UMB School of Nursing's Commencement at USG, December 2015
The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) is a partner campus of nine Maryland public universities, all of which share in the mission of creating educational and economic opportunities for the residents of Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Through collaboration with its nine university partners, Montgomery College (MC) and other community colleges USG provides students with a 2+2 pathway to a quality higher education that equips them with the degrees and career ready skills needed to support the growth of the region’s knowledge based economy.
A recent University System of Maryland (USM) Report on Maryland Community College Transfer Students* shows that statewide the number of students choosing the 2+2 pathway is increasing. Since 2009, USG has seen a 50% increase of students transferring from MC and other Maryland community colleges. USG now accounts for 7% of all Maryland Community College degree recipients.
The report found that across USM institutions, graduation rates increase significantly when institutional aid is offered, students enter programs at the sophomore level and above, and are enrolled full time. The USG model reinforces these findings. Transfer students who follow the pathway from MC to USG have the highest four-year graduation rate in the University System of Maryland - an impressive 78%!
Financial aid is critical for transfer students to complete their degree. The cumulative aid for Maryland community college transfer students has increased every year since 2004. At the same time, USG has more than doubled their need-based and merit-based awards which have led to more deserving community college transfer students completing their degrees.
Today, statewide nearly 50% of students are African American, Asian, or Hispanic, and by 2025 the Asian and Hispanic populations are expected to triple. USG’s student population closely mirrors the changing demographics of Maryland’s high school graduates. As a result, USG’s pioneering model of higher education is poised to grow as Maryland’s population shifts.
Since its inception in 2000, more than 6,300 students have earned bachelor’s degrees from programs offered at USG and more than 2,500 have earned graduate degrees. USG plays a vital role in achieving regional and state goals of increasing college completion and supplying the degrees needed to directly power today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.
*Source: Maryland Community College Students and Shady Grove, Chad Muntz, Director of Institutional Research, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Administration and Finance/Chief Operating Officer, University System of Maryland (December 2015)