USM Receives Strong Support in Approved Operating, Capital Budgets from State of Maryland at End of 2013 Maryland General Assembly Session

Adelphi, Md. (April 9, 2013) -- With the passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget, Governor O'Malley and the Maryland General Assembly have reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Maryland's public universities affordable and of the highest quality. The operating and capital budgets were approved when the Maryland General Assembly completed its work for the 2013 legislative session in a late-evening session on April 8 before adjourning Sine Dei.

Overall, state general fund and Higher Education Investment Fund for the USM will increase by just more than $80.5 million in FY 2014 to approximately $1.115 billion. This funding level represents an increase of 7.5% over FY 2013. The 2014 fiscal year begins on July 1, 2013 and ends on June 30, 2014.

"The operating and capital budgets approved at the end of the 2013 legislative session reflect a strong commitment to public higher education in Maryland by Governor O'Malley and the General Assembly. Despite the state's and nation's fiscal challenges, the governor has remained steadfast in his commitment to keep higher education affordable in Maryland," said USM Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan. "Moreover, he and the General Assembly have made an impressive investment in the University System of Maryland to support our college completion efforts, expand enrollment in the critical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, and advance research and economic development.  With this budget, USM can make considerable strides in serving our students better and advancing the economy and quality of life in Maryland.

"I want to offer special words of thanks for the dedicated work in support of our budget throughout the session by our student advocacy leaders and the USM State Relations Council, all working together under the very skillful leadership of Vice Chancellor for Government Relations P.J. Hogan."

The operating budget includes $22 million in enhancement funds to develop key priorities of the USM, the governor and the General Assembly. These include targeted enrollment initiatives for disciplines in health and STEM; research and technology transfer initiatives; academic transformation; and college degree completion.

On the capital budget side, with a commitment of approximately $226 million in FY 2014 in general obligation and academic revenue bonds, the General Assembly approved all of the USM projects included in the governor's capital budget. The System relies heavily on its campus infrastructure to deliver quality academic programs and house critical research.

The capital budget includes $22.695 million for planning and construction of the Aviation Science and Engineering Building at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; $5.3 million for equipment in the Physical Science Complex at the University of Maryland, College Park; $16.57 million for planning and construction of Health Sciences Facility III at the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and a bond issue that will raise $54.4 million for construction and equipment for the new Science and Technology Center at Coppin State University.

USM Office of Government Relations: 2013 End of Session Report

Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu