MICUA Matters

Fall 2011

MICUA will host Maryland Independent Higher Education Day on February 9, 2012. More than 150 MICUA students from across the State will gather in Annapolis to celebrate the partnership between the State and its independent colleges and universities.

MICUA Matters

Fall 2011

Marking the 10-year anniversary of the Al Qaeda attacks on the United States, a panel of top counterterrorism experts convened at Washington College on September 8 for an important dialogue on the current state of national security. Washington College President Mitchell Reiss served as moderator.

CIA veteran Cofer Black, retired U.S. Navy Admiral Dennis Blair, National War College professor Audrey Cronin, and Harvard professor of international affairs Sarah Sewall participated as panelists. Each brought a unique perspective based on his or her experiences or research in the fields of warfare, intelligence, and international security issues.

The “9/11 Now” panel was conceived and organized by President Reiss, a leading expert on American foreign policy. He served as Director of Policy Planning at the United States Department of State under Colin Powell. As a Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, Ambassador Reiss played an important role in the Northern Ireland peace process. Reiss is the author of Negotiating with Evil: When to Talk to Terrorists (2010, Open Road).

MICUA Matters

Fall 2011

Published tuition and fees at private, nonprofit colleges and universities are increasing an average of 4.6 percent for the 2011-12 academic year, while institutional student aid is growing by an average of 7 percent, according to a survey of member institutions conducted by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Over the last three years, published tuition increases have held steady in the mid-four percent range. This compares to an average annual increase of 6 percent during the 10 years prior to the economic downturn.

This fall’s 7 percent increase in institutional student aid comes on top of 9 percent and 6.8 percent increases, respectively, in 2009-10 and 2010-11. (This is only the third year NAICU has collected student aid figures from its member institutions as part of the annual tuition survey.)

“In response to the economic downturn, private colleges have worked to slow down tuition increases, while increasing institutional student aid at a faster rate,” said NAICU President David L. Warren.

Large investments in institutional student aid have helped to actually reduce inflation-adjusted net tuition (published tuition less all grant aid and federal higher education tax benefits) at private colleges in the past five years. According to the College Board, inflation-adjusted net tuition and fees at private colleges declined 11.2 percent, from $12,750 in 2005-06 to $11,320 in 2010-11.

In 2010-11, published tuition and fees at private colleges and universities averaged $27,293, according to the College Board. However, average net tuition and fees for full-time students dropped to $11,320, after grant aid from all sources and federal tax benefits. (NAICU’s annual tuition survey collects percent increases, but not dollar amounts.)

“Because of generous student aid policies and high four-year graduation rates, private colleges are a great value for many consumers,” said Warren. “Students and families owe it to themselves to consider all their options. It pays to shop around.”

MICUA Matters
Fall 2011

Each year, Baltimore City and Maryland’s 23 counties honor the best public school teachers in their districts with the coveted title: Teacher of the Year. Eight MICUA-trained students earned this year’s awards, a testament to the quality of education at a Maryland independent institution. Winners include alumni or students from Hood College, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, McDaniel College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, and Washington College. Joshua Parker, a teacher at Windsor Mills Middle School in Baltimore County and a Notre Dame of Maryland graduate, won the statewide title of Maryland Teacher of the Year on October 14.

• Allegany County: Vickie Diaz, Bel Air Elementary School (Hood College)
• Baltimore County: Joshua Parker, Windsor Mills Middle School (Notre Dame of Maryland University)
• Charles County: Stephanie Harris-Walent, Milton Somers Middle School (Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth)
• Frederick County: Andrea Maruskin, Monocacy Middle School (Johns Hopkins University)
• Harford County: Christian Slattery Sr., Halls Cross Roads Elementary School (Loyola University Maryland)
• Howard County: Haroon Rashed, Atholton High School (Loyola University Maryland)
• Kent County: Kathleen Jones, Galena Elementary School (Washington College)
• Queen Anne’s County: Allison Kern, Centerville Elementary School (McDaniel College)