12/13/24

Universities at Shady Grove One of First Recognized in 50 State Program   

ROCKVILLE, MD, December 13, 2024 – The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization recognized the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) today with a prestigious "Center of Excellence" designation. The designation recognizes USG as a leader in providing access to resources and services for individuals and small business owners in underserved communities.

The Center of Excellence is the result of activities and programs – such as the entrepreneurship help, student and entrepreneur mentoring, leadership training, financial literacy, food insecurity relief and tax clinics – in place at USG, the University System of Maryland’s (USM) regional higher education center in Rockville. 

"This designation shows that USG is meeting its mission to offer affordable, high-quality public higher education while developing partnerships with business, public sector and community organizations that serve our region and our state,” said Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove.  “We are deeply honored to be recognized as a Center of Excellence as we work to expand our partnerships.” 

Nine USM institutions participate at USG, including Bowie State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and University of Maryland Global Campus. This regional higher education center structure is unique in the United States.

“USG offers us a testbed for innovation in higher education, a framework for reimagining how we use our assets and expertise to drive inclusive economic growth and meaningful community development,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “This Center of Excellence designation proves USG’s continued leadership in this work and unlocks resources that will allow the center to do even more for the people of Montgomery County and for Maryland.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Centers of Excellence (COE) program is working to establish partnerships with academia in underserved and under-resourced communities across ten regions across the United States. This initiative is designed to increase opportunities for small businesses, especially those from underserved populations, to engage in procurement activities with the Treasury and build economically resilient communities. USG is among the first five institutions to receive the designation. 

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury OSDBU has designated the Universities at Shady Grove as a Center of Excellence, heralding groundbreaking opportunities for small businesses by harnessing the critical resources that USG’s nine post-secondary institutions provide, and unlocking vital technical resources that expand pathways and opportunities for small businesses to compete and potentially receive Treasury contractual awards,” said Melissa Oliva, Deputy Director/Senior, U.S. Department of the Treasury OSDBU.  “By working better together, we can ensure that small businesses not only thrive but also become integral drivers in economic growth and communities’ prosperity.  Together, let’s build a future where every small business can succeed.” 

Among the USG programs that attracted Treasury’s attention is the Equity Incubator, a unique 8-week accelerator boot camp program designed to help local entrepreneurs from traditionally disadvantaged populations kick-start their businesses, bring their products or services to market and scale their business operations. Funding for the past year’s Equity Incubator came through Community Project Funding appropriated by the U.S. Congress, thanks to the leadership of Maryland’s congressional delegation, including Rep. David Trone, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Ben Cardin.

“Maryland is home to a university system that is rivaled among the nation’s premier institutions. Designating the Universities at Shady Grove as a center of excellence reflects the elite programming that our universities strive for and provide to our students year after year,” said Senator Cardin. “With federal support and partnership at every level of government, Maryland’s universities continue to provide a world-class higher education, centered in equity, that prepares our students to compete in a global economy.”

USG has been key to the success of the region since its inception nearly 25 years ago. The institution is committed to academic excellence and innovative programs that foster the knowledge, skills and abilities students need to be career ready. The Center of Excellence designation will be part of its work building wealth in the community for years to come.

About The Universities at Shady Grove 

Established in 2000, The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) offers select degree programs from nine public Maryland universities on one convenient campus in Montgomery County. Students apply directly to the university offering their chosen major, and on the application, they simply select USG as their preferred campus location. The professors, curriculum, and degree are provided by the home university but students at the USG campus benefit from small class sizes, increased scholarship opportunities, and an array of customized on-site services and student life - leading to a personalized, cost-effective, and time-saving path to degree completion.

USG's innovative and pioneering partnership approach to higher education is designed to connect local college students to outstanding career opportunities, while providing regional employers with a highly educated, skilled workforce. Only the upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses are offered on the USG campus, fostering a supportive environment of students focused on completing their degrees and advancing their careers.