Judge Rejects Proposal To Merge 2 Universities

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A U.S. District Court judge has rejected a proposal to merge the University of Baltimore into Morgan State University.

The Baltimore Sun reports Judge Catherine C. Blake called the proposal from Maryland Higher Education Commission representatives "extreme" on Tuesday.

Blake is overseeing the mediation between representatives of the commission and the state's historically black colleges.

Representatives from the commission say that the state has underfunded historically black colleges. They also say programs at historically black institutions were being duplicated at traditionally white colleges.

In 2013, Blake ruled colleges had unfairly duplicated programs and recommended the parties to enter mediation.

Blake wrote an order Tuesday saying that an evidentiary hearing would be needed to determine appropriate remedies.

University of Baltimore president Kurt Schmoke said he was pleased with the decision.

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