The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community will discuss the proposed strategic partnership with the University of Maryland, College Park at a public town hall meeting hosted by UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, on Friday, March 11, at noon. Media are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at the UMB Southern Management Corporation Campus Center at 621 W. Lombard St.  in Baltimore.

Invitees include community members and leaders as well as faculty, staff, and students of UMB. “I’ll answer questions and solicit opinions on this critical bill, which has far-reaching implications for our University and for Baltimore City,” Perman said of the meeting.

The proposed legislation establishing the strategic partnership “could have unintended consequences harmful to UMB and the city we call home,” Perman wrote in a letter to the University community. “We must be assured that this legislation in no way dilutes the ability of UMB’s people to execute our critical missions with fidelity and authority.”

UMB already has an established partnership with College Park called MPowering the State, Perman noted in his letter. In its four years, the collaboration has garnered $71 million in joint research funding between the two universities, as well as more than 70 joint faculty appointments. The partnership also has generated 1,407 joint inventions, 209 technology licenses, and 41 startup companies.

Keeping UMB leadership in Baltimore, Perman wrote, is key: “Should College Park become the de facto headquarters for this one University of Maryland, the city of Baltimore would undoubtedly suffer. As one of the city’s most powerful anchor institutions, UMB must use its influence and assets to benefit Baltimore.”

FOR MEDIA: For more information or to attend, please contact Alex Likowski at 410-706-3801, 410-292-3925, or alikowski@umaryland.edu.