[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6314492,"mediaKeyId","2383675-f4ab0cc7654de49e785c59023fb99b93","parentId",2383675,"title","Morgan State reports enrollment growth, warns of state funding cut and updates medical school plan","audioSeconds",1679,"startMs",489000,"endMs",2168000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383675-f4ab0cc7654de49e785c59023fb99b93&start=489&end=2168","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383675-f4ab0cc7654de49e785c59023fb99b93/thumbnail_489000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6314492/Maryland/Morgan-State-reports-enrollment-growth-warns-of-state-funding-cut-and-updates-medical-school-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314492-a6fd569c6cedf682d720ce590d8c70da/orig.mp4?Expires=1775702254&Signature=dbvHiGf6oCXnW7G3hqk7K7BadpcglIXYLY796RvsHQUfml0l3Q7LVsXUISeAaHiGYvj3qmc6J~8Qj2dpUaE-3xBSpHFae3Ss8ailrf5alQh7eyF0aMIBgUDFMigdTJ2ZcdON99j9vgV~LDytYyNXIfdI~yq4ObRk92z5q~YTeKzRCtiYisz2Nre-hSS9FSWIBc44Q9duqXhkSAsOoSw~kHO0mpj2vGD-oUq98~cQ33LqX8NuloVSLDgY2jHC6WOOg5peZSs0sZkZgzA65F2irBORBaLF4oDcOFXv3WHHNxs4yW6iM-y32WI3kMCazwCi~h~MS2VTst45Of2ljflvuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland Legislature","date","2025-02-20T00:00:00Z","article","Morgan State University officials told the Senate Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that undergraduate enrollment rose in 2024 and research activity has surged, even as the university faces a proposed cut to state support for fiscal 2026 and outstanding mandated reports that could affect state funding.

The university’s budget analyst, Kelly Norton, said total undergraduate enrollment increased by 727 students from fall 2023 to 2024 and that first‑time, full‑time students grew 4.2 percent in fall 2024. Norton also reported that Morgan received 23,366 applications in fiscal 2024, a yield rate of 12.4 percent and an acceptance rate near 82 percent. Norton noted the international undergraduate population fell from a 2017 high of 780 to 166 in 2024 and that out‑of‑state students rose by 373, now making up 41 percent of undergraduates.

Morgan President Wilson and university officials said the university is at or near capacity and is pausing enrollment growth until infrastructure can keep pace. “We do not have an enrollment problem at Morgan. We are 1 of the fastest growing universities,” Wilson said, adding that Morgan paused enrollment growth to allow campus infrastructure to catch up with demand. Wilson said last year the university received about 24,000 freshman applications for roughly 2,400 freshman slots.

Norton and university leaders flagged student success metrics that have declined for recent cohorts. Norton reported a second‑year retention rate decline, with the 2022 cohort dropping to 65.6 percent, and a four‑year graduation rate of 17.8 percent for the 2019 cohort; the six‑year graduation rate reported for the 2017 cohort was 41.7 percent. Wilson attributed some of the decline to pandemic‑era impacts and said Morgan has increased psychological services and other supports. He said Morgan’s internally calculated retention rate was 71.3 percent for the year, noting methodological differences between the university’s tracking (student ID numbers) and the analyst’s data source (social security numbers).

Officials highlighted increased research and patent activity: Wilson said research grant revenue grew from about $29 million when he arrived to roughly $92 million for the current fiscal year, and that Morgan faculty produced patents that placed the university among the top 100 U.S. universities for patents per research dollar. Norton’s budget briefing noted unrestricted funds are projected to rise to $401.3 million in the 2026 allowance and that the FY25 budget included $3 million for a Center for Urban and Coastal Climate Science Research later reduced to $2 million through cost‑containment; the FY25 budget also included $500,000 for a Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems.

On the proposed FY26 budget, Norton reported Morgan’s state fund allocation would drop by $7.7 million (about 4 percent) relative to the adjusted FY25 working appropriation when excluding FY25 salary increases. Wilson said the university is developing plans to achieve approximately $12 million in operating savings and that those reductions could include position eliminations or program changes.

Norton also reviewed compliance and reporting items. Morgan has 108 positions vacant above expected turnover as of Dec. 31, 2024, and the Department of Legislative Services recommended two operating‑budget actions: restrict funds pending an outstanding East North Avenue development report, and restrict funds pending a letter from the Office of Legislative Audits or similar showing repeat audit findings have been corrected. On the proposed private osteopathic medical school, Norton reported Morgan previously agreed to allow a private entity, Salud Education, to operate a for‑profit medical school (MDCOM) on campus; that deal reportedly fell through, but Salud appears to have secured funding and may submit an application for candidacy with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. Wilson said the university and board have decided not to continue with a for‑profit model and will pursue nonprofit alternatives for a college of osteopathic medicine.

Wilson and Executive Vice President David LaChena described actions underway to spend appropriated funds, recruit to vacant positions and encumber center funds. LaChena said more than 130 positions were being actively recruited and that hiring cycles and market conditions affect time to fill skilled roles. On mandated reports, Wilson acknowledged some reports were delayed by incorrect email addresses in the submission process and said the university is submitting outstanding mandated reports promptly.

The subcommittee did not take formal votes during the Morgan presentation. The Department of Legislative Services’ recommended restrictions remain recommendations for the committee to consider as part of the budget process.

