③ Innovation in Action: Leveraging Technology, Empowering Learning
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Our Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Strategic Path
③ Mission
③ Vision
③ Core Values
③ Strategic Path
③ Foundational Commitments
③ Strategic Priorities
Who We Serve
③ Adult Learners
③ Underserved Populations
③ State of Maryland
③ Military Learners
What We Offer
About UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD 10 15
③ Skills-Based and Workforce-Relevant Learning Experiences
③ Global Footprint
③ Multiple Courses and Course Formats
③ Global Faculty with Real-World Experience
③ Comprehensive, Multiplatform Service and Support
③ Measures of Student Satisfaction
③ 2024 Graduates
③ Institutional Accreditation
③ Credit for Prior Learning
③ Partnerships that Increase Access and Affordability
Support Our Mission
③ Advocate
③ Connect
③ Donate
③ Partner
③ Recruit and Hire Students
③ Teach or Work for UMGC
③ Mentor
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friend,
Since 1947, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has focused on serving adult learners in the workforce and the military Today, UMGC ranks as Maryland’s largest provider of postsecondar y education; the nation’s most transfer-friendly university; and the premier learning par tner of the U.S. military, both stateside and abroad.
Now, as learner demographics and expectations shift and new workforce needs emerge and evolve at lightning speed, we are leveraging the agile and innovative culture that has sustained us for more than 75 years to create a new kind of university with new offerings and new ways of working.
By harnessing the power of ar tificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, we are expanding the array of suppor t and services available to learners; developing a deeper understanding of learners’ needs and expectations, both collectively and as individuals; and responding to those needs with learning experiences that are increasingly personalized, skills-based, and aligned with their professional objectives.
At the same time, AI-powered solutions are helping streamline our course development process, allowing us to introduce new learning experiences—and update existing ones—at scale in response to emerging workforce needs. Other related platforms allow us to map learning outcomes to in-demand skills and abilities while ensuring that we communicate those outcomes in ways that learners and employers understand—and that we are accountable to learners and deliver what we promise.
We maintain locations throughout Maryland, across the United States, and in more than 20 countries and territories, so that we can meet learners where they are with unprecedented levels of service and support. We
also partner with major corporations, industry innovators, community colleges, and other organizations to bring an accessible, affordable education within reach for broader populations.
This involves exploring new modes of delivery and new learning pathways that are far more flexible than traditional courses and degree programs. These new options include micro- and stackable credentials, noncredit courses, and a broad array of oppor tunities to earn and receive college credit for prior coursework and for learning that happens outside the classroom—whether on the job, in military training, through industry cer tifications, or in other ways.
In shor t, we place the needs of our students at the center of all that we do, and we measure our success by their success.
Thank you for your interest in UMGC. I invite you to join us as we work together to harness the power of higher education to inspire hope, empower dreams, and transform lives . . . one student at a time.
Sincerely,
Gregory W. Fowler, PhD President University of Maryland Global Campus
THE 21ST-CENTURY UNIVERSITY TRANSFORMED
Founded in 1947, UMGC is the largest university in Maryland, the state’s largest provider of postsecondary education, and—since 1949—the premier provider of education services to the U.S. military. Now, as learner and workforce needs and expectations change and evolve, UMGC is transforming as well, harnessing its agile and innovative culture—and the power of ar tificial intelligence and data science—to bring accessible, affordable learning experiences within reach at scale for new and underserved populations.
RANK AND STANDINGS
among University System of Maryland (USM) schools in degrees conferred in number of minority students enrolled in Maryland
transfer choice for Maryland community college graduates public university for transfer students in the nation
“Best for Vets” Primarily Online Colleges (Military Times, 2024)
“Best for Vets” Employer (Education Category, Military Times, 2023) in Maryland in number of veteran students enrolled
More than 15,100 to more than learners
Degrees and certificates conferred 16,100 + Grants and scholarships awarded $21 million annually
③ Pillars of Strength scholarships provide full tuition to caregivers of wounded, injured, or ill military servicemembers
③ Maryland Completion Scholarships allow eligible Maryland community college graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree at UMGC for $12,000 or less
③ SAFER—the UMGC Student Aid Fund for Emergency Relief—is funded by donations and provides modest awards to students in need of financial assistance
among USM schools in conferring IT degrees to women and students of color Debt after graduation $22,122 well below the national average for all public university borrowers of $32,362 for undergraduates—
INNOVATION IN ACTION: LEVERAGING
TECHNOLOGY, EMPOWERING LEARNING
Student 360° Assistant
A proprietary, AI-driven platform assists success coaches in understanding learner needs, prioritizing interactions, and effectively addressing challenges, while the aligned Virtual Success Coach Assistant helps access, process, and manage learner information.
Bridge Program
Learners from local populations in Asia can develop their English proficiency levels to fur ther their education and transition to a degree-seeking program with a U.S. university.
