Profile: Towson University

2012-13 Edition
Profile:
Towson University
Educated Quest.com
Background
1
Introduction to Towson
University
Background
Fast Facts
1. Towson University’s roots date back to 1865, the
last year of the Civil War, when the Maryland
legislature approved funds to establish the
state’s first teacher training school.
2. Today Towson University has more than 19,000
undergraduate students. It is the second-largest
university, public or private, in Maryland after the
University of Maryland-College Park.
3. Designated as the University of Maryland
System’s “growth institution” in 2009, Towson
has undergone a very ambitious building
program.
About Towson University
Towson University’s roots date back to 1865, the last year of the
Civil War, when the Maryland legislature approved funds to establish the state’s first teacher training school. It opened one year later
as the State Normal School, based in Baltimore. In 1912, the Maryland General Assembly passed a $600,000 bond issue to relocate
the school on 80 acres of land in nearby Towson. The new campus,
including Stephens Hall, the main administration building, opened
three years later. Today, Stephens Hall houses the university’s College of Business and the Honors College. In 1963, the Normal
School was renamed Towson State College.
As enrollments surged from 3,500 to more than 13,000, the college
was granted university status. In 1996, Towson State University was
later renamed Towson University as it moved from a statesupported institution to a state-assisted one where the majority of
operating aid was not provided by state government.
Today Towson University has more than 19,000 undergraduate students. It is the second-largest university, public or private, in Maryland after the University of Maryland-College Park. Towson also enrolls more undergraduates than the University of Delaware, one of
the its main competitors for students. It is a more diverse university
than most. Twenty-six percent of the student body comes from
under-represented minority groups.
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Designated as the University of Maryland System’s “growth institution” in 2009, Towson has undergone a very ambitious building program. This has included a new College of Liberal Arts building, a
renovated Fine Arts and Communications building, a soon-to-open
sports arena. a modern football stadium, planned renovations for
the College of Science building including more than 30,000 square
feet of classroom and lab space. New residence halls and a renovated and expanded student union, among other projects, are in the
university’s future plans.
No state can afford not to have enough good schools. For Maryland
Towson has become one of them. Nearly two-thirds of the students
who enter Towson graduate within six years. Only the flagship campus in College Park and St. Mary’s College of Maryland do better
among the state’s public institutions. Eighty-six percent of freshmen
who entered in 2011 continued on their sophomore year.
Through partnerships with area community colleges, Towson attracts a transfer class of more than 2,100 students each year, only
300 less than the number of freshmen who are entering the university for the first time. While 26 percent of the freshmen come from
outside Maryland, the influx of transfer students tilts the balance of
the population towards residents, many of whom live in or near the
Baltimore area. The large influx of transfer students also means
larger junior and senior classes, approximately 4,000 students in a
given year.
portant institution in the economic development of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Towson is considered a regional university, as opposed to a national research university because it does not grant
many doctoral degrees. Towson grants doctorates in only four subjects: Audiology, Information Technology, Instructional Technology
and Occupational Science. The University of Delaware, by comparison, grants doctoral degrees in more than 40 fields. The lack of doctoral students, especially in the liberal arts and sciences, means
that professors place less reliance on graduate students to teach undergraduates. At the same time, undergraduates get to know their
professors better and have opportunities to work with them on their
research.
Towson may also be unique among regional universities in that its
president Maravene Loeschke, is also an alumnus. A recipient of a
Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre as well as a Masters in
Education from Towson, Loeschke returned home after serving as
President of Mansfield University (PA) in the Pennsylvania State
System of Higher Education. Although Dr. Loeschke was inaugurated in September of 2012, she had previously served as a faculty
member as well as Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Towson. An actor and playwright, Dr. Loeschke performed
in the Maryland Arts Festival for 20 seasons, including four onewoman shows and directed more than 20 plays. Her play "5" was
professionally produced at the Theatre Project in Baltimore.
While nearly 30 percent of an entering class comes from out-ofstate, the volume of transfer students has made Towson a more im3
Competition
2
What does it take to get in?
Who decides to go?
What other schools do
applicants consider?
Competition
Fast Facts
1. For the class that entered in 2011 there were
more than 18,000 applications for approximately
2,500 seats in the freshman class.
2. This year, more than 21,000 students are
expected to apply for around the same number of
seats.
3. Towson also welcomes between 2,100 and 2,200
transfer students every year, many from Maryland
community colleges.
4. After Maryland, New Jersey and New York (the
largest segment from Long Island) contribute the
most students to the freshman class.
