<p>[Big</a> Ten brings Maryland new chances for study, research - Baltimore Sun](<a href=“http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-11-22/news/bs-md-umd-academics-20121122_1_big-ten-acc-universities-academic-institutions]Big”>http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-11-22/news/bs-md-umd-academics-20121122_1_big-ten-acc-universities-academic-institutions)
[Maryland</a> in News](<a href=“http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/info/btquotes.cfm]Maryland”>http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/info/btquotes.cfm)</p>
<p>At first glance it seems like the move was made due to the financial struggles of the University, primarily from an athletic perspective, thanks to the previous athletic director(whose name I will purposely omit). </p>
<p>To a certain extent, this is true. Maryland’s athletic program certainly <em>is</em> hurting for money. All it takes to see this is to consider the numerous sports that were recently cut. No school wants to have to tell a student athlete that the sport they hold so dearly has to be cut. Maryland is no different. This was not a want, but a need. </p>
<p>Similarly true is the fact that joining the Big 10 <em>will</em> allow the University to reinstate cut athletic teams. It <em>will</em> result in the athletic program getting out of the red, allowing the accumulated debt to begin to be alleviated. </p>
<p>A lesser talked about facet of this however, is the effect this will have on University of Maryland academically. Joining the Big 10 allows Maryland to become a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). [Committee</a> on Institutional Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_on_Institutional_Cooperation]Committee”>Big Ten Academic Alliance - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>“There’s no question that outside of the Ivy League, the Big Ten is the most prestigious conference in terms of the academic reputation of its institutions”(Baltimore Sun), said University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan. The CIC is comprised of the Big 10 schools and The University of Chicago. The CIC engages in 8 billion dollars annually in funded research, in addition to its leading library of over 80 million books. </p>
<p>Maryland, who will be a member of the CIC starting July 1st 2013, will immediately have access to this leading book library as well as a significant increase in research money available to the University. Also of significance, Maryland students will see a substantial increase in study abroad opportunities, whether overseas or on campus of a fellow CIC member University. </p>
<p>The two links I posted at the beginning have some very interesting quotes by members of the administration of the University of Maryland and other Big 10 University’s. They all seem to be elated at the opportunities this creates for the University of Maryland as a whole, in regard to worldwide reputation and academic prowess. </p>
<p>Most interestingly, “President Loh promised Monday that he will reinvest athletics money gained from joining the Big Ten into Maryland’s academics” (Baltimore Sun). Martha Nell Smith, Chair, University Senate and UMD Professor of English said, “…When I learned the details of the superior rankings of the Big 10 AAU public institutions, and thought about how my colleagues at IU, Illinois, Wisconsin are supported academically, I concluded that we could move into an era where athletics and academics mutually enable one another and that there is great opportunity here”(UMD News Desk). One would have to at least see the exceptional opportunity that this model presents. </p>
<p>I wanted to elaborate on the move in case some had already dismissed it on terms of personal irrelevancy. If you believe what the administration is saying in the two articles, this looks to be <em>very</em> promising for the University moving forward. </p>
<p>Apologies in advance for the lengthy post.
Feel free to discuss!</p>