UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND
Dear USM Faculty and Staff,
When we presented the University System of Maryland's fiscal year 2005 budget request to the Maryland General Assembly recently, we were honored to represent you. Your dedication and commitment to quality have helped the system earn its reputation for excellence. We, along with the USM institutional presidents and others, are fighting hard to maintain that excellence as we make the case for higher education in Annapolis.
With the budget cutbacks of the last two years, all of you have been working even harder as colleagues have been laid off and positions eliminated. We understand that this is a difficult period, and we deeply appreciate your continued commitment to helping your institutions and the system keep the promise of quality to the many people we serve.
During the current session of the Maryland General Assembly, we are highlighting the university system's tremendous value to the state. We are emphasizing its vital role in preparing a highly educated citizenry and producing the research and knowledge transfer the state needs to sustain a strong economy and a high quality of life for all Marylanders.
In addition, we are calling for a stronger partnership between the university system and the state's elected officials to provide sufficient and predictable state support so that we can ensure affordable access to high quality institutions.
We also would like to express our appreciation to the USM councils of faculty, staff, and students. They are offering valuable support for our current efforts in Annapolis.
Already, we have achieved an important milestone on our road to financial recovery. As he promised, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich did not cut state funding for the USM in the operating budget he submitted for fiscal year 2005. Moreover, the governor's budget proposal includes a merit pool of 2.5 percent and a COLA of 1.6 percent. Protecting these funds in the budget process is our highest priority because we know that our talented faculty and staff have not had a compensation increase in more than three years. We also are encouraged by the fact that Governor Ehrlich's capital budget for the system is the largest in our history.
As Maryland's economic outlook improves, it is our expectation that the state will renew its strong investment in the University System of Maryland. This is the goal we are striving to achieve.
Again, thank you for all you do to advance the University System of Maryland.
Sincerely,
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| Clifford M. Kendall, Chair | William E. Kirwan, Chancellor |