§ 11-302

(a) (1) The president of each public institution of higher education is responsible for developing a mission statement.

(2) The president shall submit the mission statement to the institution’s governing board.

(3) Upon the direction of the governing board, the president shall update the mission statement every 4 years in the year immediately following the quadrennial review of the State Plan for Higher Education as set forth in § 11–105 of this title.

(b) (1) The governing board:

(i) Shall review the mission statement and may require the president to prepare a revised mission statement;

(ii) May adopt the mission statement as submitted or with amendments; and

(iii) Shall submit the statement to the Commission.

(2) (i) In the case of constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland, the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland shall review the statement prior to its consideration by the Board of Regents and make recommendations.

(ii) Before adopting the mission statements, the Board of Regents shall review the statements individually and on a systemwide basis to assure that:

1. They are consistent with the Charter and the systemwide plan; and

2. They will promote the efficient and effective use of the institution’s and System’s resources.

(iii) The Board shall consolidate the statements into an adopted systemwide statement.

(c) (1) Each regional higher education center shall:

(i) Develop a mission statement;

(ii) Submit the mission statement to the governing body of the center; and

(iii) Upon direction of the governing body, update the mission statement every 4 years in the year immediately following the quadrennial review of the State Plan for Higher Education as set forth in § 11–105 of this title.

(2) The governing body of each regional higher education center:

(i) Shall review the mission statement and may require the preparation of a revised mission statement;

(ii) May adopt the mission statement as submitted or with amendment; and

(iii) Shall submit the statement to the Commission.

(d) (1) The Commission shall:

(i) Develop detailed criteria for the robust review of mission statements of public institutions of higher education, including ensuring the mission of each institution is reflective of the institution’s statutory distinction and clearly defined and distinct from other public institutions; and

(ii) Review the mission statement to determine whether the mission statement is consistent with the State Plan for Higher Education.

(2) The mission statement shall be deemed approved within 90 days of receipt unless the Commission:

(i) Finds the statement is not consistent with the State Plan for Higher Education; or

(ii) Rejects the statement after conducting a review in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) (i) After approving or rejecting a mission statement of a public institution of higher education, the Commission, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, shall submit to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment, and the House Appropriations Committee a report that includes an analysis explaining:

1. The role of the public institution of higher education within the system of higher education in the State to ensure the mission statement is clearly defined and distinct from other public institutions of higher education; and

2. Why the mission statement was approved or rejected.

(ii) The Commission is encouraged to use the report required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph to ensure that the State is supporting each public institution of higher education in meeting the needs described in the mission statements.

(4) (i) If the Commission finds that the mission statement is not consistent with the State Plan for Higher Education or rejects the statement under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission shall return the statement together with its objections that include the specific areas of inconsistency with the State Plan for Higher Education to the governing board.

(ii) The governing board and the institution president shall negotiate with the Commission and amend the statement or prepare a new statement.