President Schmoke Discusses 'City University for Baltimore' Idea on WYPR's 'Midday'
October 6, 2019
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University of Baltimore President Kurt L. Schmoke joined higher education journalist Jon Marcus for a discussion about President Schmoke's concept for establishing a "City University for Baltimore"—a collaboration between UB, Coppin State University and Baltimore City Community College designed to increase efficiencies and inspire new educational opportunities for the citizens of Baltimore—on WYPR's Midday on Oct. 11.
Last July, President Schmoke, the former mayor of Baltimore, proposed in an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun a new, formal governance structure involving UB, Coppin and BCCC. The effort, he says, would be modeled after the City University of New York system as well as the Community College of Baltimore County.
"For many years, people have noted the distinct programs at these three institutions of higher education," President Schmoke wrote. "Unfortunately, there have only been modest efforts to operate in an effective complementary fashion. It is my opinion that the times will no longer permit such small informal efforts, and that major change will only come about through legislatively restructuring the governance of these institutions."
Based in Boston, Marcus serves as higher-education editor at the Hechinger Report, a foundation-supported nonprofit based at Columbia University, and as North America correspondent for London's Times Higher Education magazine. He discussed the current state of collaborations among colleges and universities in other cities, and how they are similar or different from what President Schmoke is proposing for Baltimore.
Listen to a recording of the Oct. 11 edition of Midday.
Read the op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, as well as a follow-up news analysis.