Despite impassioned debate in its defense, Towson University?s master of business administration program could be in danger of shutting down.
Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, waged a lengthy battle Thursday on the Senate floor to amend a proposed bill that required the Maryland Higher Education Commission to review its 2005 decision permitting Towson and the University of Baltimore to create their joint MBA program.
Brochin succeeded in inserting safeguards to protect students? rights, but failed in his attempt to prevent the review of the commission?s decision.
“It gives them an additional four years after the final judgment to finish the program,” Brochin said. “But it?s really a disappointment after MHEC?s 10-1 vote” to approve the program in 2005.
Senators gave preliminary approval to the bill after almost two hours of debate.
The bill directs the commission to review the creation of programs that were approved after July 1, 2005, at the request of another college or university.
Morgan State University had argued that Towson?s MBA program violated state and federal laws that prohibit duplicative academic programs unless they contribute to diversity at historically black schools. The bill allows a university to challenge an MHEC decision in court.
“We wouldn?t craft a bill that would be harmful to students,” said Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore City, the bill?s chief sponsor. “The bill is only a bad bill if MHEC thinks they made a bad decision.”
Brochin argued that Towson repeatedly offered Morgan State an opportunity to partner with them in the new program, but Morgan refused. Conway, the bill?s chief sponsor, held up letters from the attorney general and MHEC?s lawyers showing the board was told approval of the program would be illegal.
Brochin won an early, one-vote victory to change the bill, but that move was reversed later in the debate.
In the end, Brochin won the fight to allow students four years from the date of the final judgment on the case to finish their MBA at Towson.
