Maryland Higher Education Commission

June 2009 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: June 17, 2009                                                     Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen

                                                                                                                           Communications: (410) 260-4511

 

 

MHEC approves 2009 State Plan for Postsecondary Education

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 17, 2009) -  Members of the Maryland Higher Education Commission today approved the 2009 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education, a major endeavor that leaders in higher education have been working on for nearly a year.

The State Plan, which is legislatively mandated to be updated quadrennially, serves as a blueprint for how Maryland’s postsecondary institutions will address higher education issues in the next four years.

“This is an excellent living, breathing document that people of goodwill have spent countless hours working to develop because we all realize its importance in creating a road map for how we expect higher education to progress,” Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr., said.

The State Plan was written with the input of five subgroups that dealt with quality and effectiveness, access and affordability, student-centered learning and economic vitality, diversity, and workforce development at Maryland’s two- and four-year public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools.

The workgroups were made up of MHEC commissioners, representatives from the segments of Maryland’s postsecondary institutions (the University System of Maryland, Maryland Independent College and University Association, Maryland Association of Community Colleges, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Maryland Association of Private Colleges and Career Schools), other State agencies, MHEC’S Faculty, Student and Financial Assistance Advisory Councils, the business and civic community and other interested parties, as well as MHEC staff.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the hundreds of people who worked on the State Plan,” MHEC Chairman Kevin M. O’Keefe said after the Commission unanimously voted to accept the Plan. “It was completed with careful consideration, tireless effort and countless hours of hard and dedicated work. The citizens of Maryland owe everyone who worked on this plan an expression of thanks.”

In addition to the five major goals that are addressed, the State Plan also includes Governor O’Malley’s priorities for the current higher education environment and other issues that have arisen since the last State Plan was written in 2004. These include changing demographics in Maryland, workforce development and creation, changes in technology, college and career readiness of high school students, the Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council, and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

The State Plan will be presented to Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown, every member of the General Assembly, college presidents and other higher education stakeholders.
 

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 337,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.

 

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