What It Takes to Get In
For the class that entered in 2012 there were more than 18,000 applications for approximately 2,500 seats in the freshman class. Just
over half of these applications were accepted. Towson put over
4,000 students on its waiting list, though only 263 were eventually
offered admission. The middle 50 percent of the admitted students
scored between 990 and 1180 (out of 1600) on the Critical Reading
and Math sections of the SAT; the average was 1080. Eighteen percent scored above 600 on the Critical Reading section of the test,
twenty-six percent scored over 600 on the Math. Half of the admitted students ranked in the top quarter of their high school class,
with grade-point-averages of 3.5 or higher; the range is between
3.25 and 3.87.
This year, more than 21,000 students are expected to apply for
around the same number of seats in the freshman class that will enter in 2013 says Mike Berends, Marketing Director for University Undergraduate Programs. He adds that 800 students applied for the
Honors College in 2012 for around 200 seats; that number will likely
increase for 2013.
After Maryland, New Jersey and New York (the largest segment
from Long Island) contribute the most students to the freshman
class. “Applicants are attracted to our diverse set of majors,” says
Mike Berends, “including business, education, health professions,
the arts and psychology.” Students are not required to declare a ma5
jor when they apply unless they are interested in nursing and the
health professions or one of the talent-based majors in the performing arts. “We have few competitors for arts students until you reach
New York City,” Berends says. “100 percent of our dance graduates
are placed into dance companies.”
In 2012, after surveying 1,185 students, Berends learned that nearly
36 percent has Towson as a first choice before they had visited.
Forty-nine percent made the university a first choice after taking a
campus tour while 56 percent were certain of their choice following
an Open House for admitted students.
interested in the performing arts would be drawn to the facilities, the
academics and access to the arts community in the BaltimoreWashington area. A student who is interested in business might be
drawn to the connections that s/he can made in the Baltimore area,
too as would a student who is interested in teaching in the elementary or secondary schools.
Towson students are presented with many of the same opportunities to succeed as the students who go to College Park, UMBC or
Delaware. It is up to them to take advantage.
The University of Maryland-College Park, the University of
Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Salisbury University are
Towson’s major public competitors within Maryland. Competing private schools within the state include Loyola in Baltimore, Hood College and McDaniel College. The University of Delaware, Temple University (PA), James Madison University (VA) and the George Mason
University (VA) are major public competitors within the Washington
D.C. and Philadelphia metro areas.
An applicant who might fall in the middle of the pool at UMBC, College Park or Delaware based on grades and test scores would likely
land in the upper quarter at Towson. Such students might also qualify for admission to the university’s Honors College as well as meritbased aid that they are less likely to receive from the other institutions. For these students the decision comes down to academics as
well as fit. A student, for instance, who is interested in nursing would
be drawn to the location as well as the academics. A student who is
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Completion
3
Freshman Retention Rate
Graduation Rates
Completion
The Path to Graduation
Fast Facts
Since 2007, Towson University’s freshman retention rate has improved
from just below 82 percent to around 86 percent. The strongest retention
rates have been in the College of Education. These have consistently exceeded 90 percent, excellent for any college within any university of this
size. Retention in the health professions now exceeds 88 percent. The
fine arts and communications as well as the liberal arts are also better
than the student body as a whole. However, retention among undecided
students, who have represented between 20 and 30 percent of a freshman class, has been lower, rising from 79 percent in 2007 to just under
82 percent in 2011. The variations in retention rates suggest that Towson
may be a better option for students who have some thought about the
academic program they want, as opposed to those who do not.
1. Since 2007, Towson University’s freshman retention rate
has improved from just below 82 percent to around 86
percent.
2. Towson’s six-year graduation rate is just under 66 percent.
3. The strongest retention rates have been in the College of
Education. These have consistently exceeded 90 percent,
excellent for any college within any university of this size.
4. Enrollments in “gatekeeper” courses, introductory courses
required in several majors including biology, chemistry,
economics, mathematics, physics and psychology are not
as large as they are likely to be at a flagship school such as
the University of Maryland-College Park.
After being offered admission, accepted students are invited to Destination Towson, an all-day event to welcome and introduce students to the
campus and community. Those who choose to come are invited to attend Tiger Talks, programs scheduled throughout the summer in groups
between 150 and 200. The primary programming areas include community service and leadership; the intention is to get incoming students to
interact. Parents attend a parallel program designed for them.
Towson has a four-day welcome period, including First Year Experience
advising and a convocation. New Student programs are scheduled
through the first eight weeks. Students are also invited to attend an involvement fair as well as an achievement fair.
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First-year students are assigned advisors by academic interests. Advisors will have six points of contact with each student. They will meet
twice during the orientation period, once with students of similar interests
as a group and twice with each individually during the fall. As students
become more engaged and have received more direction, the advisor
will meet with students of similar interest once as a group in the spring
as well as once with each individual student.
