Governor Ehrlich Applauds USM Board's Decision to Waive Residency Requirements for BRAC Employees

BALTIMORE, MD (October 27, 2006) - Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced that the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has waived certain residency requirements for civilian employees of the U.S. Armed Forces who move to Maryland as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decisions. The board approved the measure at a meeting at Coppin State University in Baltimore today.

"I applaud the Board of Regents for its decision to extend in-state tuition to those relocating to Maryland as a result of BRAC initiatives," said Governor Ehrlich. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the state's newest residents to obtain a high quality education at any of the University System of Maryland's prestigious institutions at in-state tuition levels. It's another example of the collaborative effort that brought Maryland tremendous success in the recent BRAC decisions."

"The University System of Maryland is very pleased to be an active partner in the state's BRAC process," said Clifford M. Kendall, chairman of the USM Board of Regents. "Our action today demonstrates the system's ongoing commitment to promoting the state's economic and workforce development."

The state stands to gain as many as 60,000 new jobs - both directly and indirectly related to BRAC growth at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Meade, Andrews Air Force Base and National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda - over the next five years. The USM Board of Regents' resolution waives the 12-month residency requirement for the affected civilian employees, their spouses and dependent children. Employees will be required to submit documentation of a BRAC-related transfer from the U.S. Department of Defense or the appropriate military unit.

The USM Board of Regents adopted a similar resolution in 1996, waiving the 12-month residency requirement for the civilian employees of the U.S. Navy whose jobs were transferred to the Patuxent Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, Md.

Maryland's BRAC preparations began in earnest in 2003, shortly after Governor Ehrlich took office. Working with the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor created the Maryland Military Installation Strategic Planning Council to bring together federal, state and local agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, economic development partners, and military alliances. A series of summits throughout the state provided forums in which public, private and military partners could begin preparations for BRAC decisions. The Office of Military and Federal Affairs in the Department of Business and Economic Development is coordinating Maryland's BRAC effort, which has been recognized and adopted by other states in anticipation of future BRAC initiatives.

Contact: Anne Moultrie
Phone: 301.445.2722
Email: amoultrie@usmd.edu