Panel Urges More Funds For U-Md. Flagship; College Park Would Get $22 Million Over 2 Years
A Maryland governor's task force will recommend that the state give an extra $22 million to the University of Maryland at College Park over the next two years and guarantee at least $5,000 in funds per student to each of the University of Maryland system's 13 campuses.</br></br>In a report to be delivered to Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) next month, the panel will urge the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the University System of Maryland to create a statewide funding strategy for higher education that will help College Park realize its intended status as flagship and set mandatory minimum funding levels for the system's colleges and universities, which saw state funding stagnate during the recession of the early 1990s.</br></br>The funding guarantees will "give university presidents a built- in, reliable component to their budgets . . . so they can project what {programs} they can take care of," said Del. Nancy K. Kopp (D- Montgomery), the task force co-chairman.</br></br>The task force's recommendations recognize College Park's need for additional funds to compete for staff and students with top-ranked public universities elsewhere.</br></br>When the University System of Maryland was created in 1988, lawmakers called for an increase of $20 million a year for College Park from 1990 to 1995 to put it on par with top public universities in California, North Carolina, Michigan and Illinois.