University System of Maryland Chancellor Talks With BSU President
(BOWIE - Novemeber 13, 2008) - “We have to continue to build high quality public higher education institutions in the state of Maryland. . . I feel an enormous responsibility to generate resources from the state for this purpose,” said William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. During a taped interview for Bowie State University’s President’s Update October 2008 television segment, Kirwan discussed his responsibilities and priorities as head of the system’s 11 universities, 2 research institutions and 2 regional centers.
The chancellor said he works with the presidents of the institutions to generate the necessary resources for quality programs, infrastructure, facilities and services and his three, system-wide initiatives that he launched in fall 2007. The initiatives are closing the college retention and graduation achievement gap for minority and underserved students; enhancing the state’s competitiveness by investing in innovation infrastructure and producing more students prepared for jobs in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math); and supporting environmental sustainability.
Another topic discussed in the interview focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The host of President’s Update, Mickey L. Burnim, president of Bowie State University, asked Kirwan to comment about the funding of these institutions to which he responded, “HBCUs have been largely underfunded but I see goodwill from the governor and the legislature. . . I feel optimistic.”
“Chancellor Kirwan is well regarded throughout the state and a nationally recognized expert on higher education issues,” commented Burnim. “It was a pleasure to interview him for our President’s Update television program.” The USM encompasses three HBCUs including Bowie State University, the oldest such institution in the state, Coppin State and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Also, the system includes Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore County and University of Maryland University College. Kirwan became chancellor of the University System of Maryland in August 2002 after having served as president of Ohio State University from 1998-2002 and as president of the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) from 1988-1998. Prior to his presidency, he served as a faculty member at UMCP for 34 years. The President’s Update show, produced by Bowie State University’s cable television station, airs monthly on Comcast channel 74 and Verizon Cable channel 43. Rebroadcasts are Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Otis Thomas is the executive producer of the show.
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