HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3747

No. 24

(House Joint Resolution No. 50)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Higher Education - Governor's Commission

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to establish the
Commission on Excellence in Higher Education; authorizing
the Commission to examine and report to the Governor
concerning the status of funding and the quality of higher
education in Maryland; specifying certain questions for the
Commission to address; specifying membership in the
Commission; specifying the composition of an advisory board
for the Commission; requesting the Governor to supply staff
for the Commission; and providing for reports.

WHEREAS, An excellent system of comprehensive education is
essential to the full development of each citizen of the State of
Maryland, to the preservation of an enlightened self-governing
citizenry, and to the continued economic development of our State
in an era of technological change and innovation; and

WHEREAS, The State of Maryland has acted with determination
and vigor to support elementary and secondary education
throughout our State, and to require accountability in the use of
State funds, to assure to all its citizens a sound basic
education; and

WHEREAS, Maryland's colleges and universities--both public
and independent--are also vital instruments in the effort to
assure intellectual growth, innovative research, and economic
development; and

WHEREAS, It is vital that the diversity of programs and
institutions, the accessibility of higher education and training,
the excellence and quality of all our colleges and universities
be adequately maintained and enhanced, while assuring the
effective use of State funds; and

WHEREAS, Recent years of high inflation have seriously
harmed the ability of these colleges and universities to maintain
the high quality of program and of facilities required for a
strong and excellent system; and

WHEREAS, The effects of inflation may be seriously
compounded by proposed reduction of federal assistance to these
institutions and to students; and

WHEREAS, Methods currently employed to determine the level
and distribution of State support of higher education were
appropriate in past decades of increasing enrollment but may no
longer be appropriate in an era of stable or declining