College of Southern Maryland highlights enrollment gains, cyber range and workforce programs

Dr. Yondu Wilson, president of the College of Southern Maryland, told the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on March 18 that the college is seeing rising enrollment and expanding workforce-focused programs across Southern Maryland.

Wilson said the college closed fiscal year 2024 with nearly 15,000 credit and noncredit learners and reported a 4.5% enrollment increase year over year. "We chose not to raise tuition this year or last year," Wilson said, noting the board approved targeted allocations to address deferred maintenance and student services.

The presentation, delivered to commissioners and community partners in Leonardtown, emphasized three strategic pillars—access, momentum and mobility—and outlined recent investments and program growth. Wilson said the college will open a cyber range on the Leonardtown campus with a ribbon-cutting planned for May 14; the facility is intended for hands-on cybersecurity training supported by state funding and industry partners. He also cited the college’s designation as a Department of Homeland Security/National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in cyber defense for two‑year programs.

Wilson described growth in health care and trades instruction, including nursing programs found compliant by the Maryland Board of Nursing and new apprenticeship arrangements such as a clinical medical assistant apprenticeship with a regional medical practice. He said CSM is pursuing approval for an Aviation Maintenance Technology AAS and anticipates applying to the Federal Aviation Administration in March 2025 to secure program accreditation.

The president highlighted a $732,000 federal wastewater earmark and a $490,000 Tri-County Council award to buy a vertical agriculture system used in a sustainable food systems workforce program. He also told commissioners that, over the last three fiscal years, about 31.9% of the college’s degree recipients were St. Mary’s County residents and that 24.6% of CSM’s fiscal‑year‑24 enrollment—3,689 students—were from St. Mary’s County.

Student speakers reinforced Wilson’s remarks. Ally (Addie) McKay, a Leonardtown campus student who plans to transfer to a four‑year engineering program, described CSM supports including scholarships and disability services that helped her change majors and continue her studies.

Wilson closed by asking commissioners to view the college as a regional workforce partner and to note that CSM has set aside internal funds—about $5 million in November 2022 and $8 million in February 2024—to address deferred maintenance and program expansion. He said the college’s deferred‑maintenance list totals roughly $29 million and that the institution is focusing on cloud infrastructure, campus safety and student services as priorities.