Letter to Maryland Legislators Regarding Leadership at Bowie State University

This is not unique. UMD laying offer workers, Montgomery County Public School System laying off employees. We received a letter from Bowie State University too.

Date: June 2, 2026

Dear Honorable House Representative,

We write to you today with grave concern regarding the financial crisis facing Bowie State University, the proposed $18.5 million in cuts, and the devastating impact these decisions will have on students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. This crisis was not unavoidable. It is the direct result of leadership failures, fiscal mismanagement, and a prolonged lack of accountability at the highest levels of administration.

Faculty and staff are now being asked to bear the consequences of decisions they neither made nor supported. Proposed layoffs, retrenchments and department merging threaten the core educational mission of the university and will severely diminish the student experience. Students will lose access to critical academic support, mentoring, advising, programming, and opportunities essential to their success and retention. Bowie State cannot maintain its current US News ranking of being tied at #11 for the best HBCU with significantly fewer resources and personnel.

This crisis did not emerge overnight. Faculty and staff have repeatedly raised concerns regarding administrative decision-making, declining enrollment strategies, excessive spending on contractors and consultants, unilateral program cuts, and the absence of meaningful corrective action. Despite these warnings, leadership failed to act with the urgency and transparency required to protect the institution.

How did Bowie State University fall from the third fastest-growing college or university in Maryland in 2019 to having the greatest enrollment decrease within the University System of Maryland in 2025?  For four consecutive years, the enrollment has declined, dropping 10.8% from Fall 2021.

We ask that you consider some examples of fiscal mismanagement and harmful administrative decision-making such as the implementation of policies that reduce retention and graduation rates, excessive spending and reliance on consulting firms and contractors, increased hiring and salaries of administrators, to name a few.

Moreover, these actions will harm not only the university, but also the local economy, workforce pipeline, and surrounding community that rely on this institution.

·       During a shortage of nurses, BSU has cut its Master of Nursing (MSN) programs and an alarming rate of attrition of nursing faculty is currently underway due to administrative decisions.

·       During a shortage of teachers, BSU has failed to honor partnerships with local and regional K-12 school systems to support workforce development, graduate education, and career-lattice opportunities aligned with Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future goals.

·       With the increased mortality of African-American woman during childbirth, BSU has rejected the Maryland Department of Health (MDH)-approved doula training and certification program.

·       With suicide being the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10–24, BSU has undermined its National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)-accredited school psychology program.

Rather than addressing the root causes of the crisis, leadership now proposes balancing the budget on the backs of faculty, staff, and students. This approach is unacceptable and unsustainable.  The administration did not account for over $3M in unbudgeted expenses.  Consequently, 26 staff will be laid off in FY27 and an unknown number of faculty will be retrenched in FY28. And the administration falsely believes that “Students should not experience any direct impact from the budget deficit remediations.”

The overwhelming lack of confidence in the current leadership is undeniable. Most recently, 86% of full-time faculty attendees voted that they have no confidence in the leadership of the President Aminta H. Breaux. In March 2025, 68% of faculty voted that they had no confidence in the leadership of Provost Guy-Alain Amoussou. The faculty voted again in 2026 with a supermajority expressing no confidence in the provost.  These votes reflect deep and longstanding concerns regarding the direction, management, and credibility of university leadership. The individuals responsible for the current state of the institution are not trusted to lead the university through this crisis.

We are also deeply concerned by the lack of action and urgency demonstrated by the by the University System of Maryland Office of the Chancellor, despite repeated warnings from different constituent groups and visible signs of institutional decline over the past year. The Bowie State University Faculty Senate contacted him regarding the 2025 vote of no confidence in the Provost and he was aware of the CUSF resolution that passed with regards to Bowie State University.  We urge you to ask why stronger intervention, oversight, and support were not provided sooner, especially for an HBCU facing mounting financial and enrollment challenges.

As elected officials and stewards of public institutions, you have both the authority and responsibility to demand accountability. The Governor appoints members of the Board of Regents, and state leadership has influence over the Chancellor and presidential selection process. We urge you to use that authority now.

We respectfully call on you to:

·       Demand immediate accountability from university leadership and the Chancellor

·       Oppose harmful layoffs, retrenchments, and department merging that will damage student success

·       Require forensic accounting to acquire an unabridged review of administrative spending and financial decisions

·       Ensure previously negotiated compensation agreements are honored

·       Push for leadership changes necessary to restore trust and stability

·       Protect the mission and future of this institution and the students it serves

Other USM institutions facing statewide budget cuts have found ways to increase enrollment, stabilize budgets, and grow revenue without dismantling their workforce or undermining academic quality. Our institution deserves leadership capable of pursuing real solutions rather than imposing devastating cuts on the people most responsible for student success.

A financial investment in Bowie State University, like the unrestricted Mackenzie Scott Award of a combined $75M, is an investment in students, workforce development, economic mobility, and the future of our community. However, funding alone cannot solve a crisis rooted in failed leadership and poor oversight. Accountability must begin at the top.

We urge you to heed our call and act now before irreversible damage is done to Bowie State University, its students, and the community that depends upon it. Bowie State University is Maryland’s Oldest HBCU, operating for over 160 years.  It is the only HBCU in Prince George’s County, and PG is home to approximately 20,000 BSU alumni.  Please do not let Bowie State University be added to the list of ELEVEN HBCUs that have closed due to financial instability and/or administrative mismanagement.

Sincerely,

2024-2026 Faculty Senate Executive Committee