III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 338 

Congratulating Towson University on the 150th anniversary of the founding 

of the university. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 18, 2015 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. MIKULSKI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating Towson University on the 150th anniversary 

of the founding of the university. 

Whereas, on January 15, 2016, Towson University, located 

in Towson, Maryland, celebrates the founding of the university on January 15, 1866; 

Whereas Article VIII, section 1 of the Constitution of Maryland, adopted in convention in 1864, called for a uniform 

system of free public schools for the State of Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1865, the General Assembly of Maryland (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘General Assembly’’) 

created the State Normal School, which would become 

Towson University; 


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•SRES 338 ATS 

Whereas, on January 15, 1866, the State Normal School 

opened in the Red Men’s Hall, located at 24 North Paca 

Street, in Baltimore, Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1875, a law was enacted to authorize construction of a new building for the State Normal School, 

known as the Carrollton Building; 

Whereas the Carrollton Building was erected in West Baltimore at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Carrollton 

Avenue; 

Whereas the State Normal School remained in the Carrollton 

Building for almost 40 years; 

Whereas, on June 10, 1910, the General Assembly enacted 

a law to create the Maryland State Normal School Building Commission, which was responsible for— 

(1) selecting a new site for the State Normal School; 

and 

(2) preparing plans and estimates for the construction of new buildings; 

Whereas, in April of 1912, the General Assembly enacted a 

law to authorize a $600,000 bond for the purchase of a 

new site for the State Normal School; 

Whereas, in August of 1912, the Maryland State Normal 

School Building Commission selected the new site for the 

State Normal School in Towson, Maryland, where Towson University is located as of the date of adoption of 

this resolution; 

Whereas the new campus of the State Normal School was 

constructed on 88 acres of farmland and included 3 

buildings, which were known as— 

(1) the Administration Building (known on the date 

of adoption of this resolution as ‘‘Stephens Hall’’); 


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(2) Newell Hall; and 

(3) the Power Plant; 

Whereas, on September 15, 1915, the doors of the State Normal School were opened for more than 300 students at 

its new location in Towson, Maryland; 

Whereas, in June of 1935, the name of the State Normal 

School was changed to the State Teachers College at 

Towson (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘State 

Teachers College’’); 

Whereas the name of the State Normal School was changed 

to the State Teachers College because, in 1935, the General Assembly enacted a law to require teachers to earn 

a 4-year baccalaureate degree, rather than requiring 

teachers to earn a 2-year certificate; 

Whereas, in 1936, the State Teachers College met standards 

of accreditation set forth by— 

(1) the American Association of Teachers Colleges; 

and 

(2) the American Council on Education; 

Whereas the Governor of Maryland, Theodore McKeldin, submitted a capital improvement budget of $1,172,500 for 

the State Teachers College— 

(1) to construct buildings; and 

(2) to acquire 40 acres; 

Whereas, in 1963, the State of Maryland— 

(1) made the State Teachers College a liberal arts 

college; and 

(2) changed the name of the State Teachers College 

to Towson State College; 

Whereas, from 1960 through 1970, Towson State College 

carried out a construction program funded by more than 


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$35,000,000 in Federal and State funds, which necessitated the purchase of land and construction of new 

buildings; 

Whereas, on July 1, 1976, the name of Towson State College 

was changed to Towson State University; 

Whereas, in 1988, higher education in Maryland was restructured to consolidate the State College and University 

System, of which Towson State University was a part, 

within the University System of Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1996, U.S. News & World Report ranked Towson State University in categories for institutions in the 

North— 

(1) second in the ‘‘Most Efficient Schools’’ category; 

and 

(2) fourth in the ‘‘Best Sticker Price’’ category; 

Whereas, in 1997, after years of discussion and debate, the 

name of Towson State University changed to Towson 

University, which was considered a step that would— 

(1) elevate Towson University in the minds of individuals; and 

(2) allow Towson University to develop an identity 

while remaining in the University System of Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1998, U.S. News & World Report ranked Towson University among the top 10 public institutions in 

the North; 

Whereas, between January 1, 2000, and the date of adoption 

of this resolution, 14 new structures were constructed on 

the campus of Towson University; 

Whereas, in 2001, Towson University joined the Colonial 

Athletic Association, which is a collegiate conference afVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:37 Dec 19, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR338.ATS SR338

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filiated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association 

(commonly known as the ‘‘NCAA’’); 

Whereas Towson University has 19 Division I athletic teams; 

Whereas, in 2003, the name of Minnegan Stadium at Towson 

University was changed to Johnny Unitas Stadium in 

honor of former Baltimore Colts quarterback, Johnny 

Unitas; 

Whereas, in 2013, Towson University in Northeastern Maryland opened, which allows a student of Harford Community College or Cecil College to complete a 4-year degree 

in any of 6 programs; 

Whereas the National Security Agency and the Department 

of Homeland Security designated Towson University as a 

National Center of Academic Excellence in Information 

Assurance and Cyber Defense; 

Whereas the College of Education at Towson University is 

the oldest, largest, and preeminent producer of teachers 

in the State of Maryland; 

Whereas an economic impact study entitled ‘‘Towson University’s Economic Impact’’, published in 2015, found that 

Towson University had a $139,400,000,000 total economic impact on the economy of the State of Maryland 

between 1866 and 2014; 

Whereas Towson University evolved from the State Normal 

School with 11 students to 1 of the largest universities 

in Maryland, comprised of 6 distinct colleges with a total 

enrollment of more than 22,000 students; and 

Whereas the sustained commitment of Towson University to 

teacher education and workforce development has made 

Towson University— 

(1) a driving force for the economy of Maryland; and 


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(2) a positive influence on the lives of graduates of 

Towson University and students of graduates of Towson 

University: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates Towson University on the 

150th 3 anniversary of the founding of the university; 

4 (2) recognizes the achievements of the adminis5 trators, professors, students, and staff of Towson 

6 University, who have contributed to the success of 

7 Towson University; and 

8 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

9 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu10 tion to— 

11 (A) the president of Towson University; 

12 and 

13 (B) the interim provost and vice president 

14 for academic affairs of Towson University. 

Æ 


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