Unlike many medium and large-sized schools, Towson does not offer a
“University 101” course to help students become acquainted with the resources on campus. However, first-year students must take Towson
Seminars, small (18 to 21 students) credit-bearing courses on special interest topics taught by tenured faculty. These courses, while not a college orientation help to build college-level learning and critical thinking
skills.
With the exception of nursing and talent-based performing arts programs, Towson has structured general education requirements to make it
easy for students to change majors and schools. Undecided students
are given a schedule that will allow them to not only arrive at a decision
on a major but also to be on track to complete general education requirements.
Enrollments in “gatekeeper” courses, introductory courses required in
several majors including biology, chemistry, economics, mathematics,
physics and psychology are not as large as they are likely to be at a flagship school such as the University of Maryland-College Park. Introductory biology classes, for example, are limited to 96 students, divided in
four sections of 24 for labs. Psychology classes enroll around 55 students. Towson faculty who are in their first year teach three classes per
semester; after the first year they teach four. Students receive their lec-
tures from either full-time faculty or adjuncts, but not teaching assistants
pursuing their own undergraduate or graduate degrees. One-third of all
tutoring outside of class is in mathematics.
Since 1998, Towson has improved its four, five and six-year graduation
rates.
Among students who entered as freshmen in 1998, just under a third finished in four years. Among students who entered ten years later, approximately 43 percent did.
Among students who entered as freshmen in 1998, 54 percent finished
in five years. Among students who entered in 2007, approximately 61
percent did.
Among students who entered as freshmen in 1998, 59 percent finished
in six years. Among students who entered in 2006, approximately 66 percent did.
At times the graduation rates have been higher than in recent years. The
class that entered in 2003 had a six-year graduation rate in excess of 72
percent; the class that arrived in 2004 exceeded 68 percent.
Graduation rates are likely to return on an upswing. Towson is attracting
better students. Better students tend to be more motivated. Especially if
the school offers the academic program they want or make it easy for
them to zero in on it.
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Costs
4
Tuition and Fees
Scholarships
Net Prices
Debt
Costs
Fast Facts
1. Towson University has estimated that tuition and fees for
Maryland residents will be $8,324 in 2013-14. Out-of-state
students will pay approximately $20,000.
2. Room and board charges can range between $10,700 and
$11,700 depending on the living arrangement and meal plan
selected.
3. Towson’s out-of-state tuition and fees are lower than the outof-state charges at the University of Delaware and James
Madison University, among other schools. In addition, an
applicant to all three schools is more likely to qualify for a
scholarship to Towson.
4. Towson awarded 171 institutional non-need based academic
scholarships in 2012, averaging just under $5,000, impressive
considering the school’s low sticker price and fairly low ($33
million) endowment for a school of this size.
Paying for School
Towson University has estimated that tuition and fees for Maryland residents will be $8,324 in 2013-14. Out-of-state students
will pay approximately $20,000. Both charges are quite reasonable for a state university on the East Coast. Room and board
charges for first-year student can range between $10,700 and
$11,700. These are on the high side, but in line with charges at
other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic state schools.
However, Towson charges lower tuition and fees than either the
University of Maryland-College Park or the University of
Maryland-Baltimore County. The current increase in in-state tuition and fees, three percent over the previous year, comes after
four years where tuition remained the same and the State of Maryland increased funding to improve the campus. However, faculty
and staff received no pay raises during that time.
It is difficult to imagine private colleges in Maryland discounting
their charges to the in-state rate. However, Hood College (but not
Loyola University of Maryland or McDaniel College) may discount
to the out-of-state rate to attract a comparable student from elsewhere. Hood currently charges just over $32,000 in tuition and
fees. The college’s average non-need based scholarship in 2011
was just over $14,000 for all undergraduates and over $16,000
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for an entering freshman. However, Towson has a higher freshman retention rate (86 percent versus 77 percent) and a higher
six-year graduation rate (66 percent versus 60 percent) than
Hood.
Towson’s out-of-state tuition and fees are already lower than
James Madison University’s 2012-13 rates by around $2,000
(through their room and board is around $2,000 less) and undercut the University of Delaware’s current rates by around $9,000.
Further, the student who applies to Towson along with these
schools is more likely to qualify for merit-based aid from Towson.
