Taking Stock: State of the University 1999-2004, Office of the President, University of Maryland

Providing an outstanding educational experience

Our second theme was to enhance the educational experience of all our students. We've passed a number of signposts along this road too.

The first one flashed "special programs." In the early 1990's the campus developed special programs that enhanced the educational experience for some of our students. Honors, Gemstone and College Park Scholars symbolized these special programs offering remarkable living-learning experiences. To provide broadened opportunities for more students we committed to adding10 new programs to the 25 special programs operating in 1999. And as of 2004 we have added 13 new programs, including CIVICUS, the Hinman CEO Program, and the Writer's House.

I strongly believe that every student should have the opportunity for a special program experience. We're not quite there yet, but we'll be there soon. I am very grateful to the provost and his staff for creating a new program that they call the President's Promise. The President's Promise will guarantee a special program opportunity for all students entering as freshmen in Fall 2005. The programs will include study abroad, internships in government and the private sector, research and independent study and so on. When fully implemented, this Promise will complete our pledge.

My personal view is that international experience should be a high priority for all our students. In 2004 one cannot be fully educated without an understanding of the values and circumstances of other cultures that can only be acquired through first hand experience. There is no replacing being there.

A second signpost is the number of beds. In 1999 we were experiencing a demand for on-campus housing that could not be satisfied. All 9,000 beds were full and the waiting list numbered 700. We committed to add 2,000 beds to the housing stock by 2004. And as of now, we have added more than 2,500 beds, which means that we rank nationally as a top-5 university provider of beds. Much remains to be accomplished. We need more housing opportunities for: international students, transfer students and married students. Private housing is being developed around the campus that will expand opportunities for many people, including students and also faculty, staff and visitors.

A third road sign is financial aid. Adequate financial aid was a problem even before the recent budget cuts and tuition increases. In 1999 we committed to raise $25 million for need-based aid. And we have raised and distributed $29.3 million in need-based aid and raised another $17.3 million in aid from private sources.

We have to do a lot more. On the 18th, next Saturday night, we are hosting a scholarship benefit that is called "Hot Hot Hot." It kicks off a multiyear effort whose principal goal is to raise scholarship and fellowship support. "Hot Hot Hot," which is chaired by my wife Patsy, has raised more than a million dollars for scholarships so far. Alumni, friends and businesses have generously underwritten it. All contributions to the benefit go to scholarships of the donor's choosing.

But, regrettably, the student financial aid problem will not be solved by scholarships alone because, simply put, there is not enough scholarship money available. We also need to limit the total student debt burden.

This fall we initiated the Maryland Pathways program. This program provides a student coming from a poverty circumstance the chance to graduate from Maryland debt free. This is an about face from our earlier requirement that a student must maximize allowable debt before a need-based scholarship could be available. About 300 students are participating this Fall and there will be 500 by next year. We are also working on another program, Maryland Pathways II that will cap the federally approved debt at graduation for resident students. As a consequence, an entering full-time student would have a predictable debt ceiling at graduation. Scholarships will be used to control the total debt in these programs.

A fourth sign flashes the Baltimore Incentive Awards Program. In 1999 I committed to creating an incentive scholarship program for students who have overcome great disadvantage in their circumstances. We would provide them with a full scholarship for four years, and they would help us build a pipeline of students from Baltimore City public high schools to Maryland. Thus the Baltimore Incentive Awards Program was born in nine high schools four years ago. The fourth class, entering this semester, joins an enthusiastic club of sophomores, juniors and seniors as we prepare to expand the program this year to other high schools in the state. It's got legs.

These signs, and others, show that we are moving down the right road: we are enhancing the educational experiences of our students.

>>Building the Maryland family

Office of the President, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742