President's Perspective Newsletter

Bowie State University Continues Racing to Excellence Five Years Later

Upon my arrival at Bowie State University in 2017, the institution was known as “the best kept secret in Prince George’s County.” But, as the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the state of Maryland with a more than 150-year legacy and tradition of excellence, that description was destined to change.

I introduced the university’s strategic plan of Racing to Excellence during my inauguration in 2018 and BSU’s faculty, staff and students have been staying the course ever since. The race to excellence encompasses the top three priorities of academic excellence, student success and the long-term viability of the university.

Academic Excellence

We have introduced new academic programs including certificates in data analytics, entrepreneurship, and cloud computing, and online BS and MS degree programs in education, criminal justice, computer science and computer technology. Bachelor’s degrees in Data Science, Cyber Operations Engineering, Software Engineering and Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics are slated to enroll their first new students in spring 2023, and MS degrees in Applied Biotechnology and the Internet of Things are in the pipeline.

Student Success

Undergraduate enrollment has increased nearly 4 percent since 2017, and total enrollment by 2.6 percent – a testament to the growing interest students have in receiving a BSU education. More than 14,000 students submitted admission applications for the fall 2022 semester; and at the start of the academic year, more first-time students enrolled in BSU than ever before in the history of the university.

Long-term Viability of the University

In addition to a growing student body, BSU’s future is being sustained through new and expanded funding sources, the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing facilities. Faculty members secured nearly $18 million in contracts and grants, and the university received a combined $10.75 million in state and federal funding in FY 2022 alone. Since 2017, the university’s endowment grew by $29 million to reach $36 million. In fall 2021, we opened the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community and broke ground on the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Communication Arts and Humanities building in spring 2022.

We have seen and overcome many challenges over the last two and a half years, but our work is not done. As we enter into the fall 2022 semester, I am excited to have everyone back on campus and ready to continue the race. The process of creating our next strategic plan is underway, and we look forward to sharing additional details on that plan and other projects in the coming months.