Running Head: BRIEFING ON LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS

LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS HIGHER EDUCATION

POLICY BRIEFING - COLLEGE READINESS

Field Experience Report

By
Ikome, Christiana

Presented to:
Dr. N. Philipsen
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Nursing 505
Coppin State University
Spring 2013

BRIEFING ON LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS

Date of Experience: February 7th 2013

Place: 3 West, Miller Senate Office Building, 3rd Fl, RM 3A
Legislative/political hearing: legislative & budget hearings higher education policy
briefing - college readiness
Hearing by: Senate Budget & Taxation - Subcommittee on Education, Business, and
Administration (Joint with the House Appropriations Education and Economic
Development Subcommittee)
Time of hearing: 1:00 PM
On February 7th, the Chancellor of the University of Maryland appeared before the House
Subcommittee on Education and Economic Development to testify on the Governors FY
2014 budget recommendations for the University System of Maryland.
The Chancellor was clearly advocating for increased funding to University of
Maryland claiming that these funding would specifically allow for the redesign of 48 additional
courses, serving more than 12,000 additional students, essentially doubling their efforts to enroll a great
number of Maryland students. And in addition, the targeted need-based financial aid this budget would
make available would further support completion and help close achievement gaps. Finally, this funding
would strengthen CIELT, cementing Maryland at THE go to state for academic transformation, he said.
He discussed on

such topics as recommendations for education funds, institutional aide for

the FY 2014, funds to support new education initiatives, and he emphasized tuition
increase as he claimed that the college has had extensive engagement in recruiting
undergraduates, graduate and doctoral candidates and by so doing, has become larger and
therefore needs more revenue to cover for such expansions and new investments of the
university.

BRIEFING ON LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS

The Chancellor emphasized that the Governors budget proposal would enable
USM to keep tuition increases modest (3%), and further solidify Marylands reputation as
a national leader in keeping college costs in check. Deliberations were also made on the
possibility of tax-free period for college textbooks, emphasizing a separate bill which had
already been heard in the House. This bill the chancellor argued, shall establish a period
of tax-free books for students where full time or part time students enrolled at any USM
institution would be exempt from the sales and use tax. The Chancellor proposed that the
effective date shall be July 1st 2013.

Regarding this discussion, delegates showed

general concern about the overall expense related to textbooks and textbook pricing. Zach
Cohen, Chair of the USM Student Council and a student at College Park testified that
truly every penny counts and that $50 in savings is enough to persuade students to
purchase from online or out of state vendors.
The chairman of the committee, Mr. Richard Madaleno and other committee
members requested the Chancellor to comment on concerns such as but not limited to:
1. The misalignment between use of enhancements funds and positions provided in
the allowance.
2. The benefits to the State of having another degree granting institution, especially
one offering a graduate degree in one specialized area (UMCES).
3. What is next for the effectiveness and efficiency initiative and, given that funding
of higher education relies on State funds and tuition revenues, how or what
changes need to be made so as to bend the cost curve.
several questions including but not limited to: regarding the chancellors proposals and
some

BRIEFING ON LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS

It is worth noting that there was also a hearing or testimony by Coppin State
Universitys interim President, Dr. Mortimer Neufville. Dr. Mortimer Neufville thanked
the committee for the opportunity to come before them and speak on behalf of the faculty,
staff, students, and alumni of Coppin State University, and emphasized that with the
support of the committee and the University System of Maryland the number retention
for students for Coppin State University has improved and shall continue to grow, as
students who complete college, help universities make new discoveries at the frontiers
of knowledge and conduct vital research that will prepare students for the workforce and
professional endeavors. He emphasized that with the support of the committee, Coppin
State University looks forward to engaging in meaningful ways to ensure that the state of
Maryland and the nation as a whole, meets the challenges of the 21st century.
The interim president emphasized that the major challenge faced by the university
is to increase the second-year retention and six-year graduation rates of students. In an
effort to bring together members of the university community and further develop a
university-wide approach to address the countless issues associated with enrollment and
student success, the interim president said that they have established a task force on
Enrollment and Student Success, which is charged with the responsibility of
recommending to the President policies, procedures, practices and actions that will
contribute to student success by examining issues from a broad perspective. The ultimate
goal of this initiative is to not only shape and align enrollment with the mission and
vision of the university but to facilitate student success throughout all aspects of the
university community.

BRIEFING ON LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET HEARINGS

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents appointed a Special
Review Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of CSU and recommend specific
strategies and actions to improve the institutions overall performance. The board has
charged the committee with identifying the strengths and weaknesses in CSUs
administrative and operational infrastructure, the scope and delivery of its academic
programming, the quality of its student support services, the efficacy of its fiscal
management, the effectiveness of its institutional advancement operations and the role
CSUs athletics program plays in fulfilling the institutions mission. The committee is
engaging all of CSUs constituenciesinternal and externalto inform its work and
conclusions. The committee is expected to assess both the internal and external
environment as well as examine demographic and societal trends that impact CSU now
and in the future. The committee is scheduled to complete its work by April 30, 2013.