Statement from USM Chancellor Robert L. Caret: USM Acts to Support Maryland's Amazon HQ2 Bid
Adelphi, Md. (Oct. 3, 2017) -- The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents voted
Tuesday to waive the one-year residency requirement for in-state tuition for
employees of Amazon.com Inc. who relocate to Maryland in connection with the
potential construction here of the company’s second headquarters. Following the vote, USM Chancellor Robert
Caret issued the following statement.
"Today, the University System of
Maryland (USM) Board of Regents acted to support Maryland's economy by voting
to grant Amazon employees relocating to Maryland access to in-state tuition at
the system's 12 degree-granting institutions for themselves and their
children. While educational opportunities will not be the only factor in
its decision -- Maryland benefits from a host of economic, transportation,
research, and cultural resources - we are pleased to do our part to help bring
Amazon to Maryland.
The USM is excited to support the state's bid for Amazon's HQ2.
Maryland's commitment to higher education has resulted in one of its most
significant strengths -- a well-educated, highly skilled workforce. Maryland
ranks 3rd nationwide in the percentage of the population age 25 and above with
a bachelor's degree, 2nd in the percentage with a graduate or professional
degree, and 1st in percentage of professional and technical workers.
In an economy driven by knowledge and innovation, USM institutions-as both
educational centers and hubs of research and development-are key contributors
to this critical intellectual infrastructure and to the state's innovation rich
economy. In addition to enrolling more than 170,000 students per year and
retaining 80 percent of our graduates in Maryland, USM attracts to the state
more than $1.3 billion in research funding each year and ranks 8th in federal
R&D funding nationally. In recent years, USM has sought to intensify
our impact on Maryland's economic ecosystem, resulting in an 80 percent
increase in undergraduate STEM degrees, more than 1,750 invention disclosers,
more than 250 technology licenses, and some 550 companies facilitated from the
intellectual and entrepreneurial assets of USM institutions.
We look forward to partnering with Amazon -- as well as government, business
and community leaders throughout the state -- to continue building Maryland's
economy by providing excellent, accessible, and affordable education and
research opportunities for learners, scholars and entrepreneurs."
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
