* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore International College
FOR the purpose of inviting the Presidents of Baltimore International College and Stratford University to share with the City Council the present status of certification for Baltimore International College, plans to merge the two institutions, the effect of the proposed merger on students' graduation dates, and the accessibility of the newly affiliated institutions to Baltimore City applicants.
body
Recitals
Baltimore International College (BIC) has been part of the Baltimore community since 1972, dedicated to providing high-quality culinary arts and hospitality management programs. At its inception, BIC offered certificates in culinary arts, but soon grew to offer two-year associate degrees and an international hospitality and culinary arts real-world experience at its campus on the historic Virginia Park Estate, County Cavan, Ireland.
Throughout the 90s, BIC continued to expand, purchasing the historic Calvert Center, Merchants Building and Commerce Exchange Building to provide classrooms, libraries, kitchen laboratories, a student union, and offices for faculty and staff. Degrees and programs also expanded to include hospitality management, as well as multiple certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees. A new state-of-the-art Culinary Arts center was completed in 2006. The college now offers on-site and online degrees. Three new hospitality bachelor's degrees were added in 2010, and culinary and hospitality courses are offered year round, day and evening.
More recently, BIC has faced challenging times as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education announced that the college would lose its accreditation August 31, because long-standing problems concerning student retention, evaluation of academic performance, and revenue generation had not been addressed. Loss of accreditation would mean the school would lose federal funding.
To date, BIC's status is unsure. Reports are that a legal settlement has been reached that will allow the school to remain accredited to the end of the year when officials expect the college to be taken over by Virginia-based Stratford University. Students nearing completion of their certificates or degrees are expected to be able to complete their studies by December 31, 2011.
The letter of intent for an affiliation between Stratford University and Baltimore International provides for the University to assume the educational and operational functions effective January 1, 2012, pending approval from the Maryland Higher Commission, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and the involved financial institutions. Stratford University intends to continue the culinary arts, culinary management, and hospitality management programs in Baltimore.
The residents of Baltimore City have a vested interest in ensuring that all of the educational opportunities offered by BIC in the past remain here under the new affiliation with Stratford University. Baltimore International College has offered unique opportunities for Baltimore City residents to enter the culinary arts and hospitality management fields. From January 1, 2001 to September 1, 2011, 46%, or 1640 of the 3518 students enrolled at the institution, were City residents. Of those receiving graduate Certificates or Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's Degrees, 39%, or 613 of 1564, were Baltimore City residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Presidents of Baltimore International College and Stratford University are cordially invited to share with the City Council the present status of certification for Baltimore International College, plans to merge the two institutions, the effect of the proposed merger on students' graduation dates, and the accessibility of the newly affiliated institutions to Baltimore City applicants.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the President of Baltimore International College, the President of Stratford University, the CEO of Baltimore Public Schools, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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