By Logan Monteleone
News Editor
Along with advocating for continued state support for higher education as part of an annual lobbying day in Annapolis, a group of Washington College students and leaders travelled to the state capital on Feb. 17 to make the case for a capital grant for the forthcoming Warehime School of Business.
The day of advocacy was organized by the lobbying group Maryland Independent College & University Association, which is comprised of the state’s 13 private higher education institutions. Students last year were tasked with advocating against proposed cuts to the Sellinger Grant, but with the funds still in place this year, students
expressed gratitude and a desire for continued support from legislators.
On Higher Ed day, students, administrators, and other staff and faculty from member institutions are guided by MICUA staff through a day that includes meetings with delegates, info sessions about education in the state, and a chance to explore the State House.
WC students met with the chiefs of staff for Delegate Dylan Behler in legislative District 30A and Delegate Jay Jacobs for District 36, which represents Kent County. The delegates were on the House floor during scheduled meeting times.
Vic Sensenig, WC’s Vice President for Planning and Policy and Chief of Staff, has participated in Higher Ed day for close to a decade. Sensenig said Maryland recognizes the benefits of investing in higher education and has consistently shown support for colleges like WC.
Support from the state continues in part because of the students and other members of institutions that participate in Higher Education day every year to “make the case” for the importance of state funding.
“That’s what people will remember later when they’re making final budget decisions,” Sensenig said of delegates hearing students’ stories at Higher Ed day. “It’s funny: you can give people all of the statistics in the world, [but] what they’ll often remember are people and their stories,” Sensenig said.
Interim President Dr. Bryan Matthews said that although he has been to Annapolis to advocate for the College several times since he stepped into his leadership role, Higher Ed day was the most fun because students were able “ to tell our story from their perspective, which is completely different and much more important” when demonstrating to legislators how much people care about WC.
The College submitted for a capital appropriations grant per WC’s turn in a four-year cycle that MICUA rotates among all member institutions, pledging to advocate for each institution in turn.
Associate Dean of the Business Program and Associate Professor of Business Management Dr. Caddie Putnam Rankin is the faculty member primarily involved in the development of the Warehime School.
“We have confidence that we’re going to do that, but it was really great to visit some of the delegates today to reiterate that that money is really important to us and to our students and to the future of Washington College. I think in particular it’s important because thinking about the economic growth of the region and Maryland and really connecting that to what the state delegates are working on,” Dr. Putnam Rankin said.
Senior Tyler Tate, a business major who came to advocate for the Warehime School and who is from Annapolis, said it was great to meet the chief of staff for his home district and to advocate for continued support for the College.
Of the College’s request for a capital project grant from MICUA, Tate said being awarded the amount would “just be great for further developing the new business school and providing new opportunities to Washington College students,” Tate said.
Vice President for Government and Business Affairs at MICUA Irnande Altema, who grew up in Howard County, first came to Higher Ed day as a student at Notre Dame of Maryland University when the institution was an all-women’s college. Altema said the Higher Ed day advocating for the Sellinger program gave her experience in using her voice to make a difference as a young woman, and said that as MICUA staff, it is her favorite day.
“You just need the training and education to get in the rooms that you belong in, and that is what is important because you want to be in the room to have your voice heard,” Altema said.
Altema worked for former state senator and current County Executive of Baltimore County as her chief of staff, and greeted students in Annapolis who came for Higher Ed day.
“I love the opportunity that you get to meet with the actual decision makers that impact your educational future, so it’s a great opportunity for any student that decides to come in and be an advocate for the day,” Altema said.
Former speaker of the Maryland House of Representatives Adrienne A. Jones was honored by MICUA for her work in advocating for support for education during her service.
Back in Chestertown, groundbreaking for the Warehime School of Business will take place in April, by which point the College expects to know whether it has received the full requested amount of funding from the state.
Photo caption: A group of students and College leaders travelled to Annapolis to participate in the Higher Education Day, hosted by the lobbying group Maryland Independent College & University Association (MICUA).
Photo by Logan Monteleone