Tigerfest on the Towson University campus is still two months away, but there was an early Tigerfest of sorts this past week in Maryland’s state capital.
Following a highly successful Tiger Pride Day on Tuesday, Interim President Timothy J.L. Chandler returned to Annapolis Wednesday and Thursday to testify before two key legislative bodies: the House Subcommittee on Education and Economic Development, and the Senate Subcommittee on Education, Business, and Administration.
In both subcommittee hearings, and at Tiger Pride Day on Tuesday, Chandler’s message was the same: Towson students matter, and Towson graduates matter to Maryland.
“Our focus on academic excellence and student success guides everything we do,” Chandler told legislators. “Our particular emphasis on access and affordability — and more specifically our support for first generation, low-income and non-traditional students — has translated into sustained success in retention and graduation rates, rates that consistently surpass those of our peer institutions and our national benchmark institutions.”
In fact, Chandler pointed out, Towson’s six-year graduation rates exceed the average of the university’s peers for all students, as well as for minority and African-American students. Freshmen entering TU last fall had an average GPA of 3.6 and an average SAT score of 1,625, he noted.
During his brief testimony Wednesday and Thursday, Chandler also pointed to Towson’s emphasis on higher education through innovation, as well as experiential learning.
“We embrace our role of supplying a well-educated workforce in high-need areas,” Chandler said. “Our academic mission and the state’s needs for innovation are inextricably linked. And, our interns are getting placements at highly coveted NSA cyber security agencies. This is not surprising when you realize that TU is the only institution in Maryland to be named a a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.”
Chandler also took advantage of his time at the hearing table to underscore TU’s commitment to entrepreneurship and applied research, athletic excellence, Title IX compliance, and the university’s 150th anniversary in 2016.
Although the topics discussed Wednesday and Thursday were both serious and significant, Wednesday’s hearing was not without a couple of lighthearted moments.
“In partnership with the town of Port Deposit,” Chandler told the subcommittee, “our faculty and student researchers are saving and preserving an endangered species: the Northern Map Turtle. I can’t resist noting that, in this case, the tigers are saving the turtles!”
Chandler also made a heartfelt plea to restore $5.95 million in planning funds in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget for the development of a new building for the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics.
“We are very concerned about the deferral of funding for our much-needed new science building,” Chandler emphasized, “and getting that project back on track is a top priority.”
At that point in the hearing, subcommittee chair Delegate Adrienne A. Jones interrupted Towson’s interim president.
“Dr. Chandler, that’s in the capital budget,” Jones pointed out. “This hearing is on the operating budget.”
“Yes, and I appreciate the opportunity to mention it here today,” Chandler responded good-naturedly, drawing laughter from Jones, other members of the subcommittee, and some seated in the audience.
Striking a more serious tone, Chandler concluded his testimony both days by pointing out “We believe we have proven that we are very efficient with our resources. With your support, we can continue to deliver academic excellence and help provide a highly skilled workforce to support Maryland’s economy.”
