足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 President Cecilia McCormick recently responded to a news article by The Baltimore Banner to share the College's positive trajectory. As she writes in a letter to the editor, “Like many independent, mission-driven colleges, 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 is navigating demographic shifts, evolving student needs, and a competitive higher education landscape. These realities are not new or unexpected. Like all businesses, we make decisions with the intention of long-term sustainability.”
As President McCormick explained, the publication missed the focus of the College’s Bicentennial Opening Celebration, where announcements highlighted exciting new initiatives and recent investments by donors, government, and civic organizations who have confidence in 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 and its future. “If The Banner looked further, they would have seen the 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 bicentennial is a positive and uplifting story for — and about — an anchor institution in Baltimore.”
Letter: Banner coverage of 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 missed the college’s positive trajectory
The Banner’s coverage of the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Bicentennial Opening Celebration failed to reflect the college’s positive trajectory. Like many independent, mission-driven colleges, 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 is navigating demographic shifts, evolving student needs and a competitive higher-education landscape.
These realities are not unique or unexpected. Like all businesses, we make decisions with the intention of long-term sustainability.
In 2025-26, private and public partners have given or committed over $8 million to student scholarships and nearly $8 million to our biodesign lab, creative entrepreneurship programs and a Design + Innovation Hub. These investments reflect confidence in 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 and underscore the vital role we play in educating artists and designers who strengthen Baltimore.
The Banner took a myopic view of 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯’s cash position, giving readers an inaccurate and misleading picture of 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯’s financial health. The article failed to account for working capital and investment resources available for operations.
In 2024, 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 undertook a strategic refinancing initiative that optimized its capital structure and created a dedicated fund for capital projects, which is included in deposits held with bond trustees. Taking this into account, our total cash position did not decline by 46% — it improved by 9%. And our long-term debt decreased by 4.5%.
In addition, an overall indicator of 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯’s financial strength is the U.S. Department of Education’s financial composite score. Colleges are scored from -1 to +3. 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 rated positively with a healthy score of +2.4.
Beyond finances, student interest is rising. What we implemented has led to a fivefold increase in prospective students, with applications at an all-time high and transfer enrollment growing. Our fall 2025 incoming class was also the largest in six years. These signs are an early indication that we are making a difference.
For 200 years, 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 has educated generations of creative leaders. Moving into the next century, the college is investing in students, increasing sustainability and building a student body where creativity drives innovation.
If The Banner looked further, they would have seen the 足球游戏_中国足彩网￥体育资讯 bicentennial is a positive and uplifting story for — and about — an anchor institution in Baltimore.
Read President McCormick's letter on The Baltimore Banner’s website.