Lt. Governor Brown Convenes Northeast Maryland Higher Education Summit

Meeting brings higher education, business and government leaders together to discuss needs of communities surrounding Aberdeen Proving Ground

 

ABERDEEN, Md. (October 20, 2009) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown convened a meeting today of officials from Maryland public and independent colleges and universities, community colleges, northeast Maryland business leaders and officials from Aberdeen Proving Ground to begin a formal conversation about the higher education needs in the northeastern region of the state. Attendees addressed numerous topics, including the immediate demand for highly-educated workers to fill the need created by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and long-term solutions to maintain and sustain a workforce pipeline in all parts of Maryland.

“Governor O’Malley and I are committed to expanding opportunity to all Marylanders in all parts of the state. For Marylanders in Harford and Cecil Counties, that means finding the immediate and long-term solution to provide quality higher education options in this region,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “As BRAC helps welcome new neighbors and new employees to the northeastern community, we have an obligation to protect the workforce pipeline to fill not just the immediate BRAC openings, but the many jobs that will be created in the years to come. I am pleased that so many of our colleges and universities have agreed to be a part of this conversation and I look forward to reaping the fruits of our collaborative efforts.”

The northeastern region of the state currently lacks any four-year institution of higher education. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has advised that there is a strong need for a more robust higher education presence in the region, especially as communities in Harford, Cecil and northern parts of Baltimore County continue to grow because of the new expanded mission of Aberdeen Proving Ground.

“In light of BRAC-related increases in the population of Harford and Cecil counties, this Higher Education Summit will give us a chance to receive input from leaders in education and other stakeholders as we address the need for higher education and workforce training opportunities in Northeast Maryland,” Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr. said. “Lt. Governor Brown has shown outstanding leadership both as the chairman of Governor O’Malley’s BRAC Subcabinet of which I am a proud member and higher education issues in Maryland, so I think this summit is an excellent idea coming from one of Maryland’s most dynamic public officials.”

During today’s meeting, Secretary Lyons presented several concepts for short-term solutions to meet the immediate workforce training needs of Aberdeen Proving Ground and the surrounding community. These solutions included the creation of select four-year programs at Cecil and Harford Community Colleges and an expansion of the HEAT Center in Aberdeen. Later, Secretary Lyons presented concepts for a long-term solution to strengthen a workforce pipeline in the region.

Currently, the northeastern region’s higher education needs are met by three institutions: Harford Community College, Cecil College, and the Higher Education and Applied Technology Center (HEAT Center). Of these institutions, only the HEAT Center offers residents the opportunity to pursue baccalaureate and graduate degrees.

Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rich Hall and University System of Maryland Chancellor William “Britt” Kirwan joined Lt. Governor Brown for the meeting. Other attendees included:

  • Cecil College President Stephen Pannill
  • Towson University President Robert Caret
  • Morgan State University President Earl Richardson
  • College of Notre Dame of Maryland President Mary Pat Seurkamp
  • Capitol College President Michael Wood (representing the Maryland Independent Colleges and Universities Association)
  • Salisbury University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach   
  • Marlene Lieb, Dr. Annette Haggray and Dr. Deborah Cruise on behalf of Harford Community College President James LaCalle
  • Nicholas P. Jones, Mat Palmer and Allan Bjerkaas on behalf of Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels
  • Ken Gertz, on behalf of University of Maryland, College Park President C.D. Mote
  • Kent Malowitz, on behalf of University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Freeman A. Hrabowski
  • Ben Birge, on behalf of University of Maryland, University College President Susan Aldridge
  • Harford County Executive David R. Craig
  • Cecil County Commissioners President Brian Lockhart
  • Danny DeMarinis, representing University Research Park Committee
  • Barney J. Michel, Army Alliance President
  • Officials representing Aberdeen Proving Ground

Additional meetings will be held to discuss the forward progress on both short- and long-term solutions necessary to provide northeastern Maryland residents with adequate and quality higher education options.

 

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