O'Malley Speaks to Students About Affordable Higher Education
Press Release
O'Malley Speaks to Students About Affordable Higher Education
Today, Governor O'Malley met with student leaders at the University of Maryland, College Park to discuss keeping college education affordable and expanding opportunities for higher education in Maryland. Joined by University of Maryland Chancellor Brit Kirwin, UMCP President Dan Mote, and Secretary of Higher Education James Lyons, Governor O'Malley took questions from students and discussed the Administration's goal to improve higher education in Maryland.
"This year, we have worked closely with the General Assembly to make higher education affordable and accessible for more Maryland families," Governor O'Malley said. "By freezing college tuition, improving funding for the University of Maryland, and increasing community college spending by 18%, we are training tomorrow's highly-educated workforce, today."
After a series of prepared remarks from President Mote, Chancellor Kirwan, a representative from Prince George's County's government, Secretary Lyons, and Governor O'Malley, the panelists opened the floor for a half-hour of questions from the leaders of campus groups at College Park. They discussed keeping education affordable, creating economic opportunities for college graduates, and expanding higher education to more minorities and underserved populations.
During this year's legislative session, Governor O'Malley worked with the legislature to pass the following education initiatives:
* An increase in general funds for higher education of $166 million - a 12.6% increase
* A tuition freeze - after a 40% increase in tuition over just 3 years - funded by $16.2 million in general funds.
* $31.8 million in additional community college funding - a 18.6% increase.
* A record $400 million for K-12 school construction, to prepare students for college.
* An unprecedented $5.2 billion in general funds to support K-12 students and improve teacher salaries and pensions.
* Increasing financial aid funding for higher education students.
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