About the University System of Maryland
The University System of Maryland (USM) is the state’s public higher education system. USM’s 12
institutions, 3 regional higher education centers, and system office work closely together to leverage their
collective expertise and resources, share best practices, increase the system’s effectiveness and efficiency,
and advance USM’s mission to improve the quality of life in Maryland.
Benefiting students, as well as Maryland and its citizens, USM:
- Offers expansive access to affordable, high-quality educational opportunities.
- Performs groundbreaking research.
- Instills a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Promotes economic growth and workforce development.
- Provides vital services to communities and individuals.
- Partners with business, governmental, nonprofits, and organizations to improve quality of life.
EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
As a system of higher education, USM creates a dynamic environment that is helping to power Maryland, the nation, and
the world forward. USM is a recognized leader in many areas. These include academic and research excellence,
innovation, economic and workforce development, and the effective and efficient use of resources.
Educational Opportunities
Highly ranked universities and programs, outstanding faculty and staff, and innovative academic models are all
hallmarks of USM. Providing high quality and affordable academic programs, and increasing student retention and
completion rates are among the system’s top priorities. USM offers hundreds of undergraduate, graduate,
professional, and certificate programs. Furthermore, USM’s William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is
researching, developing, and implementing strategies and practices to help increase students’ academic
success.
Research
USM faculty and staff continue to fuel research and discovery, attracting more than $1.5 billion in external
grants and contracts annually. USM research is advancing understanding and practice in many areas, including
bioinformatics, cybersecurity, environmental science, food science, photonics, the social sciences, and vaccine
development.
Economic and Workforce Development
USM plays a major role in the state’s and the region’s economic and workforce development. USM
institutions address critical workforce shortage areas, especially those related to STEM (science, technology,
engineering, mathematics). USM institutions awarded 11,929 STEM bachelor’s degrees—nearly 80 percent of
the state’s STEM degrees—in FY 2020. The system also advances commercialization and technology transfer.
For example, USM institutions have facilitated the launch of more than 900 companies since 2012.
Effective Use of Resources
Since the launch of its Effectiveness and Efficiency (E&E) Initiative in 2004,
USM has saved more than $675 million. In addition, USM leads the state in sustainability efforts with
77 facilities constructed and/or planned as LEED-certified “Silver” or higher. In 2015,
USM launched E&E 2.0, the next generation of the system’s Efficiency and Effectiveness Initiative.
E&E 2.0 aims to increase USM’s positive impact on the state of Maryland, enhance student success,
continue innovation in teaching and learning, reengineer administrative processes, and reduce costs.
Service
Each year USM students, staff, and faculty contribute millions of hours of service to the
community through cultural programs, legal and medical clinics, partnerships with public schools and the
business community, and other initiatives.
USM Overview
USM Institutions
USM Regional Centers
Map of USM Institutions and Regional Centers
Mission
The mission of the University System of Maryland is to improve the quality of life for the people of Maryland by
providing a comprehensive range of high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities; engaging in
research and scholarship that expand the boundaries of current knowledge; and providing knowledge-based programs and
services that are responsive to the needs of the citizens of the state and the nation.
USM fulfills its mission through the effective and efficient management of its resources and the focused missions and
activities of each of its component institutions.
The USM Vision and Strategic Plan
The vision of USM is to be a preeminent system of public higher education, admired around the world for its
leadership in promoting and supporting education at all levels, fostering the discovery and dissemination of
knowledge for the benefit of the state and nation, and instilling in all members of its community a respect for
learning, diversity, and service to others.
The USM Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint for the USM's future
and details how the USM will continue to achieve its vision. In January 2021, the USM Board of Regents' Strategic
Planning Working Group launched a one-year process to develop a new strategic plan for the USM, which builds on the
progress of the prior ten-year plan while addressing emerging challenges and opportunities over the next ten years.
Links to Learn More About the University System of Maryland
