350/Maryland Manual

authority, which authority would then be vested
in separate local boards of community college
trustees. Chapter 538 of the Acts of 1976 main-
tained existing boards of trustees, and authorized
the Governor to establish, upon petition of the
respective counties, boards of trustees where no
community colleges currently exist, upon approv-
al of the State Board for Higher Education acting
upon the recommendation of the State Board for
Community Colleges. All local boards of trustees
are appointed by the Governor, except in
Baltimore City where appointments are made by
the Mayor and City Council.

The State Board for Community Colleges estab-
lishes general policies for the operation of the
State's community colleges. In addition, it con-
ducts studies on the problems of community col-
lege education, assists the colleges in providing ex-
pert professional advice in all areas of their
activities, reviews and advises upon all curriculum
proposals for newly established community col-
leges and for proposed major additions to or
modifications of programs in existing community
colleges, and recommends, reviews, and advises
upon proposals for the establishment of new com-
munity colleges. The Board also coordinates rela-
tionships among the community colleges to assure
the widest possible educational opportunities for
the students of the State and the most efficient use
of funds; facilitates the transfer of students be-
tween the community colleges and the University
of Maryland, the State colleges, and other institu-
tions of higher education; coordinates relation-
ships between the community colleges and the
State and local public school systems and the pri-
vate high schools in order to facilitate cooperation
with them in guidance and admission of students
to the community colleges; and arranges for the
most advantageous use of facilities. The Board
establishes and maintains a system of information
and accounting of community college activities;
provides grants-in-aid for the prompt and ade-
quate planning of new colleges and new programs
in existing colleges. It administers the State's pro-
gram of support for the community colleges, and
assists and represents the community colleges in
seeking and administering Federal funds available
to them. The Board also assists the State Board
for Higher Education in the performance of its
duties as they pertain to community colleges and
in its preparation of plans and recommendations
for the establishment and location of new facilities
and programs relating to community colleges.

In 1978, the General Assembly assigned to the
Board responsibility for the establishment of
guidelines for community college financial record
keeping and the preparation of annual audit re-

ports (Chapter 642, Acts of 1978). Under these
guidelines, the Board reviews community college
audits and management letters to ascertain that
community colleges are audited in accordance
with the statute and that appropriate recommen-
dations are implemented by each college.

Chapter 279, Acts of 1979, authorized the
Board to designate certain community college in-
structional programs as Statewide or regional
programs. Twenty-six programs have been so des-
ignated by the Board. The intent of the designa-
tions is to minimize unnecessary duplication in
programs while providing wider educational op-
portunities to students.

Fifteen community colleges and two regional
community colleges have been established.
Branch campuses operate in three counties, ad-
ministered by a community college in a different
political subdivision under contract with the
county government in the area served. Catonsville
Community College administers a Carroll County
branch campus. Charles County Community Col-
lege administers branch campuses in both St.
Mary's and Calvert counties. Including the
branch campuses, community college services are
available locally in each of the State's political
subdivisions, except for Somerset County. During
fiscal year 1982, a total of 96,558 students were
enrolled in credit programs. An additional
135,000 Maryland residents registered for com-
munity college continuing education courses.

The two regional community colleges are on
the Eastern Shore. Chesapeake College at Wye
Mills was chartered in 1965. It serves Caroline,
Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot
counties. Wor-Wic Tech Community College at
Salisbury was established in 1975. It serves
Worcester and Wicomico counties as a vocation-
al-technical community college.

The State Board for Community Colleges sub-
mits a State Plan and Annual Report each year
to the Governor and the members of the General
Assembly. The document includes a summary of
the major activities of the Board and community
colleges together with financial and other statisti-
cal data pertaining to the community colleges, fu-
ture projections, goals, and objectives. The Board
also publishes special and continuing studies on
program evaluation, student follow-up, enroll-
ment, finance, and related policy issues. The Gen-
eral Policies of the Board constitute Title 13C of
the Code of Maryland Regulations. A monthly
newsletter, the SBCC Bulletin, is distributed to
the colleges and State officials. Other reports are
published as required (Code Education Article,
secs. 16-101 through 16-105).