Appendix A
Maryland State Regulatory Agencies
State Board for Community Colleges The State Board for Community Colleges was created in 1968 to coordinate the community colleges in the state (Chapter 454, Acts of 1968). The board consisted of eight members, seven appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate to six-year terms, and one student recommended by the community college presidents to serve a one-year term. The state board initially served as an advisory board to the state Board of Education before assuming its statutory duties in July 1969. Responsibility for community colleges was transferred from local boards of education to local boards of community college trustees, established by the 1968 state law. In 1976, the governor established local boards of trustees for future community colleges (Chapter 538, Acts of 1976), with members appointed by the governor. The state board established general policies for community colleges; gave professional advice; reviewed and advised on curriculum; and coordinated relationships among community colleges, state and local public school systems, and private high schools promoting cooperation in guidance and admission of students to community colleges. It also provided grants-in-aid to plan for new colleges and for new programs in existing colleges, aided colleges in securing and administering federal funds, and established guidelines used by colleges in financial record-keeping and preparation of annual audit reports. The State Board for Community Colleges was abolished in 1991 and its duties were transferred to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (Senate Bill 211, Acts of 1991). Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) The Maryland Higher Education Commission was created by the Maryland General Assembly in 1988 and given responsibility for planning and coordination of higher education in Maryland. The Commission has a number of important responsibilities: Approving campus mission statements -- every college and university has a mission statement. It describes who the institution teaches, what area it serves, its admission standards, and the academic areas where the campus specializes. Mission statements are an important consideration in approving budgets. Approving the operation of new colleges and universities -- there are strict academic and financial standards for anyone who wants to start a new college or university in Maryland. These are on-going standards, which means that existing campuses must continue to comply. Approving new academic programs -- institutions must demonstrate that there is a need for a new program. When the Commission considers the application, it looks closely at whether the program is in keeping with the institution's educational mission and whether other colleges or universities already offer the program.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs