The University System of Maryland Student Council is one of four councils established during the restructuring of higher education in Maryland in 1988 to provide advice to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents. Other groups with standing advisory councils are the faculty, the presidents of the constituent institutions, and the staff. Chairs of these advisory councils attend meetings of the Chancellor's Council and provide regular reports to the Board of Regents at meetings of the full Board.
The USMSC provides a vehicle to ensure that the System leadership is aware of student perspectives and responsive to student concerns and issues. Each degree-granting institution in the USM has two representatives to the Council. The Council meets monthly throughout the school year; its meetings rotate among System campuses. Among the specific responsibilities of the USMSC is the recommendation to the Chancellor each year for transmittal to the Governor of a group of nominees for the position of USM Student Regent. The Council has in the past provided input on issues ranging from tuition policy to SAT score reporting and academic advising. The Council receives staff assistance through an advisor/liaison to the Chancellor in the Office of Academic Affairs at the USM Office.
The officers for the 2009-2010 academic year are Brady Walker, UB (Chair), Vacant (Vice Chair), and Melinda Wilson, UMB (Secretary-Treasurer). . Students from throughout the System who would like to share ideas and concerns for their individual institutions or the system as a whole may contact their institutional representatives or any one of the officers.