St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Board of Trustees met today, Friday, May 12, and approved a 2 percent tuition increase for the 2017-18 academic year. In-state tuition will increase by $228 to the rate of $11,646; out-of-state tuition will increase by $532 to the rate of $27,098.
The slight increase will be only the second increase at Maryland’s public honors college in four years. A tuition freeze by the College locked rates into place for students between 2013 and 2015. The state legislature enabled St. Mary’s College to implement an 8.6 percent in-state tuition reduction in 2014.
The 2017-18 tuition rate increase also reflects additional State funding provided by Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Legislature to moderate in-state tuition pricing. This added support effectively enables the College to limit the tuition increase to 2 percent.
“This modest tuition increase for 2017-18 will enable the College to continue to fulfill its mission to maintain our high academic quality as Maryland’s only public honors college while providing an outstanding educational program to our students that is both affordable and accessible,” said Dr. Tuajuanda C. Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College.
In Other Business:
The Board approved the renaming of the College’s library to the Hilda C. Landers Library. This recommendation will now be submitted to the State of Maryland’s Board of Public Works for final review and approval, as required by law.
Landers was a 1923 graduate of the St. Mary’s Female Seminary. She and her husband Arthur created two trusts: the Hilda C. Landers Trust and the Arthur E. Landers, Jr. and Hilda C. Landers Trust, of which St. Mary’s College is one of the beneficiaries. Support to date from the Landers and their trusts is estimated at $6.4 million. Nearly 2,000 students have received merit and financial support through these gifts.
The space known as the Campus Farm has been renamed the Kate Chandler Campus Farm in memory of the life and legacy of Dr. Kate Chandler, a faculty member with a joint appointment between the English department and the Environmental Studies program.
Special Board Recognition:
During a special reception on the evening of Friday, May 12, the Board recognized two Order of the Ark and Dove citation recipients, three retiring trustees who will receive Trustee Emeritus status, and faculty promotions.
Order of the Ark and Dove citations:
The Order of the Ark and Dove citations were awarded to Bonnie Green and Harry Weitzel, Jr. The Order of the Ark and Dove citations were originally created in 1972 to honor those individuals who have given distinguished service to St. Mary’s College.
Bonnie Green has served the Board of Trustees or the College’s Foundation Board for 20 years. As executive director of the The Patuxent Partnership, she was recognized as providing a critical link between the College, the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and its contracting community, in particular regarding the College’s efforts in the STEM fields. She is a 1974 alumna of the College, and since then has actively engaged students, including the creation of a summer internship program at the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and American President Companies, Ltd.
Harry Weitzel, Jr. has been a member of the Board of Trustees or the College’s Foundation Board since 1992. Weitzel was recognized for his dedication to the College, by providing business acumen and financial expertise, and serving as a valuable ambassador on the College’s behalf to an extensive network of stakeholders. Throughout his career in the financial services and banking industry, he was civically involved with such groups as the University of Maryland School of Business, the Maryland Industrial Partnership, The Center Club, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Association of Reserve City Bankers, and the American Bankers Association and Historic Annapolis, Inc.
Trustee Emeritus status:
Recommended by the Trustee Governance Committee, the Board recognized retiring trustees Gary Jobson, Molly Mahoney Matthews and Mike O’Brien, with Trustee Emerita/Emeritus status. All have served for 12 years or more, meeting the eligibility requirement for emeritus status.
Gary Jobson chaired the Government Relations Committee and provided leadership in Annapolis. He also worked with students through the Schaefer Intern program. In support of the College’s sailing program, he provided national exposure for the teams through his work with ESPN and also serves on the College’s Boat Foundation Board.
Molly Mahoney Matthews chaired the Development, Admissions, and Governance Committees, and served as Board Chair from 2010-13. Matthews’ network of high-profile contacts has brought the College to the attention of a wide variety of elected officials, business leaders and journalists, including most recently David Kendall, who served as the keynote speaker for the College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, and Cokie Roberts, who delivered the 2017 Benjamin C. Bradlee Lecture in Journalism.
Mike O’Brien chaired the Buildings & Grounds Committee on two separate occasions. During his tenure, the campus has been reshaped by the addition of thoughtfully designed academic buildings, athletic facilities and student housing. His strong history of philanthropy to the College culminated in the naming of the Michael P. O’Brien Athletics and Recreation Center to honor his legacy of support. He also served on the Foundation Board and as a member of the Joint Investment Advisory Committee.
Faculty and Staff Promotions:
The following faculty have been promoted to full professor:
Dr. Jeffrey Coleman, professor of English
Dr. Katherine Gantz, professor of French
Dr. Pamela Mertz, professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Dr. Sahar Shafqat, professor of political science
The following faculty have been reappointed with tenure and promoted to associate professor:
Dr. Diana Boros, associate professor of political science
Ms. Veronica Arellano Douglas, librarian
Dr. Barrett Emerick, associate professor of philosophy
Dr. Liza Gijanto, associate professor of anthropology
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, designated the Maryland state honors college in 1992, is ranked one of the best public liberal arts schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Approximately 1,700 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary’s River in Southern Maryland.