# Education (GED)

## Title 11. Maryland Higher Education Commission

### Subtitle 3. Mission Statements and Accountability

#### Section 11-301

In this subtitle, "governing board" includes the board of trustees of a community college.

#### Section 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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.

#### Section 11-303

(a) The Commission, with the assistance of the presidents of the institutions required to develop mission statements under this subtitle, shall establish and periodically update the format of mission statements of the institutions of higher education to include specific short- and long-range goals and measurable objectives to be achieved through the implementation of the institution's performance accountability plan as required under Sec. 11-304 of this subtitle.

(b) The mission statements developed by the presidents of the constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland shall include information necessary to meet the requirements of the program development and review process established under Sec. 11-206.1 of this title.

(c) The Commission, with the assistance of the regional higher education centers required to develop mission statements under this subtitle, shall establish and periodically update the format of mission statements to include specific short- and long-range goals and measurable objectives consistent with the policies and guidelines of the Commission.

#### Section 11-304

(a)

  (1) The president of each public institution shall prepare a performance accountability plan.

  (2) The president shall submit the plan to the institution's governing board.

  (3) The president shall update the accountability plan as appropriate and upon the direction of the governing board.

(b)

  (1) The governing board:

    (i) Shall review the accountability plan;

    (ii) May amend and shall adopt or disapprove the plan; and

    (iii) Shall submit the plan to the Commission.

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

(c)

  (1) The governing board shall submit the performance accountability plan of the institution to the Commission for review and comment.

  (2) The Commission may disapprove the accountability plan and require the governing board to reconsider the plan if the Commission finds:

    (i) The plan does not conform to the format or guideline established by the Commission;

    (ii) The measurement techniques embodied in the plan are invalid or unreliable; or

    (iii) The plan is not reasonably related to the institution's mission statement.

#### Section 11-305

Performance accountability plans developed under this subtitle shall:

(1) Be based on the institutional mission statement and shall include a statement of the outcomes which each institution expects to achieve;

(2) Include multiyear studies which shall include quantifiable indices of student academic performance and development including graduation and retention rates and the results of academic program reviews;

(3) Identify institutional performance objectives appropriate to the mission of the institution in addition to those related to student learning and include reports based on regional and professional accreditation and certification;

(4) In the case of public senior higher education institutions, designate a set of peer institutions to which the institution's performance will be compared; and

(5) Make provision for improvements, as needed, as a result of the performance accountability report.

#### Section 11-306

(a) Every year the president of each public institution of higher education shall submit to its governing board a written report on the attainment by the institution of the objectives in the performance accountability plan of the institution.

(b) The governing board shall:

  (1) Submit the report to the Commission; and

  (2) Hold each president accountable for meeting the objectives in the performance accountability plan.

#### Section 11-307

The Commission shall:

(1) Compile and review the reports of the institutions and system; and

(2) Present the reports, together with the comments and recommendations of the Commission, to the Governor and, subject to Sec. 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly of Maryland.

#### Section 11-308

The Commission may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle, including regulations that establish:

(1) Deadlines for submission of mission statements, performance accountability plans, and annual reports; and

(2) Formats and guidelines for the preparation of plans and reports.

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Md. Code Ann., Educ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)