Today I wish to address an issue of great concern to the General Assembly: As recipients of State subsidy, do we put it to good use?

The General Assembly has made a considerable investment in the University of Maryland during the past several years, for which we are very grateful. I am also especially grateful for two recent commitments that do much to firm up prospects for our future. Strengthening the biosciences has been my top priority since I arrived because strength in bioscience is critically important to the future of the University and to the State's leadership in the biotech industry. The Governor's recent inclusion of $58.2 million in the capital budget for completion of the biosciences research building is a very heartening sign of confidence in the University and is a commitment to the future. The $15.9 million designated by Governor Ehrlich for financial aid support for students is a down payment on the pledge of the State that no qualified Maryland student will be denied the opportunity of a quality education.

Given the serious commitments by the State over the past few years, it is useful at this point to ask what we have accomplished with the support of the State and to evaluate our progress. In my testimony this year, I wish to make four points:

1. If we measure University progress in achieving the State's goal of national eminence, we find that we have taken long strides at closing the gap between the University and its designated peers.
2. Because of the intensely competitive environment among universities and because of the relatively short time we have been recognized as a challenger for the top ranks, we cannot relax our combined efforts to move forward. Sustaining our momentum is crucial to our future achievement.

3. Through strategic use of available resources, we have managed to move close to the top rank of universities in spite of the major funding gaps between us and the public universities at the top.

4. The University has demonstrated that it can achieve the next level of excellence and become an even greater asset for the State, but to do so requires a new partnership of funding built on State support, tuition provided by students and their parents, and funds generated by the University's initiatives.