The Institute for Governmental Service and Research was established in October 2006 through the consolidation of two organizations- the Institute for Governmental Service (IGS) and the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR). With seven decades of public service to Maryland, IGSR has consistently and successfully guided policy, improved operations, and institutionalized evidence-based practices in partnership with local governments, state and federal agencies, and community organizations. The Institute has also undertaken national research and technology initiatives to strengthen government effectiveness and efficiency and to promote evidence-based practices.
This organizational timeline highlights IGSR's history through the decades.
2020s | Events |
|---|---|
| 2022 | The Institute celebrates 75 years serving local governments and state agencies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities in Maryland |
| 2021 | The Institute's Maryland's Open Meetings Act Online Class reaches another milestone — 90,815 people have explored the class and almost 6,000 have completed it |
| 2020 | IGSR moves from its off-campus location during the COVID-19 pandemic to its new offices on campus in the Artemesia Building at 8400 Baltimore Avenue |
2010s | Events |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Dr. Cheryll Alipio joins IGSR as Program Director for Government Services and Engagement |
| 2018 | The Institute's Maryland's Open Meetings Act Online Class reaches a milestone — 34,000 people have explored the class and almost 5,000 have completed it |
| 2017 | The Institute launches the first IGSR Policy Poll to provide an affordable way for organizations to collect opinion data on issues of interest |
| 2016 | IGSR celebrates 20 years in the Division of Research; With the retirement of IGSR's longstanding Associate Director, Jeanne E. Bilanin, IGSR welcomes its new Associate Director, Richard N. Engstrom |
| 2015 | IGSR develops database to track MPowering the State research projects undertaken jointly by the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore |
| 2014 | The Virtual Learning Center (VLC) offers its second online class, Sustainable Community Development |
| 2013 | IGSR, University of Baltimore’s Schaefer Center, and University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration host the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO) Annual Conference in Baltimore |
| 2012 | IGSR launches the Virtual Learning Center (VLC), an online training initiative with an inaugural class on Maryland's Open Meetings Act that was developed jointly with the State of Maryland Office of the Attorney General. The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance moves from IGSR to the University's School of Public Policy |
| 2011 | IGSR and the School of Public Policy co-sponsor the welcome reception of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference in Baltimore |
2000s | Events |
|---|---|
| 2009 | The Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO) elects IGSR Director Robin Parker Cox to serve as President |
| 2008 | Academy for Excellence in Local Governance celebrates its tenth anniversary at a luncheon with Governor Martin O’Malley as keynote speaker |
| 2007 | IGSR and the University of Baltimore’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy co-host the annual meeting of the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO) in Baltimore; IGSR becomes a founding member of the Maryland Judiciary Research Consortium initiated by the Administrative Office of the Courts |
| 2006 | IGS and BGR consolidation is approved under new name, Institute for Governmental Service and Research (IGSR); EFC moves to National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education |
| 2004 | Division of Research splits from Graduate Studies; Robin Cox becomes BGR interim director to consolidate BGR with IGS; UMCQP dissolves; Environmental Finance Center (EFC) moves from UM Center for Environmental Science to IGS |
| 2002 | Robin Parker Cox becomes fifth IGS director |
1990s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1999 | IGS Water Resource Leadership Initiative begins operation; Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and UM Center for Quality and Productivity (UMCQP) join IGS and BGR in UMCAPS; IGS receives citation from Governor Parris N. Glendening for decades of outstanding service to Maryland's local and state governments |
| 1998 | IGS Academy for Excellence in Local Governance begins operation; BGR moves from SPA to UMCAPS; Faye Taxman becomes eighth BGR director |
| 1996 | UM Center for Applied Policy Studies (UMCAPS) is formed in Division of Research and Graduate Studies; Charles Wellford is UMCAPS director; IGS moves from MCE to UMCAPS |
| 1996 | Walter Broadnax becomes seventh BGR director |
| 1993 | IGS Advisory Board is created; Catherine Riley becomes sixth BGR director |
| 1993 | MIANR dissolves; MCE (including IGS) moves to UMCP’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| 1991 | Barbara Hawk becomes fourth IGS director |
1980s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1989 | New UM campus, Maryland Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (MIANR), is established; IGS and Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE) move from UM System Administration to MIANR; IGS becomes a unit of MCE; Brian Gardner becomes third IGS director. |
| 1986 | Donald Norris becomes second IGS director |
| 1984 | The Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO) presents its Annual Public Service Award to IGS at the Region V Annual American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Conference |
| 1982 | School of Public Affairs (SPA) begins operation; BGR moves to SPA; Allen Schick becomes fifth BGR director |
| 1981 | MTAS is renamed Institute for Governmental Service (IGS); Patricia Florestano is first IGS director |
| 1980 | Charles Levine becomes fourth BGR director; MTAS moves from BGR and BSOS to UM System Administration |
1970s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Patricia Florestano becomes fifth MTAS director |
| 1976 | Davis Bobrow becomes third BGR director; Henry Eppes becomes fourth MTAS director |
| 1974 | BGR (including MTAS) moves to College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) |
1960s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Clarence Stone becomes third MTAS director |
| 1965 | MTAS begins providing services to counties and is renamed Maryland Technical Advisory Service; BGR publishes 44th report in Studies in Government and Public Administration series |
| 1964 | Daniel Thompson becomes second MTAS director |
1950s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1959 | MTAS begins operation as a division of BGR in College of Business and Public Administration; Milton Millon, former City Manager of Aberdeen is first MTAS director |
| 1958 | Maryland Municipal League (MML) representatives meet with UMCP President about creation of Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS); MML transmits resolution to create MTAS to UMCP; UM Board of Regents votes to include MTAS in budget submission |
| 1957 | Franklin Burdette becomes second BGR director |
| 1953 | BPA is renamed Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR); Don Bowen becomes first BGR director |
| 1950 | Christian Larsen becomes second BPA director |
1940s | Events |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Bureau of Public Administration (BPA) is established in College of Business and Public Administration for study and research in the problems of government; Professor Ray is first BPA director; BPA adds eight new reports to Studies in Government and Public Administration series, the second of which is Improving the Government of Cumberland by Professor Ray |
| 1946 | Improving the Government of Hagerstown by Joseph Ray, Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP), is first publication in series, Studies in Government and Public Administration |