Towson awarded 171 institutional non-need based academic
scholarships in 2012, averaging just under $5,000, impressive
considering the school’s low sticker price and fairly low ($33 million) endowment for a school of this size. Students who have a
3.6 GPA or higher as well as an 1800 (out of 2400) or higher on
all three sections of the SAT (Critical Reading, Math and Writing)
are eligible for Provosts Scholarships. Students from Baltimore
City are eligible for Commonwealth Awards and the Top 10%
Scholars Program. Students who come from Baltimore County
may also be consider for Top 10% Scholars. The Fisher College
of Science and Mathematics also offers scholarships that equal a
waiver of in-state tuition and fees.
Honors students are informed about their financial aid awards--all
receive scholarships--as soon as they are admitted. They are re-
newable based on academic performance and positive contributions to the Honors community.
In 2011 Towson student borrowers graduated with an average
debt of around $22,000, on the lower side for a state university,
according to the Project on Student Debt managed by The Institute for College Success, a non-partisan, non-profit organization
based in Oakland, California. They owed more than $2,000 less
than the average student borrowers at the University of MarylandCollege Park but also just over $1,000 more than students at
Salisbury University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore
County. In addition, Hood College students who borrowed owed,
on average, around $5,000 less.
Parent borrowers who had to take out Parent PLUS loans borrowed an average of around $12,600 according to the Chronicle
of Higher Education’s Parents PLUS loan database. By comparison, parents of students at the University of Maryland-College
Park borrowed approximately $14,200 but parents of students at
the University of Maryland-Baltimore County borrowed just over
$10,000, $2,600 less than parents of Towson students. Parents of
students at private Hood College borrowed around $12,200, also
less than parents of Towson students. Parents PLUS loan debt is
important to note. It often serves as a last resort for families who
cannot qualify for other forms of financial aid, or their students
cannot qualify for the Federal Stafford loans.
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Comforts
5
On-Campus Housing
Local Housing Market
Comforts
Fast Facts
1. Towson houses 4,500 undergraduates in 15 residence
halls and 300 in on-campus apartments.
2. The university guarantees on-campus housing for
freshmen and sophomores.
3. Eighty-seven percent of entering freshmen live on
campus, though none are required to do so.
4. A freshman who lives in a double room and carries a
14-meal plan pays just over $10,400 for the year, on the
high side for a state university but about average for
one that is located within a high-cost metropolitan area.
Settling In
Towson houses 4,500 undergraduates in 15 residence halls and 300 in
on-campus apartments. All residence hall rooms are Wi-Fi enabled and
include a combination refrigerator/microwave oven. All but two halls (Prettyman and Scarborough) have air-conditioned rooms. The university
guarantees on-campus housing for freshmen and sophomores. Eightyseven percent of entering freshmen live on campus, though none are required to do so. Towson has six learning communities,besides the Honors College: International House, Tigers Serving Others, American Sign
Language, Science and Technology, Gender-Neutral and Alcohol-Free.
Freshmen have the option of living in all-freshmen or mixed halls. All
halls are co-ed. Freshmen are most likely to live in one of five high-rise
towers; four are located in The Glen which is in the center of campus.
The fifth, Residence Tower, has been renovated and reopened in the
Spring of 2013. The halls in the Glen, which have a metal facade, are
due for “re-skins” this summer. In these halls, four students, two in each
double room, share a bathroom. These double rooms may be temporarily expanded into triples in the event of a housing crunch at the beginning of the school year. The rooms are de-tripled by the start of the
Spring semester. In the vent of a crunch, students may also be assigned
to discounted rooms in Residence Tower. These rooms are discounted
because they must be vacated to accommodate athletes and Minimester
students during winter break. Students who return for the spring semester will receive a $250 credit to their account.
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Students who live in the typical double room will pay about $3,000 per
semester. These rooms come with a separate shared bathroom. Single
rooms with a shared bath are also available, for $400 more per semester. The Barton and Douglass Houses have larger double rooms called
“Premier Rooms” which cost about the same as the singles. Both of
these halls are located in the modern West Village. Douglass is the
home of the Honors College.
Two halls on campus, Paca and Tubman House, and one apartment
complex, Millenium Hall, are managed by Capstone Management, a private company. These require a separate application. Freshmen may apply to live in these halls which cost around $3,500 a semester, including
a $325 reservation feel. Costs to live in Millenium Hall run close to
$4,400 a semester, including all utilities, very expensive for student housing, although the students live under a school-year contract as opposed
to a year-round lease in off-campus housing.
University-owned on-campus apartments are available to upperclass students in Towson Run at nearly $6,000 (shared four-bedroom with four single rooms) to $7,400 per year (one bedroom), including uitlities. Apartment layouts offer options for single or double rooms with shared bathrooms.
