University System of Maryland:  Minority Business Enterprise Activity Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2006.  Vice Chancellor Vivona provided a report on the MBE firms (MDOT certified) who were awarded procurement contracts in FY 2006.

5.      University System of Maryland:  Review of Capital Improvement Projects.  Vice Chancellor Vivona provided an information report on the status of capital improvement projects system wide.

G.  Audit and Inst. Assessment Committee.  Regent Gill reported that the February 13, 2007 meeting of the Audit Committee was cancelled due to inclement weather concerns.

H.  Capital Campaign Workgroup.  Regent Kendall reported that the Capital Campaign Workgroup met on January 16 at Towson University and discussed a number of issues critical to the success of USM campuses' and research centers' capital campaigns.  The most recent cumulative campaign total stands at $647 million, with more than $126 million raised so far this fiscal year.  In addition, several institutions reported some major gifts.  It was also noted that the USM Foundation's investment performance for FY 2006--a 14% return--was among the best in the nation, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

I.   Effectiveness and Efficiency Workgroup.  Regent Nevins reported that the E&E Committee met on January 24th and discussed three major initiatives: admissions referral system, dashboard indicators and funding guidelines.  The committee discussed the status of the admissions referral system, including implementation of the pilot program and enhancements for next year.   It was agreed that mid-course improvements to the dashboard indicators would improve information provided, increase utility of the measures, and simplify presentation. It was agreed that a subgroup would convene to discuss the indicators at greater length.  Finally, with regard to the current funding guidelines, the committee was given a report on the funding guidelines and discussed possible future changes and the continuing issues of equity and adequate funding.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

 


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