{"id":263,"date":"2026-03-26T15:08:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/umbc50\/?page_id=263"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:51:29","slug":"founding-umbc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/umbc50\/home\/themes\/founding-umbc\/","title":{"rendered":"Founding UMBC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the 1940s into the 1950s, dramatic increases in the number of Marylanders seeking a university education motivated State officials to begin planning for expansion of the University of Maryland. Beginning in 1955, a series of state commissions studied the need for expanding publicly supported higher education. Each recognized that the number of Maryland students attending college was greatly increasing. The Warfield Commission, appointed by the governor in 1959, issued its report in February 1960. Titled A Plan for Expanding the University of Maryland, the report suggested expansion of UM by bringing Towson, Frostburg and Salisbury Universities under the UM administration and creating regional campuses in various areas of the state for commuting students. The Curlett Commission, also appointed by the Governor, focused on the growing demand for college education in Maryland. The report recommended expansion in public higher education as well as a tripartite organization (community colleges, state colleges, and the University of Maryland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

View “Founding UMBC” exhibit pages:<\/summary>\n