Meal plans are sold on an “all you care to eat” basis with options for 10,
14 and 19 meals per week plus $50 in dining points that can be used at
“grab and go” locations on campus. The 14 meal plan is the most popular option. Costs for meal plans are $1,900 (10 meals), $2,200 (14
meals) and just under $2,400 (19 meals) per semester.
A freshman who lives in a double room and carries a 14-meal plan pays
just over $10,400 for the year, on the high side for a state university but
about average for one that is located within a high-cost East Coast metropolitan area. A student in Honors housing with the 14-meal plan would
pay $1,000 more. It would be fair for that student to have a scholarship
that does more than make up the difference in housing costs.
There are also several apartment complexes across from campus on the
opposite sides of York Road and Towsontown Road. Rents range between $400 and $500/per person/per month. These may be a better buy,
but may obligate a student to a 12-month lease as opposed to a contract
that begins and ends around the school year. But they may be a more
attractive option for students, such as those in the health science programs, who can work for area employers during the summers and semester breaks.
All Towson students may have cars. The West Village parking deck (near
Paca, Barton, Douglass, Tubman Towson Run and Millenium Halls is exceptionally convenient. more than student parking at most large schools,
and limited space is available to freshman. There is also a parking deck
next to the Glen, though no spaces are allocated to freshmen. The permit charge is a high $303 per school year.
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Community
6
Campus
Environs
School Spirit
Community
Life On and Off Campus
Fast Facts
1. The Towson campus has 328 acres including property that
is yet to be developed for housing, academic or
administrative uses.
2. Towson’s Center for the Arts opened in 2005
$53 million for renovation and expansion.
includes, among several performance spaces,
studios and the Dance Studio Theatre. The
dance team is a 14-time NCAA champion.
at a cost of
The Center
three dance
university’s
3. The compact nature of the campus, the addition of modern
open-air buildings, the road network and a greater use of
public facilities (arts and sports) by the community have
made Towson a relatively safe campus.
4. Towson is one of the few college towns in the country,
Minneapolis may be the other, that has a major shopping
center so close to campus.
The Towson campus has 328 acres including property that is yet to be
developed for housing, academic or administrative uses. The campus is
compact for a university with 21,000 students, however a sizable number
either commute or live in housing across York Road or Towsontown
Boulevard. However, it is also built into a hill with the modern athletic facilities at the top, administrative offices and Stephens Hall, the academic
headquarters for the business school and honors college, at the bottom.
Towson has placed parking structures on heavily-trafficked Cross Campus Drive and Towsontown Boulevard; two are next to clusters of residence halls. While the residents don’t need to drive on campus, the students, faculty and staff who do must travel on multi-lane perimeter roads:
York Road, Towsontown Boulevard, Cross Campus Drive and Osler
Drive. Osler Drive, which is very fast-paced, is the worst of such roads,
though a footbridge over the road that will link the West Campus residences to the academic center of campus will be constructed as part of
the university’s building program. It should be noted that the road network also makes it easier for police to patrol the grounds.
Students who are looking for a campus with many ivy-covered buildings
should look elsewhere. While Stephens Hall, the first campus building
and Van Bokkelen Hall date back to the early 20th century, the remainder of the campus was developed during the 1970s, 1990s and well into
the 2000s. Some interesting touches include three tiger statues, one in
front of Stevens Hall facing York Road, another on the grounds in front of
the liberay and another off the International Walkway, all of which support the university’s brand identity and Freedom Square opened in 2010
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to promote freedom of expression on campus. The space is equipped
with electrical outlets, sitting areas, a public forum area, and two chalk
boards. Each week a new thought-provoking question is posted on
these chalk boards and students are encouraged to write their
thoughts. The College of Liberal Arts building is as impressive as similar
structures on larger university campuses, and is LEED-certified. Towson
also has its own planetarium, a rare for a regional university. The university has plans to renovate and expand its student union.
Towson has made major investments in athletics and the arts. Johnny
Unitas Stadium, named for the legendary NFL quarterback (two of his
children attended the university), opened in 2002. With just over 11,000
seats, it is the third largest facility of its kind in the Baltimore area behind
M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 2012 Tigers
averaged 8,700 fans per game, impressive considering the team had a
7-4 record and did not qualify for post-season play. However, this team
also scored 22 points against LSU, the eighth-ranked bowl-bound team
in the country, more than either Florida or Alabama. Former New York Giants Sean Landeta and Dave Meggett competed in football for Towson.
Both earned Super Bowl rings. So did more recent alumnus Jermon
Bushrod, as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
heavily in facilities, the university has also announced its decision to
drop baseball. Schuerholz Park, named for alumnus and current Atlanta
Braves president John Scheurholz, would likely be converted to another
use.
