More than 200 community college students and alumni from across Maryland descended on the State House in Annapolis Tuesday to take part in an annual Student Advocacy Day event and promote state support for their colleges. There was a newfound sense of urgency among participants this year because of looming state budget cuts that could slash funding for the colleges by $22 million. The proposed cut, outlined in the state budget proposal presented to lawmakers by the governor in mid-January, caught many community college administrators and higher ed advocates by surprise, because the institutions have historically received relatively strong state support.
