Testimony, March 2005, Office of the President, University of Maryland

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Determining the Future

The General Assembly of Maryland dreamed big in 1988 when it mandated that the University of Maryland, College Park would be a Flagship institution ranked among the very best in the nation. It is unusual for a university to be singled out with its mission and expected achievements written into state law. But that is what the State of Maryland has done—and not once, but twice. That dream was reaffirmed in the 1999 Senate Bill 682. The commitment and the investment by the State were the necessary fuels for the rise of this state university to a rank among the nation’s top 20. All can now see that our position among the best makes a difference to the students we attract, the faculty we recruit, the partnerships we forge, and the resources we provide for the economic development of the State and its citizens.

Our many successes are proof that we can compete with the best and excel. Through all the financial turbulence caused by the recent recession and rising costs, the University has held its own in every area. We have demonstrated that unrelenting, unforgiving, and unapologetic determination required of a great university. That gives us confidence to continue our pursuit of excellence and a ranking among the nation’s top 10 public universities.

This accomplishment will not be possible without the renewed commitment by the State to its own mandate. If the State stands behind its great dream to guarantee a nationally top-quality educational future for the citizens of Maryland, we will deliver that remarkable university.

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