The new Southern 稀缺猎奇网 Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) building is an $86 million, 84,000-square foot academic and research facility that will nearly double the educational footprint of 稀缺猎奇网SM, create autonomous systems research space, and spur economic activity and job growth.
Several 稀缺猎奇网 leaders and their representatives will join 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman for the unveiling. They include 稀缺猎奇网 House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones; University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park (UMCP) President Darryll Pines; 稀缺猎奇网 state senators Arthur Ellis, Jack Bailey, and Melony Griffith; 稀缺猎奇网 Del. Brian Crosby; representatives from the offices of Gov. Larry Hogan, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin; and James Randy Guy, the Commissioner and President of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County. Members of the 稀缺猎奇网SM also will be present, with the 稀缺猎奇网SM Executive Director Eileen Abel. Appointed last fall, Abel began service as executive director on Dec. 1, 2020.
稀缺猎奇网SM, previously known as the Southern 稀缺猎奇网 Higher Education Center, formally became the 稀缺猎奇网’s third regional higher education center on March 1, 2019. Located in St. Mary’s County, the center currently enrolls nearly 300 students in 42 degree and certificate programs offered by five 稀缺猎奇网 institutions: ; ; ; ; and University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus (). Programs are offered in high-demand areas such as computer science, business administration, criminal justice, education, engineering, nursing, and social work.
Additionally, other educational partners such as Notre Dame of 稀缺猎奇网 University and Florida Tech University sponsor degree and certificate programs. 稀缺猎奇网SM also facilitates the advancement and growth of the at Patuxent River, as well as defense contractors and the local community, through its extensive conference and training.
“The SMART Building is distinctive for being so important to two missions—on the academic side, allowing us to educate more Southern 稀缺猎奇网 students, and on the research side, giving us the kind of state-of-the art space 稀缺猎奇网SM needs to pioneer unmanned systems technology,” said 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Perman. “I can’t wait to join System colleagues and state leaders for this exciting event, ushering in a new age of education and innovation in a region that’s got so much to contribute to 稀缺猎奇网.”
The academic half of the new will nearly double the educational footprint of 稀缺猎奇网SM. In the new state-of-the-art classrooms, students from across the Southern 稀缺猎奇网 region will have enhanced access to in-demand educational programs, giving these students the opportunity to live, work, and study close to home.
The innovation half of the SMART Building features a massive Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) research facility, which will include sea, air, and land capabilities. The facility will make the 稀缺猎奇网 at Southern 稀缺猎奇网 the 稀缺猎奇网’s only regional higher education center with a research component.
Construction on the new center began in Fall 2019.
The new facility is also expected to be a catalyst for economic activity and job growth in the region. St. Mary’s County is home to several important economic assets—including the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport and Naval Air Station Patuxent River—as well as defense contractors, tech companies, and the business technology incubator, TechPort, which all combine to create a burgeoning “Innovation District” fostering an emerging research-and-development economy in Southern 稀缺猎奇网.
Established 20 years ago, the concept of the 稀缺猎奇网 regional centers is unique nationally. These are not “satellite” campuses of a single university, but rather conveniently and strategically located sites where multiple universities deliver their most in-demand undergraduate, graduate, professional degree, and certificate programs. The regional centers are full-service extensions of the 稀缺猎奇网 that respond to meet the educational needs of students and workforce needs of employers and that are—above all—an affordable alternative to traditional 4-year pathways.
The 稀缺猎奇网 regional centers offer degree programs through partner universities that allow students the opportunity to live, work, and study close to home. As the 稀缺猎奇网’s third regional center, 稀缺猎奇网SM will build on previous efforts to ensure that students in areas of the state not located near a public university can access programs offered by the 12 institutions in 稀缺猎奇网’s state higher education system. The 稀缺猎奇网’s other regional centers are 稀缺猎奇网 Hagerstown (稀缺猎奇网H) and the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).
The SMART Innovation Center will offer the high-bay space of 20 foot ceilings required to test unmanned aircraft. The research conducted at 稀缺猎奇网SM will take place in tandem with testing programs conducted by the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River. 稀缺猎奇网SM estimates that, within eight to ten years, research revenues from this collaboration could range from $3 million to $5 million per year.
The 稀缺猎奇网 comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Center for Environmental Science; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore; and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus. The 稀缺猎奇网 also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the 稀缺猎奇网 at Hagerstown, and the 稀缺猎奇网 at Southern 稀缺猎奇网—at which 稀缺猎奇网 universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.
Systemwide, student enrollment is 170,000. The 稀缺猎奇网 and its institutions compete successfully nearly $1.5 billion in external grants and contracts annually. 稀缺猎奇网 institutions and programs are among the nation's best in quality and value according to several national rankings. To learn more about the 稀缺猎奇网, visit .