Raptor
In par tnership with Meta and Victor yXR, UMGC developed a virtual campus—the Metaversity—where learners pilot a variety of courses in an immersive virtual learning environment.
Dual-Enrollment Programs
An AI-driven tool that automates transcript processing and learns over time, improving speed and accuracy.
Self-Service Kiosks
Electronic kiosks allow current and prospective learners at remote locations to browse UMGC schedules and course offerings, ask questions online, and even connect with an advisor via Zoom.
Learners in high school can begin earning college credit, saving them money, accelerating their progress toward a degree, and granting advantages as they enter the workforce.
Virtual Learning Environments
Simulations and scenario-based applications allow learners to apply skills and develop proficiencies with state-of-the-ar t industry tools and practices, helping ensure workplace readiness.
Field Study
In Europe and Asia, learners can visit historic cities and regions, exploring different cultures, customs, languages, history, and more.
Noncredit Courses, Stackable Certificates, and Micro-Credentials
Innovative experiences offer greater flexibility, allowing learners to align their studies with their unique goals and objectives, saving both time and money. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense or military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
OUR MISSION, VISION, CORE VALUES, AND STRATEGIC PATH
UMGC is united and guided by a focus on the needs of learners and employers who must negotiate a world that is changing at lightning speed, as technologies emerge and advance, demographics shift, and our understanding of what learning is—and how and where it happens—continues to evolve.
CORE VALUES
MISSION
The mission of UMGC is to inspire hope, empower dreams, and transform lives . . . one student at a time.
That mission is expressed in Maryland statute as an obligation “to improve the lives of adult learners by operating as Maryland’s open university, ser ving working adults, militar y servicemembers, their families, and veterans across the United States and around the world. UMGC provides our students with open, affordable, and quality higher education. As a recognized leader in career-relevant education, the university embraces innovation and change aligned with our purpose and sharing our perspectives and expertise.”
VISION
The vision of UMGC is to be the school of choice for adults and business because we are learner-centric, datadriven, and skills-based.
Celebrate Diversity
Our welcoming of diverse perspectives and ideas differentiates us and drives innovation.
Optimize Agility
Curiosity and adaptability—informed and guided by data—drive continuous improvement and transformation.
Reach Beyond
Courage and willingness to challenge boundaries lead to transformative solutions, for our institution and our learners alike.
Embrace Collaboration
Teamwork, effective communication, and clarity of purpose drive success.
STRATEGIC PATH
Foundational Commitments
Learner Centricity
Our People
State of Maryland
Global Reach
Military
Spirit of Innovation
Digital Transformation
Intentional study of and investment in our people’s needs
Market-responsive portfolio management that continuously adapts to learner and employer needs
A responsive, tailored, and seamless experience to maximize the success of our diverse learners
Strate gic
Prioritie s
A skills architecture that can be translated between educational and work experiences
Targeted expansion that strengthens and diversifies our learner population
WHO WE SERVE
ADULT LEARNERS
94,900+ adult learners worldwide
are employed
301,000+ alumni worldwide have dependent children 44% work 40 or more hours per week
55% of undergraduates transfer 30 or more credits 20,000+ received Pell Grants
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS
From its founding in 1947, UMGC has focused on serving adult and military learners, many from underserved populations, who need an education that works—with their schedules, their financial constraints, and their career goals. These individuals form the backbone of strong families, strong communities, and strong economies, and by meeting them where they are, UMGC can help them transform their lives, making an impact that reverberates across generations. of all learners speak English as a second language
STATE OF MARYLAND
109,000+
UMGC graduates live in Maryland 750+
full-time UMGC employees live in Maryland
2024 31,500+
Maryland residents took UMGC courses in 2024
774
Learners hail from all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City
34% of all degrees granted by the USM are conferred by UMGC
5,200+
Marylanders graduated from UMGC in 2024
retired Marylanders—60 years of age or older—studied tuition-free under Maryland's Golden ID Program, a 26.4 percent increase from 2023
MILITARY LEARNERS
60,000+ military-affiliated learners
③ 38,479 active duty
③ 15,179 veterans
③ 7,168 spouses and dependents
8,300+
Maryland residents
23,000+ overseas military learners
WHAT WE OFFER
UMGC offers innovative, life-transforming learning experiences that address the most vexing challenges of access and affordability within postsecondary education today. By leveraging the power of analytics, AI, and technology, UMGC can offer its learners an education that delivers tangible outcomes—the knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions needed to thrive in the modern workforce—all backed by the reputation of a respected state university system and underpinned by a foundation of best-in-class service and support.
