Press Release

Board of Regents to Meet April 7 at Bowie State University

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents will meet in public session on Friday, April 7 at 1 p.m. in the Special Collections Room of the Conference Center on the second floor of the Terrace Lounge of the Thurgood Marshall Library at Bowie State University.

The meeting will include board action on the following items:

• Annual presentation of Regents Faculty Awards to 13 faculty members from several USM institutions.
  
  
• A new standard for information technology for all USM institutions. Among its recommendations, the proposal calls for all students to have access to a computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The institutions will address the standard in the manner most suited to their missions and constituencies.
  
  
• Request from the University of Maryland, College Park to increase the scope and funding for the new arena project. Approval would permit the construction of a new Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) practice field for $850,000, and installation of catering and concession equipment for $1.5 million.
  
  
• Request from College Park to change the scope, funding and financing plan for the computer science addition to the A.V. Williams Building, part of the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Current plans call for the addition of new space to accommodate the rapid rise in the number of computer science students as well as future industrial partnerships.
  
  
• New courses: From Towson University, a master's degree in Applied Gerontology, a master's in Nursing, a post baccalaureate certificate in Nursing Education, an applied doctorate in Occupational Science, bachelor of arts/bachelor of science in Earth Space Science, and bachelor of arts/bachelor of science in Geology; from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a bachelor's degree in Financial Economics; from the University of Maryland, College Park, a master's degree in Second Language Acquisition and Application; and from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, master's degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
  
  
• Policies pertaining to professional librarians and professional and/or research leave for faculty members engaged exclusively or primarily in library services; part-time faculty engaged exclusively or primarily in library services; and appointment, rank and tenure of faculty to accommodate professional librarians.

The Board also will receive several informational reports:

• Annual report on Intercollegiate Athletics, as summarized from reports submitted by the eight USM institutions participating in ICA programs.
  
  
• Revised timeline for institutional mission statements, for consideration by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
  
  
• Update on MHEC's draft of a state plan for higher education.
  
  
• Review of a grant program designed to increase minority participation in the life sciences.
  
  

Full agenda and background information will be available at the meeting.

Sign language interpreters and/or other appropriate accommodations for eligible individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please call 301/445-2756 (voice) or 301/314-7683 (TTY/ITT) to make special arrangements.

Contact:

Chris Hart
Phone: 301/445-2739
Pager: 301/507-2316
E-mail: chart@usmd.edu