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With the fall semester scheduled to begin Monday, Towson University will withdraw its plan to establish a business analytics doctoral program.
The school鈥檚 decision, according to a statement released Friday from spokesperson Sean Welsh, is based on the Maryland Higher Education Commission鈥檚 request last month for institutions to 鈥溾�� new degree proposals if an objection is raised by another university.
Earlier this month, the Office of the Attorney General advised the commission that it when four members voted in June to approve the degree program over the objection of Morgan State University.
鈥淎s we have since the start, TU will continue to follow the process and guidance outlined by MHEC,鈥� Welsh said in an email. 鈥淭he finding of this administrative error on MHEC鈥檚 part does not indicate that TU鈥檚 STEM-based Business Analytics Ph.D. program 鈥� capped at six students annually 鈥� is in any way duplicative of any other program, nor does it have any impact upon the merits for the program’s approval.鈥�
Morgan State University President Towson鈥檚 program mirrored a similar business administration doctoral program at his historically Black college and university in Baltimore.
Wilson and HBCU advocates criticized the commission’s prior approval of the Towson program because they argue it goes against a $577 million settlement the state reached two years ago to increase funding and educational opportunities at the state鈥檚 four HBCUs over the next decade. Legislation also required the state to study the 鈥渃apacity and capability of MHEC to conduct academic program reviews under current policies and practices.鈥�
Patrick B. Hughes, chief counsel for opinions and advice in the attorney general鈥檚 office, concluded in an that the commission鈥檚 vote in June didn鈥檛 follow the proper process and, thus, the commission鈥檚 decision was moot.
Hughes wrote in an advice letter to new commission Chair Catherine 鈥淐assie鈥� Motz聽that the 4-3 vote 鈥渨as of no effect鈥� because at least seven people on the 12-member board didn鈥檛 vote in favor or against the Towson program.
The chief counsel recommended the commission should meet again to 鈥渞esolve Towson鈥檚 request for review.鈥�
Although Towson decided to withdraw its plan, Sharon Blake, a spokesperson for the Maryland HBCU Advocates who criticized Towson鈥檚 proposal, said another meeting to review the decision .
鈥淚t became clear to us as advocates鈥hat it had to be a majority of the 12-member commission [and] not a majority of seven people to get a majority vote. Therefore, no formal action could be taken,鈥� Blake said in an interview Friday. 鈥淚 think Towson did the right thing to withdraw. It was the best possible outcome for all parties.鈥�
Wilson released a statement one day after Hughes鈥� advice letter. A Morgan State spokesman said in an email Friday the president’s statement hasn’t changed.
鈥淲e look forward to moving beyond this episode and continuing to focus our attention on the more than 140 academic degree programs at Morgan, many of them offered exclusively at our University,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淢organ is moving forward, unfettered, on the path to very high research university status, dedicated to examining many of the intractable challenges of our day and committed to providing research-based solutions that will benefit our city, state and nation.鈥�
Meanwhile, a that is reviewing the state’s degree approval process will hold its second meeting Sept. 19. The group co-chaired by Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery) and Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City) and was formed by the General Assembly this year. A report is expected to be released by December.
Towson plans to resubmit its program proposal 鈥渁t a later date once there is greater clarity regarding the academic program review process,鈥� Welsh said in an email. 鈥淲e strongly believe that our program is not duplicative of MSU鈥檚 Business Administration Ph.D., and that offering the Business Analytics Ph.D. will benefit students and Maryland as a whole.鈥�
