Councils & Workgroups

Shared Governance

The University System of Maryland practices shared governance. The chancellor and other system administrators consult regularly with the legislatively-mandated, system-wide representative bodies. These groups are the:

Council of University System Presidents
An advisory group to the USM chancellor, the Council of University System Presidents comprises the presidents of USM's 12 institutions.

Council of University System Faculty
CUSF the official body of faculty from the USM to advise the System and the Regents on University Matters.

Council of University System Staff
The USM Council of University System Staff (CUSS) provides non-faculty employees of the University System of Maryland with a voice in the governance of the system.

University System of Maryland Student Council
The USMSC provides a vehicle to ensure that the System leadership is aware of student perspectives and responsive to student concerns and issues

Alumni Relations Council
The Alumni Relations Council (ARC) is made up of alumni relations leaders from each of the USM’s institutions. Members collaborate to advance alumni stewardship and engagement throughout the System.

Vice President's Council
The Vice President’s (VP) Council comprises the vice presidents of advancement from our USM institutions. The council meets three times a year to discuss fundraising progress and trends, resources to build fundraising programs, policies, and other items of interest.

In addition, these systemwide groups work to advance USM:

  • University System of Maryland Communications Council
    The University System of Maryland Communications Council (USMCC) comprises the chief communications officers from the system office and each of the USM institutions. Council members develop public messages in support of systemwide initiatives, and develop strategies and tactics for message dissemination; share best practices in communications; and engage in professional development.

  • USM Women's Forum
    The Women's Forum brings together the women of the University System of Maryland in order to enhance the status of women, to foster networking among women and to encourage the participation of women in all facets of the System.

  • Diversity Network
    The USM embraces the concept of multicultural diversity as well as the many other forms of diversity that exist among its students, faculty, staff and other members of our campus communities.

  • USM P20
    USM P20 is a collaborative effort among all segments of the educational community. The goal of the Partnership is to give all students in the state the very best public education by setting high standards for teaching and learning.

  • Information Technology Coordinating Council
    The University System of Maryland (USM) Information Technology Coordinating Council shall coordinate information technology activities of the USM that transcend an individual campus. It is a forum for collaboration, communication, and joint action on information technology issues within the USM.

  • MD Education Enterprise Consortium
    Led by the University System of Maryland, MEEC leverages its size and volume to all education providers in Maryland at very attractive prices. Currently, 100+ Maryland educational institutions participate in MEEC projects, including higher education, K-12, public, and private schools. The primary bond was forged to negotiate an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft. Since then, anti-virus software and discounted training for IT professionals have been added. Participation in all aspects of the consortium is voluntary and non-exclusive.

  • System Research Administrators' Group (SRAG)
    SRAG members are those individuals who are responsible for administering research grants and contracts. The group was established as a means to share the ways they are responding to changes in federal or State administrative rules, to clarify reporting requirements, and to propose changes in