Dear Towson University community:
As you are aware, the state of Maryland is facing serious fiscal challenges. State budget shortfalls have been projected at approximately $400 million in current fiscal year 2015 and nearly double that amount for fiscal year 2016. Every department, agency and institution in state government is being asked to do its share to help close that gap, including the University System of Maryland (USM). Through action presented by Governor O’Malley and approved by the Board of Public Works on January 7, 2015, the USM budget was cut by $40.3 million for this fiscal year. Towson University’s share of the budget reduction is approximately $3.5 million.
In anticipation of this latest fiscal challenge, our administration and staff will continue with the cost containment measures put in place this past semester. University discretionary expenses including equipment purchases, full-time and part-time position requests, and travel requests are already being reduced or eliminated. Our deferred maintenance projects will remain restricted until further notice.
In order to maintain our academic quality and student services, we have determined that our administration will bear the majority – more than 70 percent – of these cuts. To help close the remaining gap, the Board of Regents has approved Towson implementing a $60 mid-year increase to our in-state undergraduate tuition rate. These additional fees will be waived for students with exceptionally high financial need as defined by the university. Those specific details will be shared directly with the applicable students over the next several weeks.
Sharing this financial burden with our students is a decision we take very seriously. After discussing the news with a group of student leaders, they fully understood that the increase was preferred over cutting student services, and that the timing and severity of this cut made it necessary.
We will not allow these cuts to diminish the quality of our institution or the results of our collective hard work. We are confident that our community’s cooperative spirit and steadfast support, which has carried our institution for close to 150 years, will continue to carry us forward.
Timothy J.L. Chandler
Interim President