SKILLS-BASED AND WORKFORCE-RELEVANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES
New and In-Demand Programs Include
③ Applied Technology
③ Biotechnology
③ Clinical Mental Health Care
③ CyberAccounting
③ Data Science
③ Long-Term Care Administration
③ Multicultural Marketing
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT
in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia
UMGC Locations
COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WITH ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION AND/OR STUDENT SERVICES
Kaiserslautern, GERMAN Y
List of countries and territories
③ Bahrain
③ Belgium
③ Djibouti
③ Egypt
③ England
③ Germany
③ Guam
③ Italy
③ Japan
③ Jordan
③ Korea
③ Kuwait
③ Netherlands
③ Poland
③ Portugal
③ Qatar
③ Romania
③ Saudi Arabia
③ Spain
Turkey
③ United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Newest Locations
③ Camp Fuji, Japan
③ Chievres, Belgium
③ Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, USA
③ Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, USA
③ Joint Training Center, Jordan
③ Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, USA
③ Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania
③ Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, USA
③ Powidz, Poland
③ Poznań, Poland
③ Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, USA
③ Royal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom
③ Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, USA
③ Żagań, Poland
United States
Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, JAPAN Okinawa, Japan
Including online, hybrid, face-to-face, livestreamed, field studies, virtual reality, synchronous and asynchronous, and/or varied timeframes and modes of delivery
GLOBAL FACULTY WITH REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
practitioner instructors, many of whom work in the field(s) in which they teach 4,800+
of practitioner instructors repor having been an adult learner themselves at some point 91% of practitioner instruct repor t a militar (military veter servicemember, reser or spouse or dependent of veteran or ser 35%
* Source: 2024 Adjunct Faculty Demographic Survey
collegiate faculty members who combine teaching and administrative responsibilities 175+
Institutional Accreditation
Visit umgc.edu/accreditation to learn more
70
transfer credits accepted from approved two-year schools and community colleges
90
transfer credits accepted from all sources combined (including approved four-year colleges and universities), including credit
③ by exam
③ for prior learning
③ for workplace learning
③ for military education and training
③ for vocational and technical training
③ for Google certificates
③ for industry certification and professional courses
PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCREASE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY
By offering discounts on out-of-state tuition to employees, spouses, and dependents of our employer partners—and to students transferring to UMGC from partner community colleges—UMGC expands its reach and allows learners to stretch their funding, including employer tuition assistance. Learners can thus reach their education goals more quickly and at lower out-of-pocket cost.
150 More than
with a total of 200 schools in 32 states, including all 16 Maryland community colleges 77 community college alliances nationwide corporate partnerships
More than
in annual savings to employees under each of our largest corporate partnerships million $1.5
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
Advocate
Contact Erin P. Favazza, Esq.
③ Call 301-985-7077
③ Email erin.favazza@umgc.edu
Connect
Follow us on
LinkedIn
@University of Maryland Global Campus
Facebook @UMGC
Instagram @umdglobalcampus
X (formerly Twitter) @umdglobalcampus
YouTube @UMGC
Donate
③ Call 800-888-8682, ext. 17110
③ Email institutional-advancement@umgc.edu
③ Visit impact.umgc.edu
Partner
Visit umgc.edu/business-partners
Recruit
and Hire Students
③ Visit careerquest.umgc.edu/page/employers to create a company profile, post openings, recruit at job fairs, and more
③ Call 240-684-2720
③ Email careerservices@umgc.edu
Teach or Work for UMGC
Visit careers.umgc.edu/talentnetwork
Mentor
③ Visit careerquest.umgc.edu/page/ community-connect
③ Email mentor@umgc.edu
ABOUT UMGC PRESIDENT GREGORY W. FOWLER, PhD
President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, is a visionary leader in global higher education, committed to advancing educational access for adult learners and promoting opportunity for underserved populations.
Since becoming UMGC’s president in January 2021, he has led a comprehensive transformation across every facet of the university, including recruiting, support services, course design, space utilization, partnerships, institutional effectiveness, and more. By leveraging artificial intelligence and data science, he is creating an institution that thrives in volatile markets, prioritizing agility and innovation and focusing on the needs of learners and the workforce.
Under his leadership, UMGC emerged from the global pandemic and entered a period of robust growth that has led to the addition of new national and overseas locations, double-digit increases in new enrollments from partnerships, and improved persistence and success among current learners, cementing the university as a unique, top-tier provider for learners who need more than traditional education has to offer.
pandemic remote postsecondary learning
of the Bologna Accords and collaborated with lawmakers, faculty, and academic administrators to explore the future of the European Union and education’s role in it.
He currently serves on the governing board of the Presidents Forum, the Board of Trustees of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the Board of Visitors of the Foreign Service Institute, and the Board of Directors of the National Cryptologic Foundation.
Before joining UMGC, he served as president of Southern New Hampshire University Global Campus and held senior academic and administrative positions at Western Governors University.
A graduate of Morehouse College, Fowler was a Charles A. Dana Scholar at Duke University and has been a featured higher education leader in Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. He holds master’s degrees from George Mason University and Western Governors University and a PhD from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.
