Maryland Higher Education Commission

January 2009 Letter to the Editor

 

 

Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun

 

 

Governor Committed to Affordable Education

January 31, 2009

During last week's rollout of Maryland's budget for next fiscal year, Gov. Martin O'Malley again illustrated his commitment to making our state universities affordable by including an undergraduate tuition freeze for Maryland's public universities for the fourth straight year ("Painful cuts for budget balance," Jan. 22).

This means that students who entered a Maryland public university four years ago will not have seen a penny's rise in their tuition by the time they receive their degree. This is an extraordinary achievement.

From funding for community colleges to the creation of the Higher Education Investment Fund to grants and scholarships for Maryland's veterans, the O'Malley administration has demonstrated - even in difficult economic times - that making secondary education affordable for more Marylanders is a priority worth protecting.

This commitment has led to a record increase in enrollment at our state colleges and universities.

While Mr. O'Malley's 2010 budget included reductions that were undoubtedly painful, his commitment to affordable higher education in Maryland is commendable.

James E. Lyons Sr., Annapolis

The writer is Maryland's Secretary of Higher Education.

 

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