Chancellor's Report to the Board of Regents on Feb. 14
Report to the USM Board of Regents
Chancellor Jay A. Perman
University of Maryland, Baltimore County | February 14, 2025
It’s difficult to be together today without one of our own, Dr. Ron Nowaczyk. Ron’s leadership of Frostburg State was grounded in his love for the university, for the people it serves, for the communities it anchors. That same commitment animated his many friendships, and those of us lucky enough to know Ron felt it every day. Our thoughts are with Ron’s family, and with everyone at Frostburg State. He is deeply missed.
I’m exceptionally grateful to President Al Delia, whose leadership of Frostburg over several months gave Ron the time he needed to focus on his health and his loved ones.
Next month, we’ll welcome Dr. Darlene Brannigan Smith to the interim presidency, as we gear up this summer for a national search.
I’m delighted to welcome our newest regent, the Hon. Harry Coker. Mr. Secretary, I look forward to deepening our already-strong collaboration in producing Maryland’s workforce and powering its economy.
As we come together for our first meeting of the new year, I invite you to reflect on the one that’s just ended. In our Annual Report, which you have in your materials, you’ll see several nods to our new branding campaign: For the Good of Maryland. Its launch couldn’t be better timed. As we face a significant budget cut, together with uncertainty in DC—topics I’ll return to later—it’s essential that we tell the story of who we are, what we do, and why we matter.
UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE
Just one of the reasons we matter is our rich research enterprise. Yesterday, the Carnegie Foundation released its latest research classifications, using updated methodology that—finally—names UMB an R1 university, joining College Park and UMBC. Long overdue. Congratulations, Dr. Jarrell.
The update also includes a new Research designation, identifying universities with at least $2.5 million in research. Joining this new classification are Bowie, Towson, Salisbury, and UBalt. Congratulations to you all.
Let me turn to our host this morning, UMBC. As President Sheares Ashby noted, UMBC is now among the nation’s top 10 universities in NASA funding. This is what intentional, long-standing partnership achieves—a nearly 30-year collaboration with NASA. An incredible win, President Sheares Ashby.
UMBC has also inked a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, opening up opportunities for UMBC students to grow our corps of public servants. Clearly, this is the time for it.
And, of course, in nurturing our public servants, UMBC models public service. In partnership with Maryland’s CASH program, UMBC students are again providing free tax prep assistance to Marylanders who need the help. It was great to see so many state and federal leaders celebrate the kickoff with you, Valerie.
Bowie State is marking 160 years of excellence, and President Breaux has been making the media rounds, talking about the university’s growing campus, its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, its new STEM offerings that will power the next century of innovation. Congratulations, President Breaux.
UMCES is also celebrating a milestone—100 years of pioneering environmental research, education, and engagement. Over the last few weeks, UMCES has held centennial launches at their labs across the state, and I was delighted to take part in Baltimore’s. Of course, the centennial is more than a celebration of UMCES’s past; it’s a commitment to a future of global leadership in climate and environmental action. President Miralles-Wilhelm, congratulations on 100 years.
Joining UMCES in the centennial club is the University of Baltimore. UBalt has centered its anniversary programming on the transformative power of higher education; a commitment to academic excellence; and civic engagement as a fundamental human duty. At a celebration last month, we explored how UBalt will draw on its assets to reimagine its work shaping the future of Baltimore and Maryland. President Schmoke, it was an honor to join you.
If you think we’re done with centennials, you’re wrong. Salisbury University is commemorating 100 years of impact—impact that extends to the communities it enriches. And to that point, the university’s tireless work to bring a performing arts center to downtown Salisbury was just advanced with a $2 million grant from the state. Congratulations, President Lepre.
I have one last anniversary to acknowledge: Coppin State is celebrating 125 years. A profile in Diverse magazine references President Jenkins’s twin focus on expanding high-demand academic programs and corporate partnerships. Showcasing both is JP Morgan Chase’s $500,000 commitment to help Coppin expand career pathways in Data Science. Congratulations, President Jenkins.
Through a Maryland Industrial Partnerships grant, Frostburg State is teaming up with USGI AI to develop a telehealth platform that will expand gastrointestinal treatment available to underserved communities, bridging critical gaps in rural health care access. So badly needed, President Delia. Thank you.
Last month, UMB cut the ribbon on 4MLK in the university’s BioPark. The eight-story building is a critical answer to a perennial need: sufficient—and sufficiently modern—wet lab space to power the city’s booming biotech sector. And it’s a gateway to West Baltimore, drawing more investment to an area that needs it. President Jarrell, this has long been a dream for both of us. Congratulations on getting it done.
Staying with 4MLK, thanks to a $10 million gift from the Edward St. John Foundation, the 4th floor of that building is now a translational science center, bringing together UMB’s clinicians and College Park’s engineers in accelerating how quickly we translate bench research into devices and therapies that are shaped by patients’ and providers’ real-life concerns.
