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Fundraising pushes BHU in new direction
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - After a rocky summer, Baltimore Hebrew University officials are looking forward to what they hope will be a new chapter in the school’s 90-year history.
In June, university officials announced that seven-year President Rela Mintz Geffen was stepping down, just weeks after major donor The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore announced it was significantly cutting funding.
A nationwide search for a new president — with fundraising experience — is under way, with candidates set to begin interviewing in August. University officials say they are hopeful that a new focus on raising money will lead to more students and programs.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to bring our university to the next stage,” said Erika Pardes Schon, chairwoman of Baltimore Hebrew’s board of trustees.
The next stage includes growing Baltimore Hebrew’s majority-graduate enrollment of about 120 students.
Exact targets haven’t been set yet, but Schon said the university could be poised to grow by about 50 percent over the next five years.
Baltimore Hebrew is also looking to expand its distance-learning program. A few courses are already offered online, but this fall, it will start offering an online graduate certificate program in Jewish education, equivalent to about half a master’s degree.
University spokeswoman Adina Lav said the program could fill a niche market for distance learning in Jewish studies.
“Let’s say you have a student in Nebraska and [he] is teaching at a Jewish school in Nebraska. [He] is not going to be able to bring the whole family here,” she said.
But as university officials eye a bigger future, they say Baltimore Hebrew University will remain an intimate educational experience.
“Our smallness is one of our attractions,” acting President Barry M. Gittlen said. “Students feel they can come and talk with professors, and it’s not the kind of — I hate to use this word — machine that some universities turn into.”
mmcilroy@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:44 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008 re: "For many women, this school is a perfect fit"
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10:19 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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7:54 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
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2:53 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007
re: "Promises aside, read the contract"
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1:19 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 22, 2007
re: "Join up, go to war, get a degree"
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re: "Loyola teaches with outside service"
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re: "McDaniel College: Real-world learning"
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2:12 PM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
re: "Campus growth is Coppin’s focus"
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10:10 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
The institution is a fraud. They treat employees unfairly and they have forgotten the roots of the institution- the undergraduate women and the communal attitude. The school has become driven by profit and has turn into an old boys club. Higher-ups chum it up with each other while "lesser" staff are walked all over. The students enjoy their time, but with limited resources and budget- the school is having a hard time providing for their campus members.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
my question is at the end of your statement you said that you don't want the most quilfied nurse to take care of you. why that just don't make sense. I just retired from the military and am looking to become a nurse and if I was some old person laying bed I would like to know that there was someone that was well quilified to take care of me. thank you for your time in reading this note
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
179 agree | 190 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
188 agree | 190 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the RN Associates degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete. Compared to 18-24 months for BSN. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.
178 agree | 185 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the military truly wanted to have potential recruits understand the enlistment contract it would simply reduce the entire bogus contract to the following infamous 40 words from Section C, Paragraph 9: "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces regardless of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document." - Pat Elder
172 agree | 199 disagree
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Don said:
I tried to join up they told me I was too old. I'm 64 I think I'll file papers for age discrimination.
219 agree | 194 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Any plans in the works to overthrow the Vatican again or is that something you can't talk about?
211 agree | 186 disagree
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Diversity? said:
What diversity? The article talks only about blacks.
355 agree | 212 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great article...My 2 kids went there and it was the best 8 yrs anyone could ask for. Both have since gone on to great jobs and both value their days at SMCM.
427 agree | 274 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Glad to see you acknowledge McDaniel College. I am a grad ( Class of "61 ) and a Trustee--and very proud to be both. George Varga
477 agree | 305 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Over the last 20 years or more "Baltimore City School System," has been under the microscope of Judge Garbish (Special Education). Morgan, Johns Hopkin, Coppin, all have had opportunities as research institutions to address this major educational problem and the poverty rate, un-employment, single mothers crime. Coppin has had its misfortunes, and attracted low quality of instructors whom are not concerned with the social economical, educational, problems that plague the Urban Inner City youth. Poverty is a key element in Baltimore City. Politicians does not give a hoot of the demographics nor the incidents of poverty across the city. The fourth count census 2000 is a clear in measuring how people live. African Americans are left out of the loop "Johns Hopkins are the main architect to disenfranchise the poor, disadvantaged. They are the major research institution in Maryland from all indications the African American community is ignored by the major players.
265 agree | 311 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Coppin State should be proud that it focuses on academics and not sports. Who cares if the baseball team lost 44 games in a year. The students who earn a degree will have more power than any hitter on a baseball diamond.
451 agree | 306 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Excellent and informative series that parents and students can use to decide on a Maryland college or university. Thanks!
511 agree | 358 disagree
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