The Center for the Arts opened in 2005 at a cost of $53 million for renovation and expansion. The Center includes, among several performance
spaces, three dance studios and the Dance Studio Theatre. The university’s dance team is a 14-time NCAA champion.
The new Tiger Arena will open this year, seating 5,200 for men’s and
women’s basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. The opening has been
well-time, for the men’s basketball team made the most successful turnaround in NCAA history, going from a single win in 2011-12 to 18 victories in 2013-13.
The arts and athletic facilities are not only modern and impressive; they
also enable the university to attract speakers and entertainers of a
higher profile while also strengthening its athletic brand. While Baltimore
has a convention center, it does not have an indoor sports and entertainment facility comparable to the Tiger Arena. The Charm City lost its professional basketball team (today the Washington Wizards) in 1973 and it
has never had a hockey team. While the city has produced high school
basketball stars, the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony among the most recent
talents, it does not have a school that has been a powerhouse in major
college basketball. However, Towson’s conference rivals, Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University (VA), have reached
the Final Four since 2006. Successful men’s and women’s basketball
teams would be a huge help towards advancing Towson’s brand, important since Towson is also the largest university in the Baltimore area.
Football faces a tougher road with the NFL champion Baltimore Ravens
so close by. It is doubtful that the campus could handle the traffic that a
larger stadium would bring.
Since joining the Colonial Athletic Conference in 2001-02, Towson has
won conference titles in men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s swimming, men’s soccer and men’s golf. However, while Towson has invested
These investments were directed, in part, at making Towson a stronger
and safer campus community. Towson, like similar schools, offers weekend programming for next to no cost from Thursday night through Satur18
day. Unlike most schools that have a fairly large off-campus population,
Towson keeps its University Union open through midnight on Fridays
and Saturdays; it closes at 11 PM all other nights.
With programming on campus as well as access to Baltimore, the fraternity population is small. Only eight percent of undergraduate men belong
to a fraternity while the university has no sororities. Students are active
in community service through The Big Event, a major campus clean-up
involving more than 1,000 students as well as alternative spring break
programs. Towson has been on the President’s Honor Roll for Community Service for the past two years. Homecoming, Towson Tailgate, TigerThon and Tigerfest events attract a very large attendance. While there
are more than 250 clubs and organizations, there are also more than
1,000 on-campus jobs for students. Approximately 80 percent of Towson
students work while they are in school.
The compact nature of the campus, the addition of modern open-air
buildings, the road network, increased personnel and electronic surviellance and a greater use of public facilities (arts and sports) by the community has made Towson a relatively safe campus. As one example, reported burglaries in the residence halls declined from 11 to zero from
2009 to 2011 according to the university’s Clery Report. They dropped
from 24 to 11 campus-wide. Drug-related arrests on campus increased
from 27 to 47, low numbers considering more than 5,000 people live on
campus with hundreds living close by. Drug-related disciplinary referrals,
however, dropped from 73 to 23. Both trends together suggest that drug
enforcement has become tougher. Liquor-related arrests dropped from
70 to 49, again low considering the size of the resident population.
LIquor-related disciplinary referrals, however, increased from 325 to 370.
These trends together suggest that the university is becoming the more
active judiciary (as opposed to police) when it comes to alcohol-related
crimes. However, there were seven forcible sex offenses in 2011. This
issue will always be a concern, especially at a university where more
than 60 percent of the undergraduates are women.
As previously stated, one of Towson’s major strengths is location. A CollegeTown shuttle takes students in downtown Baltimore and the Inner harbor for no charge. Public buses, also free to Towson students, take students downtown, including the Towson Center Mall, a five story shopping
center that offers practically any upscale retail store and restaurant that
can be named, including an Apple Store and Nordstrom. The mall has
more shopping and eating options than Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and
possibly more parking.
The mall, while a major attraction has also drained the retail core of most
of the downtown though restaurants and pubs located within walking distance of the mall appear to be surviving. The mall is quite close to a traffic circle that is more effective at directing traffic away from the downtown rather than towards it. A large parking structure immediately connected to center of the mall discourages patrons to venture into the
downtown. Still, Towson is one of the few college towns in the country
that has a major shopping center so close to campus. The university
would probably like to see downtown better sold as “Tiger Town,” as
shown in murals in a former department store’s windows. But that may
take more initiatives to increase the university’s presence downtown or
to provide more shopping, dining entertainment options for a student
audience.
19
Curriculum
7
Academics
Honors Programs
Experiential Learning
Curriculum
Fast Facts
1. A l t h o u g h T o w s o n h a s m o r e t h a n 1 9 , 0 0 0
undergraduates, only two percent of all undergraduate
courses enroll more than 50 students, compared with
16 percent at the University of Maryland-College Park.
