Evening star., 1962-09-29
Regents Seek
Missile Tract
As u. Branch

BALTIMORE, Sept. 29-The
University Of Maryland will
evaluate the need for establish
ing branches throughout the
State. including one near Lay
louisville in Montgomery Coun-
ty.
The Board Of Regents yes
terday named a subcommittee
to study the matter after learn
ing that a record 16,700 enroll
ment at College Park this week
is merely another link in the
growth spiral.
With this in mind. the re-
gents agreed to apply for 33.5
acres of Federal surplus prop
erty near Laytonsville. The
tract is a former missile base
and includes buildings with
1880 square feet of space.
A las per cent enrolment
jump is expected next fall, and
prompted the regents to ap-
prove a record 1963-64 budget
Of $39.6 million for operating
facilities at College Park, Balti-
more and Princess Anne. The
sum is $3.7 million more than
authorized for 1962-63.
Report Recommendation
The subcommittee study on
branches complies with q rec
ommendation in the State Cur
lett Com mission report on
higher education. It also be-
gins to answer an expansion
request made. last month by
the Maryland County Commits
sioners Association, according
to DR.. Wilson H. Elkins, uni
versity president.
THE Curlett report encour-
ages US to look to the future,
and it may be necessary for US
to work later with other
boards" DR.. Elkins said.
The Curlett Commission pro-
posed that expansion plans for
all State colleges be drafted by
q special advisory council. It
would include representatives
from both the university and
the teacher colleges.
"Our study on branches viii
put us in q better position to
expand If the Curlett Commits
sion report is adopted by the
Maryland Assembly" DR..
Elkins said.
DR.. Elkins was q member Of
the commission and approved
its report. He said the regents
had not been asked to act on
it. The report was approved
last month by the Maryland
State Board Of Education,
which now operates five
teacher colleges.
A resolution by the Coun-,
lty Commissioners Association
asked for immediate construc-
ton Of branches.
More Acreage Advised
The county officials reported
that only IS per cent Of Mary
land high school graduates
now attend college, but that
rs per cent would go to the
university If branches were
within committing distance.
Development Of the Laytons-
vile branch with the purchase
of up to 500 adjoining acres was
urged by Louis L. Goldstein,
State controller and ex officio
member Of the Board Of Re-
gents.
He said 1t would be q strate-
gic move because of the tracts
proximity to the Atomic En-
ergy Commission, the Bureau
of Standards and other faci-
lities that win make the Mont
gomery-Prince Georges area
the science center of the Ma
ton.
Approval Of the operating
budget yesterday brings to
$56.2 million the sum sought
by the regents for 1963-64. In
June they approved q $16.6
million capital outlay budget.
Both budgets will be studied
by the State Budget Bureau
before being passed on to the
governor for presentation to
the legislature convening In
January.
The only student fee increase
in the operating budget is a
$40 annual rise in dormitory
rent. Maryland men students
now pay $3.50 and goods are
charged $3.50. District and out
of-State students pay another
$50.