Changes in the Family

Over the past month, two major changes have been announced to the University System of Maryland (USM), the body of which the University of Baltimore is a part. The first is that the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) will be broken up and its components placed at other USM schools. While closely affiliated with the University of Maryland, College Park, UMBI is an independent institution, like UB. USM plans to improve synergy among research groups by placing them closer to related working groups.

But in other news, Towson University (also a part of USM) is close to merging with Baltimore Hebrew University, a small school focusing on Jewish culture programs. The programs, including a Hebrew language program, will be continued by Towson, which will also absorb the 80000-volume library.

Neither change directly affects UB or its students, but since UB students are able to take classes at any school within USM, it is well worth noting!