Morgan State details research gains, budget pressures and plan for public medical school

Department of Legislative Services analyst Micah Richards told the subcommittee that Morgan State University’s fiscal 2027 budget rises by about 6.3% to roughly $559 million and raised questions about enrollment and retention trends and the impact of recent federal grant reductions on research activity.

Morgan State President Dr. David Wilson and the university’s executive team described sustained enrollment growth since 2021, the university’s aspirations to reach R1 research status, and short‑term research funding volatility: research awards rose to record levels in recent years but are projected to be lower in the current fiscal year. The university said it will receive a one‑time allocation from a governor special fund (about $8.5 million) to offset federal reductions and support energy‑resiliency research transitions.

President Wilson outlined a strategic vision for developing a public medical school: after dissolving an earlier for‑profit partnership, the university said it is pursuing a nonprofit, MD‑granting model with philanthropic support and modest state capital and operating support; university leadership said an entering medical class could begin by fall 2030 or 2031 if plans proceed.

Campus operations testimony described workforce and maintenance pressures: Morgan’s multi‑trades chief said hiring freezes and elimination of vacant positions created a backlog of more than 3,000 maintenance work orders and urged modest targeted hires to restore capacity.

What happens next: Morgan will provide follow-up information requested by DLS on enrollment, retention plans, vacancy reductions, and the proposed uses of research transition funds; the subcommittee will consider those updates as part of fiscal 2027 appropriations deliberations.

Sources: DLS presentation by Micah Richards; testimony by Dr. David Wilson, Dr. Harold Carter, David Luchina, Dr. Ryan Maltise, and facilities staff.