Looking ahead, university leaders said they will deliver follow‑up materials requested by analysts, continue working with DBM on personnel figures, and provide updates on the new centers and the medical school planning. The committee scheduled remaining testimony for the afternoon and moved on to Saint Mary’s College of Maryland.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","EBA Committee Session, 2/20/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Morgan State University told the state Senate subcommittee that undergraduate enrollment rose by 727 students from fall 2023 to 2024 and research funding and patent activity have grown substantially, even as the university faces a proposed reduction in state support for fiscal 2026 and outstanding mandated reports that could limit funds.","taxTitle","Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",78813,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6314489,"Saint Mary’s College says enrollment is rebounding but warns formula elimination could cut funding",1552,2248000,3800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383675-f4ab0cc7654de49e785c59023fb99b93&start=2248&end=3800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383675-f4ab0cc7654de49e785c59023fb99b93/thumbnail_2248000.jpg","/articles/6314489/Maryland/Saint-Marys-College-says-enrollment-is-rebounding-but-warns-formula-elimination-could-cut-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314489-1b64d9bd2ae5d0d7496cd5202f70c1ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775702254&Signature=VvVJTQv3UrM7h7KZ4YsLT58AfM654HqajI1gsF30GJBK80tcy2T9op~U77cNHRXu6lhjlDlOw8y357~zagF7RLNH2OYMrD~Ml9R4jBpiNe80Pvx3OjdoMgVPZj60Giz9VFiEt8YLjB5FoOUs1gv0Nsh8m8p3jwI4Vd9GWtw4r2T3VjtCa9T7WpaF9IbivUrRa4oQ0kVvFIyRShSg0w2ovkaNuM0dxhJqN2hGa4alfe28Z-tO1CzkzhsSPXio~Ko5srjfxuU9DWt7n98nBOBP8DEKpvGFDYcSebeuYeO2WkM5TstVxHzHWQC9ItEDWyYrRxxeQJ86un5aH~DYMoV7EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Saint Mary’s College of Maryland officials told the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that the college has stabilized enrollment and is seeing recent growth, has taken corrective action on fiscal audit findings, and is concerned that the BRFAA of 2025 would eliminate the college’s funding formula beginning in fiscal 2026.

Kelly Norton, the committee’s budget analyst, summarized key data: total undergraduate enrollment rose by 28 students from fall 2023 to 2024; the college received about 3,400 applications in fiscal 2024; and the acceptance rate for that period was about 69 percent. Norton noted the college’s four‑year graduation rate fell to 52.5 percent for the 2019 cohort and the six‑year rate to 73.6 percent for the comparable cohort. Norton also reported institutional aid rose from $7.3 million in fiscal 2019 to $9.9 million in fiscal 2024, with merit scholarships comprising 64.8 percent of institutional awards in 2024.

President Towanda Jordan said Saint Mary’s has “not only stabilized our enrollment, but we have turned the corner back to growth,” citing a 13 percent increase in overall enrollment from fall 2020 to fall 2024 and a 22 percent rise in applications over five years. Jordan described steps the college has taken to boost timely graduation, including adding a winter session (Winterum) and launching the Seahawk Success Network, which assigns each student an academic advisor, a co‑curricular advisor and a counselor in student success services.

Norton briefed the committee on budget posture: the proposed FY26 allowance includes a $700,000 general fund increase after contingent reductions and, when salary increases are included, results in a $2.2 million (5.7 percent) increase in state funds relative to the adjusted FY25 working appropriation. However, Norton said language in the fiscal 2026 budget bill tied to the BRFAA of 2025 would reduce the general fund appropriation by $416,847 contingent on enactment of the provision, and the analyst explained that eliminating the statutory funding formula would remove the college’s automatic adjustments tied to inflation, health insurance and cost of living adjustments.

On audit and compliance, Norton summarized the Office of Legislative Audits’ December 2024 report covering Aug. 26, 2019 through July 15, 2023, which contained three repeat findings: procurement and contract monitoring tied to a vendor affiliated with another state university, failure to use system reports to verify residency changes on student accounts, and failures in verification and timely deposit of collections and segregation of duties. Norton said OLA also identified potential ethics concerns in procurement and payments related to a management employee’s second employer. The Department of Legislative Services recommended concurrence with the governor’s allowance but flagged the audit findings and recommended corrective steps.

Jordan told the committee the college has implemented corrective actions, including appointing an interim vice president for business and finance, hiring a new associate vice president for finance and a procurement officer, updating procedures on residency verification and cash collections, and revising written agreements with identified entities. Jordan said remaining corrective work would be completed no later than the end of fiscal 2025.

The college and analyst also discussed personnel and reporting discrepancies. Saint Mary’s reported 449 regular positions per DBM but said it employed 407 filled positions as of Dec. 31, 2024; Jordan said some proposed positions have not yet been approved or funded and that interim appointments create a slight inflation in vacancy counts. Jordan and trustees urged the committee to preserve the formula funding mechanism, saying elimination would undermine the college’s financial stability and mission as an honors liberal arts institution.

No formal committee votes were recorded during Saint Mary’s testimony. Committee members thanked the president and trustees for the presentation and discussed follow‑up conversations on audit details and compliance actions.","Saint Mary’s College of Maryland told the subcommittee its enrollment has stabilized and begun to grow, described initiatives to raise retention and timely graduation, and warned that the BRFAA of 2025 and proposed budget language removing the funding formula could reduce future general fund support.","actionData","errors"]

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Morgan State reports enrollment growth, warns of state funding cut and updates medical school plan

Saint Mary’s College says enrollment is rebounding but warns formula elimination could cut funding