2. More than 800 students are enrolled in the Honors
College. All Honors College students receive
scholarships (and sometimes additional merit aid),
priority for course registration, and access to honors
classes (usually less than 20 students) as well as
honors housing.
3. To date, around 75 percent of all students graduate
having an internship or similar experience outside of
the classroom.
Academic Opportunities and Options
Although Towson has more than 19,000 undergraduates, only two percent of all undergraduate courses enroll more than 50 students, compared with 16 percent at the University of Maryland-College Park. The
university’s largest lecture room has seats for only 200 students. Students who come here are less likely to find the large-lecture classes they
would come to expect at a flagship state school. They are also more
likely to find opportunities to do research with a faculty member that
might normally be delegated to graduate students.
General education courses represent slightly more than a third of all
courses required to complete a degree at Towson. Students outside of
the Fine Arts or Music Programs (these are their own Bachelor’s degrees) may complete either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. The requirements for both are the same, only the BA
adds one year of a foreign language. Students may begin at the intermediate level of the language they studied on high school or begin study on
a new language at the elementary then later the intermediate level. The
general education requirements are structured so that it is fairly easy to
change schools. The transfer process--the university works with four
Maryland community colleges (Baltimore County, Harford, Hagarstown
and Southern Maryland) is designed to be seamless as well. The university also has a six-week winter “Minimester” making it possible to take
classes, study abroad or take on community service.
More than 800 students are enrolled in the Honors College. All Honors
College students receive scholarships (and sometimes additional merit
21
aid), priority for course registration, and access to honors classes (usually less than 20 students) as well as honors housing. Honors students
are informed about their financial aid awards as soon as they are admitted. Students can also graduate with departmental honors.
mission. The College of Fine Arts and Communications hosts NewsTrust, a pilot for a news rating site as well a degree program in Electronic Media. The College of Liberal Arts offers a joint Bachelors/Juris
Doctor degree in partnership with the University of Baltimore law school.
Virtually all majors require students to complete an internship, usually
considered a capstone course. Academic departments set their own policies regarding these experiences. To date, around 75 percent of all students graduate having an internship or similar experience outside of the
classroom. Independent study options are also available in all majors.
Towson is also active in Civility Engagement. Faculty may apply for
grants and site location assistance that enable them to offer a service
learning experience within their courses.
Towson has a 17-to-1 student-faculty ratio, in contrast the ratio is 18 to 1
at College Park. This is based on counting all full-time faculty as well as
one third of the part-time faculty. However nearly half of Towson’s faculty
are part-time, high for a school with more than 19,000 undergraduates.
Adjuncts are used to teach courses, though teaching assistants who lack
the advanced degree or professional credentials are not.
The most popular major at Towson is business, which enrolls more than
2,200 undergraduates. One unique program within the business school
is called The Associate. Modeled after The Apprentice, eight students
compete in a case study competition. The cases, provided by sponsoring
corporations, are discussed week-to-week in a boardroom setting where
a losing candidate is “fired.” The winner of the competition receives a job
offer. This year, PNC Bank was the hiring employer. Towson is also the
only public university in the U.S that offers a major in e-business.
Towson offers other unique programs outside of the business school.
The Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, for example, offers the
only Forensic Chemistry program in the State of Maryland while the College of Health Professions (CHP) offers one of the only two programs in
Speech Pathology and Audiology in the University of Maryland system.
CHP also offers a joint Bachelor’s/Masters program in Occupational Therapy. This program as well as the programs in Athletic Training and Nursing are quite competitive and require a supplemental application for ad-
Towson University students gave their faculty a rating of 3.72 out of a
possible 5 on RateMyProfessors.com, higher than students at the University of Maryland-College Park (3.63), slightly lower than students at Salisbury University (3.79) and about the same as students at the University
of Maryland-Baltimore County (3.71). They rated their faculty lower than
students at the University of Delaware (3.74), George Mason University
(3.75) and James Madison University (3.81) rated theirs but higher than
students at Temple (3.69). Towson students showed slightly more regard
for their faculty than students at Hood College (3.66), Loyola UniversityMaryland (3.69) and Stevenson University (3.67), but slightly lower regard than students at nearby Goucher College (3.74) as well as McDaniel College (3.77) showed for theirs.
22
Connections
8
Alumni Relations
Career Services
Connections
Fast Facts
1. Towson has 90,000 living alumni. Between 60,000
and 70,000 live in the State of Maryland, around
30,000 in Baltimore County alone.
2. Towson alumni may nominate one prospective
student each year through TUTigerTracks.com
and request that their application fee be waived.
