Maryland Higher Education Commission

December 2008 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: December 9, 2008                 Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                               Communications: (410) 260-4511

 

 

Secretary Lyons praises Governor's Capital for a Day initiative

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 9, 2008) – Higher Education Secretary James E. Lyons, Sr., praised Governor O’Malley’s Capital for a Day initiative as “an example of good government going right to the people” after the last event for this year was held in Ellicott City on December 5.

Capital for a Day, is a monthly program launched by Governor O’Malley in 2006 which brings the State Capital to various communities throughout the State. A full executive cabinet meeting is held at a neutral site located in the designated Capital for a Day.

“This visionary initiative of Governor O’Malley provided me with the opportunity to go out and visit a significant number of our outstanding public and independent colleges and universities,” Secretary Lyons, said. “It allowed me to meet with presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans, faculty, board of trustees members and students in an informal setting while listening to any questions or concerns they had about the Maryland Higher Education Commission or overall issues related to postsecondary education in the State.”

Secretary Lyons added that “clearly, Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown and all of my fellow cabinet members enjoyed the experience of meeting our various colleagues, friends and stakeholders throughout the State. There was obvious pride among the residents of each city that received the Capital for a Day designation. Governor O’Malley deserves credit for his initiative for bringing government straight to citizens throughout every portion of the State. It was a tremendous experience and I look forward to next year’s Capital for a Day events.”

Cities or towns that received Capital for a Day designation this year included Hagerstown, Chestertown, Leonardtown, Pocomoke City, the “Port Towns” of Bladensburg, Cottage City, Colmar Manor and Edmonston, Chestertown and Cumberland, as well as the recent day in Ellicott City.

During the various Capitals for a Day, Secretary Lyons made visits to the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, Washington College and its C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and its Center for Environment and Society, Chesapeake College, Salisbury University, Wor-Wic Community College, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Allegany College, Frostburg State University, the headquarters of University of Maryland University College, the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Maryland Universities at Shady Grove and Montgomery College.

Dr. George W. Reid and Andrea Mansfield, MHEC’s two assistant secretaries, visited Hagerstown Community College, College of Southern Maryland’s Leonardtown campus, a private career school in St. Mary’s County, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Lincoln Technical Institute (soon-to-be-renamed Lincoln College of Technology), and Howard Community College during Capital for a Day events in Hagerstown, Leonardtown and Ellicott City.


The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 326,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.
 

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