At College Park, Gov. Moore announced a partnership linking the state, the university, and IonQ in a bid to make Maryland the global leader in quantum technology. The $27 million in proposed state funds could catalyze as much as $1 billion in public and private investment, not only fueling economic growth but centering Maryland in revolutionizing the many sectors that quantum touches. Congratulations, President Pines.
At Towson University, a new partnership with Harford County Public Schools is aimed at filling crippling teacher shortages. The Pathway for Paraeducators program offers the county’s classroom assistants no-cost courses and on-the-job training as they work toward full teacher certification. Thank you, President Ginsberg.
UMES will host NOAA’s 11th Educational Partnership Program, focusing on critical issues in marine and environmental science, from extreme weather to sustainable aquaculture. Thank you for this work, Provost Allen.
UMGC is partnering with Ancora High School, an online secondary school whose adult students can earn a traditional high school diploma. The partnership creates for these students a seamless transition into higher ed. Thank you, President Fowler.
At our regional centers, the USM at Southern Maryland hosted a delegation from the AUKUS Forum—a trilateral security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.—to explore how researchers, contractors, and the Defense Department might collaborate for mutual benefit. AUKUS is the largest manufacturing project in the history of Australia. Dr. Abel, I know it was a great opportunity to showcase your assets and programs, and to bring together your local, state, and federal partners.
The USM at Hagerstown is collaborating with UBalt’s Merrick School of Business to bring its top-ranked MBA program to Western Maryland. Thank you, Dr. Ashby.
And the Universities at Shady Grove is marshalling networking events and panel conversations to reimagine connections that prepare students for local industry and connect them with local employers. Thank you, Dr. Khademian.
FY 2026 USM BUDGET
Let me turn to the governor’s FY26 budget proposal. And I’ll be frank: With Maryland facing a $3 billion deficit, we went into legislative session expecting to suffer significant cuts. And we did. The governor’s proposed appropriation for the USM is down more than $105M over last year—a base cut of nearly 5%.
Without question, this cut is painful. I made the point in Annapolis that when you’re already a lean organization—and we are—very few “painless” cuts remain.
So, yes, every one of our universities will face difficult choices. But as challenging as this budget is, it’s also one that our universities have been planning for. And enshrined in those plans is a guiding principle: That we’ll insulate our people—as much as possible—from the impact of cuts. For our employees, it means we’ll exhaust every other personnel action before reducing our existing workforce. For our students, it means we’ll protect financial aid to the extent we can, and continue to prioritize the affordability that Maryland families depend on.
Now, for all the challenges that this year and this budget bring, there are bright spots, too. In his State of the State Address, Gov. Moore outlined his growth agenda, calling for investments in quantum, AI, clean energy, aerospace, biotech—all strengths of this System. All sectors that we help power.
And so we’re partnering with the state to ensure these industries thrive right here in Maryland, fueled by our influence and expertise. This work will be advanced by my service on the governor’s Economic Competitiveness Subcabinet under the leadership of Sec. Coker. I look forward to our collaboration.
CALM IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY
The last topic I’ll address relates to the uncertainty we’re navigating as the federal transition affects our operations, our programs, and our budgets. As we assess the impact of Executive Orders and other actions on our System and our schools, the presidents and I are meeting weekly, and my leadership team is doing the same with their university counterparts. We’re sharing information and implications, as we know them, and planning our next steps as a group. Because that’s how we work best.
You’re aware that a proposed cut to the NIH indirect cost rate has been paused. These costs are essential to conducting some of the most vital research we do. The rate cut would mean an annual loss of at least $60 million to the System. But that loss doesn’t stay within the System.
Our research enterprise has a ripple effect on Maryland’s economy. A loss of $60 million means Maryland loses $150 million in the economic activity that we, alone, contribute. It means Maryland loses nearly 500 jobs that we, alone, contribute. If the rate cut is applied across federal agencies, those numbers grow significantly. If you add in the impact to universities outside the System, the loss to Maryland is overwhelming.
We’re grateful that the lawsuit Maryland joined to block implementation was successful, and that our state and congressional leaders are advocating for us—and for the lifesaving work we do.
Our students are concerned about many of these same things. I’ve heard from the USM Student Council, and from student groups at our universities. They’re worried about threats to research and diminishing opportunities in the R&D space. They’re worried about shrinking federal internships, which have long been a mainstay for our students, and about family finances should DC layoffs reach into their own homes, or should their financial aid be cut off. They’re worried about their safety on campus, given immigration enforcement, and about their place at our universities—whether they’re still welcome and valued and supported.
I hear our students’ concerns. I understand their anxiety. And I want them to know that we welcome all, and value all, and support all. Always. Our values are our values. They don’t change. We’ll come through this uncertainty together, as strong as we’ve ever been—ready, able, and unafraid to do what our new campaign tells us to do: Change the world, for good.
Madame Chair, this concludes my report.
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Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
