University System of Maryland


The University System of Maryland is a public higher education system in the U.S. state of Maryland. It comprises twelve universities and three regional higher education centers located throughout the state of Maryland.

History

In 1974, Maryland, along with seven other states, mainly in the South, submitted plans to desegregate its state universities; Maryland's plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
The University System of Maryland was created in 1988 from the merger of University of Maryland and Board of Trustees of State Universities and Colleges.

Campuses

CampusCityEstablished
enrollment
University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi194747,250UM
University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park185630,760UM
University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimore196611,060UM
University of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne18862,335UM
University of Maryland, BaltimoreBaltimore1807930UM
Towson UniversityTowson186618,810State Univ.
Salisbury UniversitySalisbury19257,650State Univ.
Bowie State UniversityBowie18655,230State Univ.
Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg18984,640State Univ.
University of BaltimoreBaltimore19252,825State Univ.
Coppin State UniversityBaltimore19002,380State Univ.
Universities at Shady GroveRockville2000—Regional center
USM at HagerstownHagerstown2005—Regional center
USM in Southern Maryland——Regional center
UM Center for Environmental ScienceCambridge1925—Research center

With more than 172,000 students at all levels, USM institutions award 78 percent of bachelor's degrees in Maryland.

Finances

Nearly 50 percent of undergraduates graduate without debt. USM institutions attract more than $1.4 billion in research and development funding to the state annually and have helped foster the creation of more than 700 startup companies since 2011. The system's Aa1 bond rating enables its institutions to borrow at lower costs to students, families and taxpayers. Related effectiveness and efficiency initiatives have saved Marylanders nearly $600 million in administrative costs since 2004.

Governance

The USM is governed by a board of regents and led by a chancellor, who serves as the CEO of the university system and leads the USM Office.

USM Board of Regents

A 17-member volunteer Board of Regents, including one full-time student, governs the University System of Maryland. Appointed by the governor, the regents oversee the system's academic, administrative, and financial operations; formulate policy; and appoint the USM chancellor and the presidents of the system's 12 institutions. With the exception of the student member, each regent is appointed for a term of five years, and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. The student regent is appointed for a one-year term, and may be reappointed. Regents serve on the board without compensation.

USM chancellors

The USM Office, led by the system chancellor, is the staff to the Board of Regents. Staff members advocate on behalf of the 12 USM institutions, facilitate collaboration and efficiencies among the institutions, and provide information about the system to the public.
With leadership from the USM Board of Regents and the chancellor, the system office coordinates academic programs, assists with long-range planning and resource management, facilitates private fund raising, and provides financial stewardship.
The system office is headquartered in Baltimore and has locations in Adelphi, Annapolis, and Columbia.