Press Release - USM Capital Campaign Surpasses $500 Million Mark
February 10, 2000
USM Capital Campaign Surpasses $500 Million Mark
The University System of Maryland's capital campaign has
surpassed the half-billion dollar mark and is well on its way to meeting its
goal of $700 million by 2002, according to a report from the February 4 USM
Board of Regents meeting at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
The Board was presented with figures showing more than $513 million raised by
the 13 USM institutions and the USM Office since 1995 for the "Make a
Lasting Impression" campaign.
"We continue to amaze ourselves and our donors with the strength and
vitality of this campaign," said USM Chancellor Donald N. Langenberg.
"Every dollar of private support is an affirmation that our institutions
are moving to the front ranks of public higher education, and that for each of
our campuses, truly the best is yet to come."
Nathan A. Chapman Jr., chairman of the Board of Regents, added: "The
success of this campaign so far is an indication that public higher education is
seen as an investment in a state's long-term prospects. Our institutions are
helping Maryland move forward on a fast track."
As of December 31, $47 million has been raised towards the fiscal year goal
of $127 million.
In other news from the Board of Regents meeting, the Board approved a
resolution on technological fluency for all USM students. The resolution states,
in part, that "[t]he presidents and faculty leadership of the USM
institutions shall develop institutional plans to assure that all graduates of
USM institutions are information technology fluent, commensurate with the needs
of the marketplace in their chosen majors and/or career choices."
The Board also affirmed an action plan stemming from the American Council on
Education report To Touch the Future: Transforming the Way Teachers Are
Taught. The action plan calls for institution presidents to effectively
address the coming shortage of teachers by moving teacher education "closer
to the center of the institutional mission and agenda."
The Regents also approved financing of $17.6 million through certificates of
participation to pay for a new wing for the Robert H. Smith School of Business
at the University of Maryland, College Park. The cost of approximately $1.7
million per year for 15 years will be paid with revenues generated by the School
of Business Graduate Program. The total cost of the project is expected to be
$28 million.
Contact:
Chris Hart
Phone: 301/445-2739
E-mail: chart@usmd.edu