3. More than 5,000 jobs are posted in Hire@TU, the
university’s job board; an additional 600 were
presented at job fairs on campus.
Building a Network
Towson has 90,000 living alumni. Between 60,000 and 70,000 live in the
State of Maryland, around 30,000 in Baltimore County alone. Other areas with large concentrations of alumni are New York (including Long Island and New Jersey suburbs), California, Florida (especially Sarasota)
and the Atlanta metro area. With so many alumni close by, it is fairly
easy to bring large numbers back for Homecoming. The Homecoming
football game includes a well-attended Tailgate Festival. Last season’s
event sold out while the football game, versus St. Francis University,
filled nearly 10,000 of 11,000 seats.
Towson alumni are also active in student recruitment. In addition to participation in recruitment events, alumni may nominate one prospective
student each year through TUTigerTracks.com and request that their application fee be waived. The alumni association is also an advocate behind the tiger statues on campus and provides scholarships to deserving
students. The Towson Advocacy Program trains alumni to represent the
university through meetings and written communications with legislators.
Alumni also contributed towards purchasing the 82 flags of the world that
are rotated to be flown on the International Walkway. The alumni association has 4,700 “likes” on its Facebook page while the university has
nearly 8,300 followers on Twitter.
Towson’s career center runs two large career and internship fairs, one
each in the Fall and the Spring. They also run a Teacher Fair with its own
Interview Day. The career center also hosts smaller fairs for students in
the sciences, technology and mathematics majors. More than 5,000 jobs
are posted in Hire@TU, the university’s job board; an additional 600
were presented at the job fairs.
24
Conclusions
9
Summing up
Conclusions
With a reasonably low sticker price as well as very good retention and graduation rates, Towson University has become one
of the best buys in American higher education. It’s price and location have made it a more desirable option not only for students from Maryland, but from nearby states as well. The university is undergoing a more ambitious expansion than most state
schools, flagship or otherwise. It has also shifted from being
largely a commuter school to one with a campus culture with “Tiger pride.” Athletics are very much a part of this, but so are the
arts and community service. Students are also more likely to
feel proud of an increasingly attractive modern campus.
Yet while Towson is becoming a more popular regional draw, it
is very much a Maryland university. It has taken on partnerships
with community colleges to provide a good four-year opportunity to their students. It has opened modern arts and athletic facilities to become more valuable to its community, which goes
beyond the students.
A student who might fall into the middle of the applicant pool at
College Park or at UMBC might be closer to the top at Towson,
and possibly be a honors student. That student, if s/he matures
and settles into an academic program s/he likes, has the same
prospects for success as s/he would have at those other
schools. That student has a better chance of being noticed by
the faculty. And s/he has at least the same odds of finding employment in the Baltimore area or gaining admission to an excel26
lent graduate or professional school. S/he might also have a
more personal learning experience than most students receive
at a larger state school that is more research-oriented.
Towson also has its weaknesses. It needs to house more of its
students. It has traffic circulation problems most universities
don’t want. The brand recognition of Towson is weak beyond
Maryland and the Baltimore-Washington Corridor. However,
these problems are all curable for a very good regional university that is only getting better.
As the largest college or university in the Baltimore area, Towson is also the most important. Some might place Johns Hopkins on that mantle. But that fine university touches on the lives
of far fewer students. Towson is also a very diverse institution,
much like its region and state, as well as a relatively large one.
Ed Quest’s Report Card
Towson University
Four-Year/
Six-Year
Grad Rates
Freshman
Retention
Costs
Comforts
Community
Curriculum
Connections
B/B+
B+
A
B+
B+
A
B+
Strengths
Weaknesses
Value for the money
Little brand recognition outside of Maryland and
Baltimore-Washington area
Major investments in campus expansion and
quality of life as well as brand-building.
Although nearly 30 percent of students come from
outside Maryland, a large influx of transfer
students makes Towson “look” more like a
commuter school
Proximity to hospitals, schools, corporate
community for internships and permanent
employment in Baltimore area.
Those looking for a campus with history should
look elsewhere
Largest business and education schools in the U
of Maryland System
Fast-paced roads, especially Osler Drive
Towson (town and campus) is becoming a more
urbane community
High athletic fee, although sports events are free
to students
Strong regional performing arts center for
Baltimore area. Tiger Arena will become an
equally-important community facility.
Housing options, while very nice, can get very
expensive for a public school
Honors College is a tremendous value for
academics and scholarships
Housing demand exceeds housing supply resulting
in temporary options such as triple rooms and
overflow spaces converted to rooms.
Relatively low crime rate for a school with more
than 19,000 undergraduates.
More likely to have smaller classes here than in
College Park
27
The End
10
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