A recent report questioning the University of Baltimore’s role in Maryland’s higher education system has sparked fresh conversations about the possibility of merging with another institution – and in particular, Towson.
Hypothetical, informal conversations about a potential merger, partnership or, in the words of one official, “programmatic use of space in a cooperative sort of way” have taken place for years, but have become more significant as the University System of Maryland examines its organizational structure.
At a meeting Friday in Salisbury, Md. the USM Board of Regents released a report on Effectiveness & Efficiency, outlining 16 “action items” in an attempt to improve its budgetary situation.
“In a time of heightened enrollment demand, how can USM better use the physical capacity of UB?” the report asked. The word “merger” quickly came into play.
The board plans to review UB and three other “special purpose institutions” to determine whether or not a “realignment” would “increase effectiveness and efficiency.”
Some members of the board are said to have privately considered the benefits of a merger or partnership, and Towson’s leadership is said to be “open” to consideration of the idea.
“I have a feeling [these talks are] going to be a whole lot more serious, because it truly is a new day in terms of funding,” a University official familiar with the situation said.
Officials were unwilling to comment publicly, due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
“It’s really just speculation right now,” another TU official said. “It’s not going to happen soon. It’s an idea.”
Susanna Craine, TU’s director for community relations, put the talks in perspective.
“We shouldn’t be surprised that on and off, over a period of time, there have been conversations about what ... [programming] benefits could take place if there were different kinds of cooperation’s and/or mergers,” she said.
UB enrolls about 4,500 students. Its campus is busiest in the evening, when it has traditionally offered the majority of classes. TU’s campus is busiest midday. Under President Robert Caret, Towson plans to grow rapidly in the next 10 years.
“We’ve run out of room in the daytime,” an official said, and UB could provide a solution. "There’s a wonderful little potential balance,” the official added.
But last week UB President Robert L. Bogomolny told the Baltimore Sun he is staunchly opposed to any merger.
“The focus has been on the night program because that’s the tradition we’ve grown in,” he told the Sun. “What we need to think about is ways to be responsive to the state’s needs by enlarging the day side.”
UB, “the career-minded university,” is an upper-division and graduate university located in Mt. Vernon in midtown Baltimore.
It includes the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts, Merrick School of Business and the School of Law.
Any type of collaboration would have to be approved by the Board of Regents, and taken to the Maryland State Legislature.
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