Campuses

The Maryland Higher Education Commission turned down a bid yesterday by Columbia Union College to receive a state subsidy given to other private Maryland campuses under a 25-year-old program.The administrative appeal was filed at the behest of a federal judge who is hearing the college's lawsuit, which claims religious discrimination. The college sued the state in June. The commission ruled in a special meeting at St. Michaels.The commission ruled the school, affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, was not eligible to receive the roughly $1,070 given for each Maryland student at private campuses because of the pervasively religious nature of its instruction.

The University of Maryland headquarters laid off 16 people yesterday, including attorneys, an associate vice chancellor and a receptionist, to cope with a 13 percent cut in its budget imposed by the General Assembly.In addition, the Board of Regents eliminated six vacant positions and scaled back on telecommunications spending to deal with the legislature's $1.1 million cut.It was the latest cut to what many in the legislature say was a bloated central bureaucracy administering the 11 campuses and three research institutions in the University of Maryland System.

A name-calling battle has erupted between the two top public bodies in charge of Maryland higher education over veiled allegations of racism in handing out academic programs.The University of Maryland Board of Regents fired the opening shot last week with a resolution accusing the panel that sets state higher education policy of "egregious treatment" of the three historically black campuses under its purview.Specifically, the regents complained that the state panel had unfairly blocked three new programs at majority black campuses while letting 23 new programs sail through on white campuses.

The right point, but the wrong interpretation. That is the best way to characterize Tom Waldron's story April 2 regarding state aid to independent colleges and universities.The fact that only a handful of states provide direct financial support to private institutions does not mean that Maryland is wrong.Rather, it suggests that most other states do not realize the value of private higher education and the importance of ensuring its viability. Or -- maybe -- other states do not enjoy the quality that is found in Maryland's private colleges and universities.

The notion of a "four-year" college education is getting about as outdated as freshmen wearing beanies on the quad.Only 15 percent of students at colleges and universities graduate within the traditional four-year time span, according to a recent study by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.Fewer than half of freshmen entering four-year colleges and universities these days obtained a bachelor's degree after six years, the study found. Black and Hispanic student success rates were considerably lower.

Several state colleges - where officials have pledged impartiality in union elections this year - have hired outside law firms known for fighting unions to help them respond to collective-bargaining campaigns under way. The hirings occur as university system employees around the state are voting, by wide margins, for union representation under a new state law that allows for collective bargaining by nonfaculty workers at public campuses. University officials say they have hired the outside firms, rather than relying on their own legal and human resources departments, because in-house officials are unfamiliar with collective-bargaining law. The universities can't use the state attorney general's office because it only represents campuses in litigation, officials said.

The notion of a "four-year" college education is getting about as outdated as freshmen wearing beanies on the quad.Only 15 percent of students at colleges and universities graduate within the traditional four-year time span, according to a recent study by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.Fewer than half of freshmen entering four-year colleges and universities these days obtained a bachelor's degree after six years, the study found. Black and Hispanic student success rates were considerably lower.

SINCE AT least 1978, Maryland has tried to make sure that new academic programs at its state universities do not unnecessarily duplicate programs at sister campuses. That policy ensures some degree of uniqueness in campus roles, missions and programs. It also provides a rational system for allocating programs and a prudent investment of state tax dollars. Now, as universities face competion from a surge of courses offered on the Internet, some ask whether the state's policy still makes sense.

The Sun incorrectly reported yesterday that tuition at the University of Maryland has risen by double digits year after year. In the past decade, tuition at the state's largest campuses increased by more than 10 percent four times.The Sun regrets the error.It was to be the year students got a break from years o double-digit tuition increases. But when University of Maryland regents saw the gaping hole in their budget caused by a dour economy, they approved a 15 percent tuition surcharge for the spring semester.

UMBC yesterday became one of the first five Division I schools given the full NCAA seal of approval under new national guidelines.In a telephone conference call with reporters, NCAA officials announced that these schools passed the new test: Arizona State, UMBC, St. John's, West Virginia and Wyoming.Under the new guidelines, all 302 Division I schools must be reviewed once every five years for academic integrity, financial stability, administrative structure and progress toward equity for women and minorities.