University System of Maryland Communications Council

(formerly University Relations Council)

With the formation of the University System of Maryland (USM) in 1988, the USM Regents and Chancellor, in consultation with the presidents of the constituent institutions, recommended the formation of a systemwide council on university relations.
  
The resulting University Relations Council, now known as the University System Communications Council (USMCC), comprises chief communications (including marketing and public relations) officers from each of the USM institutions and regional higher education centers. The USM vice chancellor for communications chairs the council.

At its June 2009 retreat, the council voted unanimously to change the group's name from the University Relations Council to the University System Communications Council. The new name reflects more accurately the broad range of communications issues and topics with which the council deals.

The USCC meets four times a year and communicates frequently about all aspects of communications, serving as a forum for: 

• establishing systemwide communications goals, policies, procedures, and practices; 
• identifying mutually supportive strategies among USM institutions; 
• developing cooperative arrangements that increase efficiency and effectiveness in communications practices;  
• developing and implementing multi-institutional initiatives, including gathering information for systemwide media inquiries and collaborating on systemwide ads; 
• ensuring consistency of messages where appropriate; 
• sharing best practices;   
• facilitating professional development.